Hi, I have bought a 350 trials bike which has obviously had some heavy use as the front underside of the frame has a few big dents in it. I am planning to get the frame repainted and would like to tidy these up first. Any one had a go at pulling dents out of frames, filling the frame with braze or mig weld or perhaps there is a acceptable mod trials riders did/do to cover and strengthen this area of the frame. I have another frame that has some 1/2" x 1/2" x 1/16th angle iron neatly bent along and around the underside but it still looks a bit s**t. I thought some 3/4 cold rolled steel but thought I would see first if there was a acceptable recognised way this is already done for use in competition.
Thanks Staffs
Have you got any pics of the damage? If it's between the front and bottom lugs on the engine (assuming it's a BSA) then I doubt if the strength of the frame has been affected and it's likely to be purely a cosmetic matter. If the dents are relatively large, I would consider brazing or welding a new skin cut from similar sized tubing.
:)
I would just fill them with weld or braze the reshape carefully with a file.
Mike 8)
Thanks, Yes it is a BSA. The dents are fairly large and long but not creased or sharp and I think the combination of both your suggestions is what I will do. Weld and fill the small ones and weld a shaped tube section over the big ones. I am not a bad welder, very good with an angle grinder to make my welds look better and excellent with a file to make it look like it was never done :D
It will be used more gently these days with me riding it but I will fabricate a bash plate anyway.