welding an aluminum motorcycle head

[idacal]

I had an old xr 600 that was leaking a lot of oil out of the head and it looked like someone had shot it so i gave it to my brother, the one I thought was guilty of shooting it. he took the valve cover off and we realized that one of the rocker arms had broke and the cam shoved it through the side of the head, it has about a 3/4" hole through it how would I get it cleaned up enough to weld it up without pulling the head completely off ? gasket kit costs more than the bike is worth, we put some epoxy in it and held sort of but it would be nice to fix it right.

[Go1lum]

In welding most time is spent prepping the work piece. The head needs to be taken off and both sides clean IMMENSLY. Especially Aluminum. Good prep work means good weld quality. All of that oil and dirt and grease from the inside of the head will come right through into the weld. Take it off do it right. If the bike is ok looking and in decent running condition after that is fixed i don't believe that a gasket kit isn't worth buying. If you don't want the bike give me your number and ill take it off your hands.

[Fat Bastard]

Originally Posted by idacal

I had an old xr 600 that was leaking a lot of oil out of the head and it looked like someone had shot it so i gave it to my brother, the one I thought was guilty of shooting it. he took the valve cover off and we realized that one of the rocker arms had broke and the cam shoved it through the side of the head, it has about a 3/4" hole through it how would I get it cleaned up enough to weld it up without pulling the head completely off ? gasket kit costs more than the bike is worth, we put some epoxy in it and held sort of but it would be nice to fix it right.

you won't


and you won't


as proven by the you shot my bike thinking and the put some glue on it thinking.



The head should come off stripped hot tanked all the epoxy removed and then welded.

[idacal]

go1lum thanks for the answer thats what I was wondering I appreciate it.

Fat bastard your a real piece of work why dont you go beat your wife or something so you can get over your insecurities and inferiority complex. You dont know anything about me or my brother. He is a 14 year old diabetic and I dont appreciate you insulting him or me. It took 6 months for the doctors to get him stabilized and during that time he would go nuts, I watched him grab a hammer and smash a window and not even know he had done it and be crying and apologizing for it when his blood sugar got under control. He is trying to build this bike and he makes 2.00 an hour so he wants to do it as cheap as possible and this is something he needs to do with his own funds. Its not properly appreciated if he doesnt do it himself Im giving him advice and thats it. so keep your insults to yourself.

[farmersamm]

Ya gotta take Fat Bastard with a grain of salt. He's well.............. Fat Bastard

Buddy of mine who's a machinist in CO has been diabetic since he was around 16. He has a hell of a time getting a job because the employers insurance companies don't want him around. Guy's around 50yrs. old now, checks blood sugar 8 times a day, and still goes into spells where he gets sort of incoherant. Blew his last job interview because his blood sugar dropped, and he forgot how to find the place. It's a rough life.

Can't expect people on the net to know these things.

I'm sorry you got your feelin's hurt, and say hello to brother.

[idacal]

Sorry it just got me going, Farmersamm you dont insult people for no reason to boost your ego I have read a lot of your posts, most people on here are sure enough in themselves to be civil and helpful,( thats while I like this site) and not hiding behind a computer screen on ego trips. I have seen a lot of his posts were he is insulting and condesending and I dont put up with that directed at me, I put up with that attitude from my bosses when I was a day laborer never again will I just take it. there I feel better and he is doing fine its under control, he has gained 90 lbs and is turning into a hard working young man learning basic metal work almost every day.

[farmersamm]

Originally Posted by idacal

Sorry it just got me going, Farmersamm you dont insult people for no reason to boost your ego I have read a lot of your posts, most people on here are sure enough in themselves to be civil and helpful,( thats while I like this site) and not hiding behind a computer screen on ego trips. I have seen a lot of his posts were he is insulting and condesending and I dont put up with that directed at me, I put up with that attitude from my bosses when I was a day laborer never again will I just take it. there I feel better and he is doing fine its under control, he has gained 90 lbs and is turning into a hard working young man learning basic metal work almost every day.

Mean folks don't have too many friends.

PM'd ya

[Tractapac]

Originally Posted by idacal

Sorry it just got me going, Farmersamm you dont insult people for no reason to boost your ego I have read a lot of your posts, most people on here are sure enough in themselves to be civil and helpful,( thats while I like this site) and not hiding behind a computer screen on ego trips. I have seen a lot of his posts were he is insulting and condesending and I dont put up with that directed at me, I put up with that attitude from my bosses when I was a day laborer never again will I just take it. there I feel better and he is doing fine its under control, he has gained 90 lbs and is turning into a hard working young man learning basic metal work almost every day.

Is this the builder of the machine of death? Either way, it's great that you are looking out for him and mentoring him. I commend you for it. It's probably a great way for him to progress in the way you are doing it. I always look forward to your projects, particularly the crane, how's it going?
There's a lot of research going on here about implanting pig cells in humans, to control diabetes as they produce a suitable form of insulin. It's been a struggle for the company to get government permission and at one stage things shifted to Mexico but they're back here now and it's supposed to be progressing well. Trials stages still and not cleared yet for general release. May be a few years before general release but it sounds like it may be worth watching for.

[weldbead]

tractapac..ill probably piss of half the members here..maybe now with the white house not run by a religious agenda, the research that should have been going on will get back in business .......here in our job-hungry country...

