I have a question: Is it possible to weld cold forged aluminum? Here's why- I'm doing a "cheap" build for a 4" travel playbike, and have 4 shimano derailleurs in my toolbox in varying levels and conditions.
Anyway, I'll be running a SRS guide, and don't want to shell out for a sram short cage setup since I have all of these derailleurs. So I want to hack and re-weld the cage of one to make a short cage.
I know how to TIG weld, and have access to a welder. The xt long cage I want to try it on has an aluminum front plate, with a steel back plate. Has anyone tried this? It's more of an experiment than anything, but i'd hate to start hacking and find that forged aluminum isn't weldable.
Thanks in advance for any valuable input you may have.
PS- I was going to hack up the deore cage that I have (all steel) since I know it's weldable, but when I took it apart, the shaft that the cage rotates on is severely worn by the retaining pin and doesn't look worth the effort.
Anyway, I'll be running a SRS guide, and don't want to shell out for a sram short cage setup since I have all of these derailleurs. So I want to hack and re-weld the cage of one to make a short cage.
I know how to TIG weld, and have access to a welder. The xt long cage I want to try it on has an aluminum front plate, with a steel back plate. Has anyone tried this? It's more of an experiment than anything, but i'd hate to start hacking and find that forged aluminum isn't weldable.
Thanks in advance for any valuable input you may have.
PS- I was going to hack up the deore cage that I have (all steel) since I know it's weldable, but when I took it apart, the shaft that the cage rotates on is severely worn by the retaining pin and doesn't look worth the effort.
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