Would you weld a shock stem? A friend has a Rock Shox SID dual air that is brand new but he cut the stem to short. It has been sitting in the box it came in since he cut it. My Uncle is a top notch welder and says if it is aluminum he can weld it no problem. Would you trust the fork after it had been welded? And are the stems in fact aluminum?
weld shock stem
- Thread starter MeMTbiker39
- Start date
Unfortunately it is way too short. I really don't know what he was thinking when it was cut. My thought was to weld it so that the weld fell in the center of the frame of the head tube. My Uncle says no problems and has been welding on Navy destroyers for nearly 30 yrs, I am not sure about the whole thing.
Personally, I wouldn't trust it. But if your friend still has the piece of steerer tube that he cut, you could try this:
THIS IS ONLY ME THEORIZING. THIS IS IN NO WAY A TRULY RELIABLE METHOD AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED. IF YOU DO TRY THIS, IT IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I AM NOT LIABLE.
1: Punch out the starnut if it has already been installed.
2: Cut the steerer tube and extra piece at matching 30deg angles. Grind the mating edges at an angle so that your uncle can do a point to point weld, high build, and grind down, but don't weld yet.
3: Insert a tubeular piece of 6061. Ask your LBS if they have a piece of aluminum steerer tube that was left over after a bike build. Split and grind it so it slides tightly into the steerer tube. You'll need a piece that's at least 3" long. Slip it into the steerer tube about half way so that equal lengths of the insert will mate to each piece of the steerer tube you are repairing.
4: Fit the pieces together, ensure the insert does not slip. DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF LUBRICANT. Drill multiple 1/8" holes through the steerer tube pieces all the way through the insert.
5: Have your uncle tig weld the mating edges and holes.
6: Cut to your desired length and use a headlock in lieu of using a starnut.
THIS IS ONLY ME THEORIZING. THIS IS IN NO WAY A TRULY RELIABLE METHOD AND SHOULD NOT BE ATTEMPTED. IF YOU DO TRY THIS, IT IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK AND I AM NOT LIABLE.
1: Punch out the starnut if it has already been installed.
2: Cut the steerer tube and extra piece at matching 30deg angles. Grind the mating edges at an angle so that your uncle can do a point to point weld, high build, and grind down, but don't weld yet.
3: Insert a tubeular piece of 6061. Ask your LBS if they have a piece of aluminum steerer tube that was left over after a bike build. Split and grind it so it slides tightly into the steerer tube. You'll need a piece that's at least 3" long. Slip it into the steerer tube about half way so that equal lengths of the insert will mate to each piece of the steerer tube you are repairing.
4: Fit the pieces together, ensure the insert does not slip. DO NOT USE ANY KIND OF LUBRICANT. Drill multiple 1/8" holes through the steerer tube pieces all the way through the insert.
5: Have your uncle tig weld the mating edges and holes.
6: Cut to your desired length and use a headlock in lieu of using a starnut.
well if the welder is as competent as he claims to be, then yes, it will be "ok." but do you wanna be riding that bike if it fails?
quoted for posterity
Steerer tube walls are very thin, and the heat treat is rather important.
I would recommend replacing the steerer/crown. If you are going to rig it, find a 1-1/8 peice of round stock and have a couple inches of it spun down so it can be pressed into the existing tube. Bolt this in place from the bottom and you might have a safe extension.
I would recommend replacing the steerer/crown. If you are going to rig it, find a 1-1/8 peice of round stock and have a couple inches of it spun down so it can be pressed into the existing tube. Bolt this in place from the bottom and you might have a safe extension.
