The factory welded crank saga continues...

[renobruce]

Not to get off subject, but I need my crank welded on my '78 1000. Do the welds need to go completely around the pin? The guy who says he can weld mine is planning on just tacking it, I think. He said he wouldn't be adding much if any material to it... more like just bonding it together. Does that sound right? Is that sufficient? After the crank gets welded, do you need to balance it?

[Jethro]

I'm pretty sure that whenever you take the crank out you should check the balance on it, but certainly after welding I imagine.

[lecroy]

Not to get off subject, but I need my crank welded on my '78 1000. Do the welds need to go completely around the pin? The guy who says he can weld mine is planning on just tacking it, I think. He said he wouldn't be adding much if any material to it... more like just bonding it together. Does that sound right? Is that sufficient? After the crank gets welded, do you need to balance it?

Get what you pay for here. If the first words out out the welders mouth weren't how quick is the bike, your looking in the wrong place. They have a reputation to protect.

[renobruce]

Get what you pay for here. If the first words out out the welders mouth weren't how quick is the bike, your looking in the wrong place. They have a reputation to protect.

I haven't yet spoke to the welder in person. He is a friend of a friend... has his own motorcycle shop... works mostly on Yamahas. I was just curious if his process is correct, or what I should expect when getting my crank welded. APE, Falicon, and places like that show they will weld the crank for around $100. Does that include balancing, or is balancing needed? I'm not building a drag bike, but it will be modified, and I only want to do this once.

[bonanzadave]

Mine twisted in 1984 at less than 5000 miles in a one horse town with a Suzuki only dealer with 5 bikes in the showroom and a shop no bigger than my kitchen. The ol boy got a hold of the Factory rep and got the new crank put in (took a month) and shes been like clock work ever since. a cost to me of $0.00

[lecroy]

....or what I should expect when getting my crank welded. APE, Falicon, and places like that show they will weld the crank for around $100. Does that include balancing, or is balancing needed?

Pick up the phone and call them.

[renobruce]

Pick up the phone and call them.

Thanks for the input.

[RacingJake]

Over a year ago I called APE and the tech said they don't usually balance the crank due to it being a roller bearing crank. He said it wasn't needed??

[lecroy]

Thanks for the input.

It was the best advice I could give. Too many hillbilly crank jobs out there already.

Goood luck with yours.