[weldbead]

farmersamm you are a good guy

[idacal]

tractapac yes it is the same one, our whole family has been following the research hoping something comes out of it that will help him, my parents have also done a lot of checking in natural remedys some have a hope of helping lowering the amount of insulins he has to take but most are crackpot ideas. but he is doing good, this hit him when he was 11 but if you saw him now you wouldnt think he is sick he is doing everything a normal kid does . thank you all for the concern and for the kind words. as for the crane its up and running taking up a bunch of room in my yard Im on to a new project that I will asking some questions soon. work is starting to pick up so I havent had time to work on my projects which is a good thing.

[Fat Bastard]

Well Idecal how was I to know anything about your or your brothers health?

For that matter what has that to to do with fixing this cylinder head?

You tell the net that you think your brother shot a motorcycle engine. You add nothing about some underlying medical condition, so to me it sounds like something out of Deliverance or my family. Then you go on to say an attempt to fix was made with epoxy. First thing into my mind is JB weld.


The head is savable (most likely) if you strip it down (remove the valves) and ship it to me Ill do the welding for no charge. Shipping to Alaska via the USPS Flat Rate box is at most $12.00 or so. If you cant afford the shipping let me know.






Sorry you brother has health issues.

[Rojodiablo]

Originally Posted by Fat Bastard

Well Idecal how was I to know anything about your or your brothers health?

For that matter what has that to to do with fixing this cylinder head?

You tell the net that you think your brother shot a motorcycle engine. You add nothing about some underlying medical condition, so to me it sounds like something out of Deliverance or my family. Then you go on to say an attempt to fix was made with epoxy. First thing into my mind is JB weld.


The head is savable (most likely) if you strip it down (remove the valves) and ship it to me Ill do the welding for no charge. Shipping to Alaska via the USPS Flat Rate box is at most $12.00 or so. If you cant afford the shipping let me know.






Sorry you brother has health issues.

That's pretty generous of you Fat Bastard.

And Fat Bastard is right; if JB weld will hold, then great. If it won't, then to weld aluminum once it has been heated/ saturated with oil, it is a good dose of work involved to make a good weld on it.

[Magnetic Mechanic]

My 2¢


A holes aside. I once epoxyed a hole in a chaine saw engine and the motor wore out before the epoxy.

As for cleaning oil you could try GUNK or DAWN.
My sister said she uses PURPLE for everything. She gets it at Home Depot.
I don't know if it will work cause I've never used it, but will try it as soon as i get to HD.

[lugweld]

I bought my ranger 8, 9 years ago from an insurance settlement where a service truck flipped. Guess what was sitting on top of the service body? Yep, it damaged the covers which were easily straightened and the face panel which still has a slight twist at the corner. Everything else was fine except where the extended oil drain went into the engine. It had broken off the casting and the piece was no where to be found. It did have about 3 or 4 threads left where I could screw a new one in, but still had a slight leak.

Old J. B. came to the rescue and he fixed me right up. 9 Years later not a trace of the leak.

As for cleaner, Carb cleaner or Brake cleaner will clean just fine.

[idacal]

thank you Fat Bastard for the apology and for the offer its very generous of you to do that. but he is going to take it to the local aluminum welder here in town and clean the shop for the guy a few times for welding it up, Im not going to mention this to him he doesnt know I thought he shot it or that Im even posting this on here its better for him not to get any thing for nothing he is already manipulative enough. but I do appreciate the offer. I probably should have included more information in my original post but i didnt think about it, I just added what I did for some background on the machine thanks all for the help.

[Fat Bastard]

Originally Posted by idacal

thank you Fat Bastard for the apology and for the offer its very generous of you to do that. but he is going to take it to the local aluminum welder here in town and clean the shop for the guy a few times for welding it up, Im not going to mention this to him he doesnt know I thought he shot it or that Im even posting this on here its better for him not to get any thing for nothing he is already manipulative enough. but I do appreciate the offer. I probably should have included more information in my original post but i didnt think about it, I just added what I did for some background on the machine thanks all for the help.

I am glad you feel better and that your brother has found a way to pay for his new transportation.


Just a note of clarification I offered no apology. I do not feel I did anything wrong and thus no apology.


Good luck to the both of you!

[Donald Branscom]

Originally Posted by lugweld

I bought my ranger 8, 9 years ago from an insurance settlement where a service truck flipped. Guess what was sitting on top of the service body? Yep, it damaged the covers which were easily straightened and the face panel which still has a slight twist at the corner. Everything else was fine except where the extended oil drain went into the engine. It had broken off the casting and the piece was no where to be found. It did have about 3 or 4 threads left where I could screw a new one in, but still had a slight leak.

Old J. B. came to the rescue and he fixed me right up. 9 Years later not a trace of the leak.

As for cleaner, Carb cleaner or Brake cleaner will clean just fine.

Many times i see a welding machine that weighs as much as 1,100 lbs sitting at the highest point on a service truck body. Makes no sense to me to have such a heavy item making a high center of gravity as you drive around.

[farmersamm]

Always wondered about that too.

Asked a guy at the gas station while he was gettin' gas. Guy wasn't too friendly, or too big on words He just pointed to all the crap he had layin' in the bed, mostly big stuff jammed in between the side tool boxes.

You'd think someone would come up with a service body with a special bay for a welder. Has to be a hassle to climb up on the boxes to even start it.

[Fat Bastard]

Best location I have seen is between the cab and the bed on a roll out tray for service.