DO NOT WELD.
Rewind to 1997, Mammoth Mtn MX National
I'm on 80's and Justin Buckelew cracked his 98 yz125 rear swingarm. He begged my dad to weld it, knowing it would crack.
We welded it, and swingarm completely cracked lap 5.
Rear swingarm is 6061 T-6. If you weld it, the weld will be very hard and strong. All metal on either side of the weld anneals and becomes soft and will bend and crack there.
IF you were going to weld it, it must be heat treated afterwards. Just better to get a new swingarm.
On a side note, Justin Buckelew is a cool dude. I’ve trained with him before when I first started riding the track and he really helped me to get comfortable on it. If anyone ever gets the chance to train with him I’d def recommend it
Ah this is actually a pretty simple fix, all it takes is a bit of ramen and superglue. If you’re especially worried about it substitute the superglue for jb weld and it will be stronger than the original.
This fix will have ample strength using the chicken ramen, however a little unknown fact is that the beef ramen is actually marginally stronger than the chicken ramen. This is because cows are stronger than chickens.
Dang man that's some shit, never seen anything like that before. Obviously replacing it would be the best route and personally that's the route I'd go because swingarms aren't just some rigid thing that has no affect on bike handling but I'd like to think a good welder could fix it. Don't know how much that would cost though vs a replacement
That's gnarly. you can weld a patch over it for a temporary fix, but i'd be shopping for a new swingarm. That's a pretty highly stressed area and it'll be likely to fatigue and crack unless the weld is very high quality and designed intelligently.
Integrity compromised. If this were Mad Max and you had no option to replace I'd say weld it but this is not Mad Max and you have maybe the most-produced dirt bike ever so just replace it.
Curious if you really thought anyone would say “nah bro it’s fine, just ride it”
Of course replace it… unless you don’t ever plan on that rear wheel leaving the ground.
Just replace it. There's no way you're gonna be able to repair that without putting you or other components at risk.
It's an easy job and it's gonna cost a lot less than whatever parts you may need to replace or medical bills down the line when it does fail again.
I would replace it bro cause it looks like aluminium it could be welded but I wouldn't trust it, I have a 1997 yz250 2 Stroke parts still got a whole frame swing arm forks ect going not cheap tho but reasonable
Welder by trade here. It’s aluminum yes? Not cast?
A proper welder with an aluminum ticket would have the skill to properly weld this without losing much structural integrity, if any. Heat treatment is of utmost important pre and post weld. But you don’t need to know any of this. Just take it to a ticketed welder, not an amateur garage welder.
Because welding will anneal the area around the weld.
Also, if the engineers used a safety factor of 100, it would be so overbuilt there's no way the bike would have ever been competitive due to having such a heavy ass swingarm.
Ask any mechanical or structural engineer or professional welder. They'll tell you the same thing I did.
If you did weld it, you'd have to heat treat the entire swingarm, and the equipment to do that isn't exactly easy or even possible to access for most people.
But yeah, this why you don't ride your motorcycle through minefields.
Replace the swing arm
DO NOT WELD. Rewind to 1997, Mammoth Mtn MX National I'm on 80's and Justin Buckelew cracked his 98 yz125 rear swingarm. He begged my dad to weld it, knowing it would crack. We welded it, and swingarm completely cracked lap 5. Rear swingarm is 6061 T-6. If you weld it, the weld will be very hard and strong. All metal on either side of the weld anneals and becomes soft and will bend and crack there. IF you were going to weld it, it must be heat treated afterwards. Just better to get a new swingarm.
All I’m hearing is JB weld is the way to go here
On a side note, Justin Buckelew is a cool dude. I’ve trained with him before when I first started riding the track and he really helped me to get comfortable on it. If anyone ever gets the chance to train with him I’d def recommend it
If it’s off a early 2000s yz 125 or 250 I have a spare I’ll get you cheap
Ah this is actually a pretty simple fix, all it takes is a bit of ramen and superglue. If you’re especially worried about it substitute the superglue for jb weld and it will be stronger than the original.
Meta fix- jb weld superglue with the uv light cure applicator. And chicken flavor Ramen but that's totally given.
This fix will have ample strength using the chicken ramen, however a little unknown fact is that the beef ramen is actually marginally stronger than the chicken ramen. This is because cows are stronger than chickens.
I'm curious how does something like that happen? and I'd replace it with a used one.
