Frame Annealing

[Dean Seavers]

Dano-

I could hear Mark cringe all the way from here when he read the words "reefing" and "front axle" in the same sentence. If you're going to heat the axle to bend it back, that's what you need to do "bend" - so instead of heating and whacking, you'll need to weld up basically a spindle with stops and a long handle in place of the axle portion, so you can heat and grab the long end to pull it back into place.

I know Scott Wigginton prefers cold pulls, so you might want to see if there is a motorcycle shop near you that does frame and for straighteneing and see if they can do a cold pull to get the axle back in place.

Just a thought...
Dean

[Russ Smith]

Dan,
The method Dean described is how Mark worked his magic on my 800 axle. He bolted a short piece of tubing, with an 8 foot long bar attached, into the kingpin cradle. He heated the axle while I gently pulled on the end of the bar. After a few triangular measurements, the deed was done!
Russ

[Rob Voska]

I took a piece of 3/4 all thread and a piece of tube that it slips into and welded a piece of angle at a 45 deg on one end of each. Makes a nice slow pusher to push a front axle back. I put it just inside the spindle hanger and against the front of the side seat support. It worked great for me.

[Dan Flanders]

Well I was just going to bang away with my 5 lb sledge until I got it into place ....Scratch that idea.

I learned my lesson trying to get the peddles off, heat, lubrication & patience is my new mantra. I created more work for myself by trying to do it quickly rather than taking the time to do it right. I won't make that mistake again.

How do you secure the frame when straightening? Dean, our strapping idea didn't work well on the Hornet, What other techniques do folks use?

Dan

[Dean Seavers]

Dano-

When Mark straightened the axle on Jim's 1200, the heat did the hard work, so it was just a couple of c-clamps on a flat table with me holding the back of the frame steady.

For a cold pull, I'm sure it's more involved, hence suggesting that maybe a shop that does similar work used for that.

Dean

[Mark Havery]

Guys,
Although you were there a decision had to be made which was best, a cold straightening or
the judicial addition of some heat. In the cases of Russ' and Jim's axles they were very slightly bent. In the the case of Jim's axle it was bent both back and up. Russ' axle would have torn at the weld if we proceeded further with a cold bend, a fact I didn't tell him since he was sweating blood already. This is not a repair for a seriously bent axle that should be removed
and replaced with a new one or a section of a new one. Also the "heating" involved was not
one that was a screaming orange/yellow with little sparks jumping off it! Just a dull red with the lights low. Absolutely no way will this injure chrome molly tubing. Hell, it's heated at it's
melting point to weld it. During WW2 women gas welded small sections of chrome molly tubing
on aircraft and skilled craftsmen fillet brazed the Rob North frames and hi quality bicycle frames of seriously thin sections with no ill effects. A little heating is safe.
So, Dano put down your smashing weapons and back away from your frames, let someone experienced do the work for you.
I forgot to add if the bent section makes the tubing go oval or flatten you are pretty much screwed. The tubing will buckle as it is straightened, not good.
Mark

[Rob Voska]

Mark.....very well put. Sometime I forget I have been working with metal most of my life. Every bend is diffrent so paying someone that's expierenced to do it.....it's the best money you could spend.

[Dan Flanders]

Hi Mark-
I hope you picked up on the very tongue-in-cheek tone about using a sledge-hammer on the frame, I would NEVER do that. Don't get me wrong, I've wanted to several times in frustration but would never do it in actuality. I'll have to look at the axle again, but I am almost positive that it can be straightened without having to replace it. I'll put away the "shovels and rakes and implements of destruction" for the time being.

Rob-
Not having the skills, techniques, knowledge and tools to do your own repair work is the most frustrating aspect of vintage karting. It seems like this hobby has a very high concentration of highly skilled machinists and welders that make restoration and parts fabrication look easy. At the same time, it is really rewarding because you are constantly forced to learn a whole set of new and inter-related skills so it never gets boring

Dan

[Darvin Jahnke]

Dan, I think a lot of people would be surprised by what they can accomplish if they put their mind to it. Patience and practice go a long way in achieving success. Practice on scrap material,observe,and learn from your mistakes. Yes some things are easier with appropriate equipment,but I've always said I do the best I can with what I have. I just finished building a replica of a vintage kart and one of the most challenging parts was bending the hoops. Some people told me I couldn't do it without high dollar equipment. Well I did it in my shop without special equipment and they look just fine. Yes there were a few practice ones that didn't turn out to great but that's where observation and learning come in. Darv.