welding

[Beman]

Hi
 I am new to this forum.
I own a 1959 super rocket.
I will try to fix a loose footpeg by weld it while on the bike.
Have been told that will damage the magneto.
Is that true?Do enybody of you know?

[RichardL]

 Welcome  and STOP!  There is going to be no positive response to welding your footpeg in place. They need to be removable, or, at least, loosenable. How about posting some closeup pictures of where you think the problem is and where you are thinking of welding?

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

Hi Beman, 

Please will you go to Introductions and tell the forum a little about yourself and your experience of motorcycles.

[Beman]

Thank you for your reply Richard.
I know, but this is only a temporary fix.The spine on the shaft is worn out and the fotpeg slides down when I stand on it to start the bike.I will replace it when winter comes.It seem to me that this is a bigger job, I have a enclosed chain guard and I think I must take off that and the primary
to remove the part.The summer is short here in Norway so I want to use the bike.

[RichardL]

Well, it sounds like you want to weld the footrest onto the splined footrest distance tube. I believe this means you would only lose the ability to adjust the footrest up/down angle. This might not be that big a deal, however, you said you wanted to do it while it's on the bike. That does not make sense to me. The distance tubes are removable by removing the crossbolt. Once off the bike, no welding electrical considerations are in play.

Now, we might wait for any opinion that says the welded combination can't be put back in position as a unit.

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

I've been told that welding a vehicle with an alternator without disconnecting the battery can cause damage to the alternator. I doubt that a magneto would be damaged by welding while it is fitted,  but I suggest you wait 12 hours or so to give the forum experts a chance to have their say about this. There are members who will know the answer for sure.

[ellis]

Hi Beman.  You could always buy a battery save unit that connects to the positive and negative terminals, so you can then weld to your hearts content,
without damaging any electrical items on your bike. Just make sure to buy a 6v or 12v unit that corresponds to your bikes voltage.   

ELLIS

[RichardL]

Leaving the question, why do you have to do it while it's on the bike?

[Beman]

hi
 as I told you in my reply this will be a temporary fix.to take out  the slined tube is a big job,

[Greybeard]

...You could always buy a battery save unit that connects to the positive and negative terminals, so you can then weld to your hearts content, without damaging any electrical items on your bike...

But the magneto has no connection to the bikes battery. Would the dynamo and regulator be damaged? I don't know.

[dave55]

Hi, just a thought but would it be possible to drill through the footrest and shaft in situ then put a nut and bolt through like a cotter pin as its a temporary measure ?

[muskrat]

G'day Beman.
I'm not 100% sure but to be on the safe side I'd disconnect the battery (both + & -) and also remove the magneto earth brush (under the screw on the flange side). May not be needed BUT!
Cheers

[duTch]

    musko rounded me up.....
 
 G'day Beman, I know *for sure* that electric welding a vehicle without disconnecting the battery will fry an alternator, and but I haven't done a generator but expect would be the same- not hard, simply remove the battery cables....

 I can't say about the magneto, but would at least remove the plug leads, and the carbon 'earth' brush(s) which may or not be necessary- the guru's will be able to confirm that....

 Re the peg/spline, 'what the others have said', but if you weld it is another one probably wrecked forever, original ones must be coming to short supply and can't guarantee the quality of pattern ones so tread with care

[jachenbach]

From the replies, I'm beginning to think I'm the only one left who welds with oxyacetylene. Sometimes a mig, but I'm better with the torch.

[Beman]

thank you.
I will disconect the battery