TIG welding repair of a cast aluminum motorcycle wheel hub

[@bcbloc02]

I am not a pro welder but imperfections bother me too. I like to weld hot since I like good penetration, but sometimes that of course results in underct, which is unsightly. I realize that can usually be fixed by reducing the amps but when you only have one part and one weld to make it is sometimes hard to guess where you need to be om settings to get that perfect weld in one shot. You got it fixed and that is what matters. Nice meeting you at the open house.

[@rickl.orchids]

......another great show Jim, your way of explaining the techniques you use are simple, right to the point and easy to understand, good stuff.............

[@magnusklahr8190]

Great! Its nice to hear that some other people have problem in alu casting repair!👍😊

[@keithlincoln1309]

New to your videos, thanks for taking the time to explain why you are doing what you do. Excellent job!

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Great job!! Keep them coming.

[@billdlv]

Nice repair, I hear what you are saying about cast aluminum. I had the same problems you describe welding cooling fins and side covers on my 82 Honda 750F. I did find even on small items a bit of pre heat made the initial welds go a bit better.

[@indoorherbivore]

Nice work and informative too. If your friend is smart, he will install helicoil inserts to prevent future damage to the threaded holes.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

Great share , I sure don't like that cheap cast . Hard to deal with when it comes time for repairs .. Thumbs up !

[@BasementShopGuy]

Hahah "Hey man" - love it. Your videos are ready for the DYI channel. Excellent quality and "tv" personality Jim!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+BasementShopGuy Bahaha, Thanks, I'll take that as a compliment.....

[@dmmdmm5435]

I've done this same type of repair many times. Motor bike engine cases, boat engine transom clamps and propeller blades, vw engine and transmission, ect. I find that you got to sit on a puddle for a while to boil off petrochemical and other contaminants. German cast seems to be less trouble, that damn chineseium cast is pure crap every time. It all pays the bills though.

[@RaysGarage]

Hey Jim, Excellent video quality and great Hey Man repair buddy! Cheers, Ray

[@razorworks9942]

I've had my share of those kind of jobs too. Your approach was a bit different than what I would have done, but hey, as the saying goes, "more than one way to skin a cat"! For a pit bike, your time spent on the repair was worth more than the bike!!! Nice job!Razor!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Razor Works How would you have done it? The pit bike looks like you threw it off a cliff, but it runs good and does exactly what he needs it to do. Why not help a good buddy out?.....

[@razorworks9942]

+DoRite Fabrication Hey Jim, Thanks for getting back! You did good by your friends, I would have too. Don't know if you remember talking with me, been a while ago, but I would have used a different tool, (rotary file, or an end mill) to remove the raw material for the welding. Secondly, I would have preheated the hub to relieve the "shock value" for welding. Let me be perfectly clear to all the arm-chair professionals out there, Jim's approach was done based on his decisions, and it worked out perfect! That said, there are always more than one method to repairing something. I would have done a couple things differently, but doesn't mean Jim's method was "wrong" and mine would have been "right", it simply means, there are usually more ways than one to repair something, especially when it comes to welding! Thumbs up Jim, you had a job to do, was given short notice to complete it, and you were successful! That is all that really matters! Good job!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

There is always more than one way to skin a cat for sure. Thanks for watching.

[@outsidescrewball]

Great video/discussion/instruction/repair!

[@phillhuddleston9445]

I'm sure you probably already know this but just in case you have an insert clamp missing on the cnmg tool holder. Using it as it is it could come loose with a heavy or interrupted cut or if you get chatter.

[@newcombnicholas]

Do you ever get a problem with "popcorning" with cast? Welded a jet boat shroud and it gave me so many problems but once I got some metal on her she did good for a while but couldn't weld on it more than 15 minutes until it did it again

[@tomherd4179]

Just stumbled upon your site/video now you have another subscriber. I really like your beginning to end job follow through, and the informative tips on what to expect. I just was working on a 1938 cast iron cover that I think was under water, as everything else was rusted solid - well shall we say your fix came out much better :/) Thanks for the great video!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Tom Herd Thanks for watching! Feel free to invite a few 1000 of your friends to the channel......lol

[@lupeortiz6397]

hey man you make great videos and you are very informative...

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Lupe Ortiz Thank you.

[@RRINTHESHOP]

Hey Man, Nice repair.

[@zoebaby11ss]

Great informational video.

