rbent Forum - Crack

johnnybent

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Crack
Apr 14^th, 2017, 4:48pm

Well a couple of weeks ago I discovered a crack just below the cross member where the front wheels and boom connect. I pretty much thought the frame was toast. Well I looked for a good welder that had experience with this stuff. I called Al Lamb's Honda and asked who they used and they said Precision M/C Manufacturing out of Wylie. I got a hold of Chris Gartman and we arranged a look/see of the 700. I took it up this morning and He looked at it and we discussed our options. I left it there with the knowledge He knew what he was doing and also with the thought the frame would still be toast at least he tried. Well he called me back around noon and said it was done. I was not expecting that. What he did was to form a gusset in front of the cross for support. Much different then what catrike is doing and looks much stronger. looks a bit like a bash plate. So I'll be back on the road again. By the way, Chris worked with the frame that Al Lamb's used in their Bonniville salt flat bike.

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Action Lad

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Re: Crack
Reply #1 - Apr 14^th, 2017, 11:30pm

Quote from johnnybent on Apr 14^th, 2017, 4:48pm:

Well a couple of weeks ago I discovered a crack just below the cross member where the front wheels and boom connect. I pretty much thought the frame was toast. Well I looked for a good welder that had experience with this stuff. I called Al Lamb's Honda and asked who they used and they said Precision M/C Manufacturing out of Wylie. I got a hold of Chris Gartman and we arranged a look/see of the 700. I took it up this morning and He looked at it and we discussed our options. I left it there with the knowledge He knew what he was doing and also with the thought the frame would still be toast at least he tried. Well he called me back around noon and said it was done. I was not expecting that. What he did was to form a gusset in front of the cross for support. Much different then what catrike is doing and looks much stronger. looks a bit like a bash plate. So I'll be back on the road again. By the way, Chris worked with the frame that Al Lamb's used in their Bonniville salt flat bike.

Do you have any photos? The very first 700s were gussetless, but for the past several years they've had 'em, and in front of the crossmember.

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jayg Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 4123	Re: Crack Reply #2 - Apr 15^th, 2017, 4:10pm Several Catrike Forum threads concerning frame cracks here: http://catrike.yuku.com/search/text/forum/1?q=700+frame+cracks&submit=Search +Forum#.WPKKVtIrKUn.
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johnnybent

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Re: Crack
Reply #3 - Apr 15^th, 2017, 6:57pm

Sorry I have hardest time getting photos of this site. Facebook yes. It may appear I have a frame that was not heat treated. It really doesn't matter, the trike's been around the block and keeps on ticking. I Looked for a person who had a lot of experience with this stuff and trusted him to tell me go or no go. He would not have wasted his time or my money if he did not think it would work. plus He did it without me having to take the trike apart. It was a gamble but still better then another trike for now. And Jay doesn't have a 700 or Ice for sale anyway. And It gives the rest of us a source to go to if needed. As far as cost, since he has the templates now around $250.

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johnnybent

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Re: Crack
Reply #4 - Apr 15^th, 2017, 6:58pm

Sorry I have hardest time getting photos of this site. Facebook yes. It may appear I have a frame that was not heat treated. It really doesn't matter, the trike's been around the block and keeps on ticking. I Looked for a person who had a lot of experience with this stuff and trusted him to tell me go or no go. He would not have wasted his time or my money if he did not think it would work. plus He did it without me having to take the trike apart. It was a gamble but still better then another trike for now. And Jay doesn't have a 700 or Ice for sale anyway. And It gives the rest of us a source to go to if needed. As far as cost, since he has the templates now around $250.

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jayg

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Re: Crack
Reply #5 - Apr 15^th, 2017, 8:12pm

Quote from johnnybent on Apr 15^th, 2017, 6:58pm:

Sorry I have hardest time getting photos of this site. Facebook yes. It may appear I have a frame that was not heat treated. It really doesn't matter, the trike's been around the block and keeps on ticking. I Looked for a person who had a lot of experience with this stuff and trusted him to tell me go or no go. He would not have wasted his time or my money if he did not think it would work. plus He did it without me having to take the trike apart. It was a gamble but still better then another trike for now. And Jay doesn't have a 700 or Ice for sale anyway. And It gives the rest of us a source to go to if needed. As far as cost, since he has the templates now around $250.

Looks like your welder independently came up with the same solution to the problem that Catrike's owner/engineer came up with.

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MrWizard

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Re: Crack
Reply #6 - Apr 16^th, 2017, 1:33pm

After ripping the bottom bracket off the front end of my P38 (repeatedly) Thats basically the same solution I came up with.

Years later I noticed the P38s all have similar welds; I suppose all bike companies go through something similar in the way of weld and joint evolution

Quote from jayg on Apr 15^th, 2017, 8:12pm:

Quote from johnnybent on Apr 15^th, 2017, 6:58pm:

Sorry I have hardest time getting photos of this site. Facebook yes. It may appear I have a frame that was not heat treated. It really doesn't matter, the trike's been around the block and keeps on ticking. I Looked for a person who had a lot of experience with this stuff and trusted him to tell me go or no go. He would not have wasted his time or my money if he did not think it would work. plus He did it without me having to take the trike apart. It was a gamble but still better then another trike for now. And Jay doesn't have a 700 or Ice for sale anyway. And It gives the rest of us a source to go to if needed. As far as cost, since he has the templates now around $250.

Looks like your welder independently came up with the same solution to the problem that Catrike's owner/engineer came up with.

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reever rbent member Posts: 459	Re: Crack Reply #7 - Apr 16^th, 2017, 5:51pm Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit smoking crack!
Back to top	Adults should have fun so kids will want to grow up! For every mile of road there's two miles of ditch. I'd rather be sorry for something I did than for something I didn't do. IP Logged

johnnybent Five Star Member rbent member Posts: 1032	Re: Crack Reply #8 - Apr 16^th, 2017, 7:23pm Well if he wasn't able to fix it I guess I coulda made a lawn chair outta it.
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MrWizard

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Re: Crack
Reply #9 - Apr 17^th, 2017, 8:35am

Or a BBQ .. . at least thats what my welding instructor used to say "IF you screw it up badly you can always weld 1/2 of a 55 gallon drum to it and call it a BBQ " or " Put two notches in it and call it an ashtray"

Quote from johnnybent on Apr 16^th, 2017, 7:23pm:

Well if he wasn't able to fix it I guess I coulda made a lawn chair outta it.

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