ali welding

[Fade]

started my trike last night and all seemed well until my dad noticed oil coming from the head. Seems i may have a small crack in the head
can this be ali welded satisfactorily in situ?
does anyone know an ali welder in co. durham that can come and do it on the spot?
cheers

[guydewdney]

not a hope in hell.

whats the engine?

[Blackjack]

If you try TIG welding an assembled engine there is a high risk of the HF causing arcing across bearings in the motor, which ruins them.

Secondly, the ally needs to be clean. Seeing as you have oil leaking through the crack it isn't going to be clean. So it needs to come off to get it clean.

This sort of thing is best done with a a big old fashioned TIG of about 300 amps as you can "float" the contaminants on the top of the puddle if its big enough.

[Gypsy]

hmmm sounds terminal

[blackrose37]

god i hope not as if it is thats me off the road for the foreseeable future
its only a slight crack i hope and the thought of me getting the head off................................ nope it will have to be a garage

[blackrose37]

damn must learn yo log in :eek: :D

[guyver1]

try using JB weld, sonly about £5 from halfords and its bloody good stuff, must be worth a try :o

[Blackjack]

Especially as it makes it a lot worse to try and fix properly.................

[Dougie]

Try Quiksteel,developed for the oil industry,cures MUCH quicker than JB Weld,even works under the North Sea.Used it on a cracked alternator casing,still sound 3 years later. :D I got it from MPS but I don't know if they still do it.Oh aye,it's got a far better temperature range than JB Weld an' all! :D :cool: