Broken Cooling Fins

Has anybody had any success fixing broken cooling fins on the engine? My bike has some pieces broken off from the PO and asthetically, I would like to fix it. Unfortunately, I don't have the pieces and I also don't have a welder (TIG is what is required I think).

Any ideas?
Rob

 

You could have them welded on if you had them but there's really no need. I would just file them off smooth so they blend in and forget it.

 

Cast aluminum is VERY difficult to weld up. To do this correctly, as I understand the process, the item to be welded must be spotlessly clean, including the porous surface. Then the item should be brought up to a couple hundred degrees slowly (couple of hours for this one from what I heard). The welder will heli-arc fresh material into place, building up the missing form. Then the item must be allowed to cool at a given rate to prevent cracking. And even at the end of the process, I understand the weld may still not hold. Any professionals out there, please weigh in. This can cost anywhere from under $100 to several hundred dollars depending upon size and complexity of the repair. Another issue is that if the part being repaired has any machined matched surfaces on it, prepare to have the machining done again in case the part warps.

 

Sounds like file them off and forget it is the way to go!

 

As a welder I woulsnt even attempt such a thing on my own bike because of the heat and complexities of process, not to mention the cost of doing such work that would be tedious and expensive to have done.

 

Yep, File em. If it bothers you too much it would be easier and cheaper to put another head on it.

 

I'll differ here , if they are easy to get at go ahead and give it a go , as the clean issue , as long as the original is filed back to a "bare " state there should be no problem as there is not any load bearing to worry about , whoever does it get them to leave extra so you can do a final trim with a file the paper...

the heat thingy is not revelent to your wants and rarely is for style of job [but under certain circumstances is needed]. the heat thingy is most revelent to cast iron and associated metals...

Should be only a few bucks too.....in my opinion.

 

Also fraps , go to a wreckers and see if you can brake off the bits you need off another wrecked head... ask nicley

 

I'm resurrecting an old thread, but I want to file down a couple broken fins on mine. Can someone please link to the type of file I should use to do this?

 

there are files for aluminum but i never saw one, their supposed to be a double cut rough file
if you want to use a regular file from the hardware store start with a double cut to get the shape then a single cut for the finish
there are file cards (wire brushes) just for files but a stainless steel toothbrush is just as good and cheaper to clean out the teeth when they plug up
wipe the file with chalk to help keep it from plugging up

 

If you spray your file or Burr with WD 40 the AL don't stick as bad and is easier to remove (from the tool).