Frame tabs broken! - Page 2

wswartzwel · 11-14-2005, 04:03 PM

I think Steve broke them on purpose, so he could actually post a thread that was on topic....

Either that or the lightning did it ....

SergioK · 11-14-2005, 04:09 PM

Brad, I think Steve's was welded not just on a Friday, but sometime during the last few weeks of September, early Oktober.

steve abella · 11-14-2005, 05:58 PM

Does the quality of welding improve during octoberfest

Steve Carlton · 11-14-2005, 09:47 PM

Those tabs are cast, not welded you clowns! Perhaps welded soon...

DanGreene · 11-15-2005, 04:52 AM

Holy Cow! How many miles on that motorcycle, and when was it built? Let us know what BMW says about this.

Steve Carlton · 11-15-2005, 05:14 AM

28K, built 03/02.

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

...how much does Steve C. weigh...
...nobody is asking this private question...

Steve Carlton · 11-15-2005, 05:22 AM

Around 180. (lbs, not kgs)

wswartzwel · 11-15-2005, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by RoLoo
...how much does Steve C. weigh...
...nobody is asking this private question...

It is getting close to the Holidays... weight gain?????

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

...the bike outside is named Rudolf...?

Steve Carlton · 11-15-2005, 05:43 AM

Traded in Rudolph on Santa's new sleigh.

bradzdotcom · bradzdotcom's Garage

the wierd thing is.....steve doesn't flog his bike.
he goes fast, he goes quick, but he doesn't slam or abuse his bike, least not when i've ridden with him.

we did a little syncronized bridge smacking last winter during the "roads, we don't need no stinkin roads" ride, but it wasn't enough to break a cast tab, much less all of 'em.

if the warranty gods come back with "sorry, but you abused the thing", they'll be wrong.
sure, he doesn't wash it much, but it's still a well cared for soda-michael that shouldn't have snapped like that.

my guess is that one of the tabs had air in the casting, it let go, and the other parts decided to join in.

can't want to hear the response from the dealer. could be a goodwill fix, or there just might be 265 bmw riders out in front of his shop one night with torches....

Jeff Williams · 11-15-2005, 06:27 AM

Brad,
I think Steve was watching orange county chopper and decided he wanted a taildragger..
Hope it works out Steve.
If it doesn't I'll bring the matches and brad will bring the torches.
cya
jeff

RoLoo · RoLoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Williams
..I'll bring the matches and brad will bring the torches...

...as in :

bigscience · 11-15-2005, 07:07 AM

If you've got the warranty make the sods replace the frame. this is a common occurance. it's a waste of time and money and a good frame, but it serves them right for selling a crap design.

that said, I've busted three out of the four tabs on my bike in wrecks and they weld up just fine. costs about 30 bucks each. it's a clean weld and you don't even have to take the rear sub-frame off if you don't want to.

if that's not your style you can do what the racers do and get the frame tab repair kit from BMW (yes, there is one). a connector bolts into the frame and the sub-frame bolts onto that. yes, they are strong- the Boxer cup guys use them on their bikes.

call Main Line BMW in PA and ask for Michael-Peter to order you one.

motoyoyo · 11-15-2005, 07:22 AM

I do see a fair amount of porosity in the broken face of the tabs from the picture. That would certainly account for a weaker connection and justify a warranty replacement. The other factor that probably pushed it over the edge was the recent long distance trip on So Cal roads with heavily packed saddlebags. Makes you wonder though, what are the risks of traveling with a passenger and full saddlebags.

twodear · twodear's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by tbsstunta
Fixing the tabs is usually just a matter of TIG welding them back on, but since this is a warranmty issue they will probably replace the main frame.

TBS

I bought a damaged S with all four of these tabs broken off, (along with a good second hand un-marked replacement)

There are two long tabs and two short tabs. The long ones can be TIG welded but the short ones cannot, they will overheat and melt beyond hope. Mine has been repaired though, by building up material with TIG and then machining it back. Much cheaper than replacement, but then mine is WAY out of warranty.

2dear

tominator · 11-16-2005, 03:38 AM

Why not use a Hiem joint somehow if not repairable? Tap and of weld?

Tomas

bradzdotcom · bradzdotcom's Garage

well, for a couple of reasons:

steve doesn't tig weld, though i understand he took years of tap.
he's also limited on space. the bike lives in a parking garage, not the ideal environment for major wrench spinning or metal melting.

his only real solution is a replacement frame, from the dealer, for zippo bucks and a heartfelt "sorry mr. carlton, shouldn't happen again".
i don't know how long it'll be "down" but i'd be asking for a loaner ride, even if it's one of those 650 things, while the R was in surgery.

the bmw repair kit would also be an option. might get that myself, just to see if it stiffens the thing up a little and takes some of that wallow/wag out of the bike.

motoyoyo · 11-16-2005, 07:07 AM

I emailed Main Line BMW about the frame tab repair kit that bigscience mentioned. They do in fact have such a kit available. It is not a BMW part, but is completely custom aftermarket, probably made right at their shop. It is a bolt on replacement for the existing tabs, since welding the cast pieces is somewhat unreliable. The frame tabs are removed completely by gring them off, then two holes are drilled through the frame for each aluminum braket and they are bolted to the frame. There are apparantly multiple positions to allow varying seat hieght positions as well.

The primary reason for the kit is to allow rear section replacement in the event of a crash or damamge to the rear subframe. It would certainly be a good choice for a frame that already has broken tabs, but I doubt you will get any other BMW shop to have anything to do with it.