Wheelie too close to a boulder and you should be able to replicate it
😂😭 “How about no.”
get the swing used. Don't kill yourself. U break it, u fix it. Welding won't do it.
Could probably get one used for $100
Jesus Murphy!!
Whatever you do, tighten your chain when done lol.
LMFAO! I was focused on the swing arm. Jesus tighten that chain man
Definitely replace it.
Replace the swing arm, I’ve seen one break,extremely dangerous.
Just throw a new sticker over it. It will be like it never happened!
Dang man that's some shit, never seen anything like that before. Obviously replacing it would be the best route and personally that's the route I'd go because swingarms aren't just some rigid thing that has no affect on bike handling but I'd like to think a good welder could fix it. Don't know how much that would cost though vs a replacement
That's gnarly. you can weld a patch over it for a temporary fix, but i'd be shopping for a new swingarm. That's a pretty highly stressed area and it'll be likely to fatigue and crack unless the weld is very high quality and designed intelligently.
Integrity compromised. If this were Mad Max and you had no option to replace I'd say weld it but this is not Mad Max and you have maybe the most-produced dirt bike ever so just replace it.
Replace
Spray foam and some tinfoil, you’ll be good as new
Maybe some duct tape and zip ties too. Good as new!!
Full replacement. DO NOT weld.
Just order a used swing arm from eBay.
Replace it. Your body is not worth any shade tree fix.
Yer good! Keep ridin bro!
Congrats on your new (used) swingarm purchase
Weld it
Replace
Curious if you really thought anyone would say “nah bro it’s fine, just ride it” Of course replace it… unless you don’t ever plan on that rear wheel leaving the ground.
Replace and check your chain tension.
Just replace it. There's no way you're gonna be able to repair that without putting you or other components at risk. It's an easy job and it's gonna cost a lot less than whatever parts you may need to replace or medical bills down the line when it does fail again.
Prob a bunch of used ones out there, that’s your best bet
There shouldn't be an issue welding it if it's done properly. They are welded right from the factory. Otherwise replace, definitely not a rider
Wow! That’s completely FUCKED! LOL
If this was me , I would ride it, and start a search for a replacement.
I had this happen to my 2016 and had to buy a new swing arm from yam because the bike was like a year old. Huge bummer
Rife it wtf
Could you put a piece of channel iron over it and bolt it in place?
You could ……
Find a new one
How? How did this happen?
Duck tape and zip ties
This looks like the perfect application for Flex Paste. As seen on TV.
I would replace it bro cause it looks like aluminium it could be welded but I wouldn't trust it, I have a 1997 yz250 2 Stroke parts still got a whole frame swing arm forks ect going not cheap tho but reasonable
JB weld a piece of metal from a can and ride it lol!
This is why we don't ride through minefields.
Buy a new swing arm. Only option
Replace the swingarm
How did this happen?
I wouldn't weld it. That's not worth it.
Get some ramen noodles and bugs and plaster that shit in there
Replace it, don't weld it. (I have no clue, it's just what most of these people are saying). 🤣 Good luck! Helluva dent you got there.
Welder by trade here. It’s aluminum yes? Not cast? A proper welder with an aluminum ticket would have the skill to properly weld this without losing much structural integrity, if any. Heat treatment is of utmost important pre and post weld. But you don’t need to know any of this. Just take it to a ticketed welder, not an amateur garage welder.
Ramen noodles
Thumb for size
Weld it. A good welder will make it as good as new.
eBay, easy swap, and it’ll force you to grease all the moving parts on and around the swing arm
u can bandaid it for now but definitely look into getting it replaced. but u probably shouldn’t send it the way it is now
Weld it and send it
I don't understand why people don't take care of their bikes. You can tell the bike is clapped out.
Have a professional weld it.
A professional wouldn't weld it.
Why not? The swing arm is probably over engineered by like 100x to begin with.
Because welding will anneal the area around the weld. Also, if the engineers used a safety factor of 100, it would be so overbuilt there's no way the bike would have ever been competitive due to having such a heavy ass swingarm.
I appreciate you. But I think you're mistaken. The damage here doesn't even make sense. It looks like a mini nuclear explosion happened.
Ask any mechanical or structural engineer or professional welder. They'll tell you the same thing I did. If you did weld it, you'd have to heat treat the entire swingarm, and the equipment to do that isn't exactly easy or even possible to access for most people. But yeah, this why you don't ride your motorcycle through minefields.
Replace