[@andrewwilson8317]

Great video,tricky item to weld. They are cast from scrap alloy that's probably been recycled many times. They loose track of the grade of alloy and what's in it, I reckon they don't much give a shit, just cast the bits quick and cheap and get them out the door. Maybe I am being a bit too sceptical but sure they have no regard as to service life of a part!

[@arielista]

JB weld? Is that short for Jim Bollinger? LOL I just had to.

[@jan-roarbernhardsen7626]

Thanks for a very good video

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Jan-Roar Bernhardsen Thank you for watching!

[@weldingjunkie]

Nice fix, looks great. I want to ask here would it be better to use 5356 due to its strength and ability to heat treat? I always thought 4043 was more for ascetics? I've yet to repair cast so would love your input.

[@mikenixon9164]

Jim nave you tried Lincolns newest helmet I have been trying too find out locally but no luck. Nice job on video!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Mike Nixon Yes, I have one of the 4C HD helmets, and they are awsome! Well worth the $.

[@mikenixon9164]

Jim what does this visor actually help with? Can you get any additional magnification with this?

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Mike Nixon The new 4C helmets have incredible optical clarity even when compared to helmets from a few years ago. Yes they accept the standard cheater lens, available at any weld supply.

[@Bigtwin88]

Nice Job.....Thanks Don M

[@danielkristensen8262]

I like youre grinding disc, I try to Google it but cant finde anny hear in Norway. Do youre have a brand name on it?

[@DoRiteFabrication]

I think it's made by Sait, but I'll have to look.

[@dougankrum3328]

...SAIT or Walter...wheels made for aluminum...but you cannot use them on anything else...and they are very easily damaged or broken...they're made with a wax binder instead of fiberglass...

[@DoRiteFabrication]

Rex CUT. Now owned by SAIT.

[@dougankrum3328]

DoRite Fabrication..REX Cut...yeah, I was trying to recall the name...they've been making the aluminum wheels for a very long time...I was using them in the 1970's....

[@chrisdover9514]

Are you still using the Apect 375 and if so how do you like it? I’m about to pull the trigger on this machine. It was a toss up between this and a dynasty 280dx complete.

[@DoRiteFabrication]

Yes, for my shop I use it. No complaints. I like it better than the Dynasty 300 DX I had. That was a good machine too, but I like the 375 better...

[@tjs_welding_and_fabrication]

Jim. Thanks for the tip on those ceramic wheels. I am fixing a yamaha water craft with a chunk of the block broken at the stator area. Those wheels work great. I posted this on my instagram tjsperformance

[@harrywehrman5308]

Tell the guy to heli coil the holes for more strength.

[@TomZelickman]

Nice fix, Jim. Do you have a preferred grinding disk for aluminum? See you soon! Tom Z

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+Tom Zelickman (Inspiration Metalworks) I like Rex cut discs. SAIT owns them now.

[@200xcBruce]

Nice video for a part that most likely should have been tossed. I am curious can I use WD40 on a deburing tool as kerosene is not readily available? I would think your bill for that was more than the part was worth.

[@DoRiteFabrication]

Bruce Kennedy yes WD works too, but has gotten rather expensive here. Part was probably cheaper than a full repair Bill if it hadn't been for a friend....thanks for watching!

[@200xcBruce]

I have also seen a bar of Dove soap will work as well

[@krazziee2000]

nice

[@shadowfox929]

Thanks for another great video. Do you find kerosene better than WD-40 when turning aluminum?

[@DoRiteFabrication]

+David Calabretta I don't really notice a difference, truthfully I use kerosene 'cause it's what I've always used...

[@bryonbuchanan2228]

So it’s been a couple years, how’s that aspect 375 been working for you? I just ordered one, hoping it turns out to be a good investment

[@DoRiteFabrication]

B Kelly overall, good. Had to replace the torch. I really like the low current DC

[@bryonbuchanan2228]

DoRite Fabrication good to hear. I enjoyed using the welder at the Lincoln school. Got a good deal on a nascar turn in.

[@wind0m]

KZbin needs less idiots and more guys like this

[@DoRiteFabrication]

I often think I resemble that remark, many days what I'm working on makes me feel like a big idiot! LOL thanks for watching!

[@theoriginalmungaman]

huge waste of time! You can get any of them junk China parts dirt cheap!

[@DoRiteFabrication]

theoriginalmungaman I don't call helping out a friend who is 900 miles from home and needs his pit bike in a day or two, a waste of time. Maybe you do, but that's not how I roll....