Topic: Welding Experience Needed For New Project

[nrd2052]

I have welding experience - not much, but enough to be dangerous. I do have enough experience to know that every project is a little different when it comes to what processes and welding wires to use.

I have never attempted to weld on an old Honda frame, but I am about to jump into a project that will require a bit of welding on a '72 cb500 frame.

Who here has any experience with these frames? Any tips? What kind of steel am I working with? Anything specific that I should be looking out for?

Thanks!

[hymodyne]

I have welded up bits for my bike with my arc welder, mostly fairing brackets, but have never welded new metal to the frame itself. when I needed pieces attached to the frame to accept my rearsets, I took it to an auto shop tht had a MIG.

hym

[manjisann]

The frame is pretty regular steel tubing, approx .063" thick. I did some reinforcement welding on my 650 frame using a mig welder and .23 wire with argon/co2 mix. I don't personally have the skill to do a full frame and wouldn't trust my life to my own welding, but a few tack welds or just reinforcint the old welds I'll try.

HTH,

Brandon

[wannabridin]

well first off, what kind of welder do you have?

i was just about to post something with the same gist!!  i have a hobart handler 120, and i will be using a mix gas setup once my flux core is used up...  but i will be welding my rear set mounts up as well as a possible steering stabilizer mount and oil cooler mounts.  also, i might be cleaning up the rear end some and making something like benjie's under seat electronics piece.  oh ya, and not to forget about welding the frame right under the neck.

from the experts, do you think this should be ok?  i know the steel isn't too thick for my welder by any means, and i can throw down a decent bead, but would these kinds of projects be over my head?  THANKS!!!

[Bamboozler]

I'm no mig magician, but I've welded up to around 1/8" bar stock for brackets on my 78 750F .  I use a 220V 175 Lincoln using .025 mild steel wire and fed with Stargon gas (argon/co2 blend).  I set the heat range on the upper end recommendation for the material thickness and micro swirl a good about of heat into the join as it rolls on; ties the metal in solid and usually nice and smooth if the joint is prepped well (clean bare metal). Tack the target piece, adjust if needed, and seal the deal.

Haven't played with a 120 but wouldn't see a problem getting enough heat into the area for bracket work.

[wannabridin]

oh no.  this is a VERY capable little unit!!  i'm def. glad i bought the thing!!  it only has a 15% duty cycle, but, it's plenty for what i use it for!!  i haven't really made any structural welds yet, so i'm a bit nervous about some welds i plan on making.  guess i can just bust out some scrap beforehand!! 

[Bamboozler]

Good call on the scrap metal dry runs.  That should satisfy with pondering of weather the welds are robust enough. Thinkin' the same as you that the 120 its plenty capable for the task at hand.

[wannabridin]

any advice on how to weld up the factory gaps on the neck?  i believe it's .063 mild steel?  but i'm not 100%...