| Author | Message | ||
     Roadkingtrax |
I was doing an inspection of my motorcycle prior to washing it and discovered a crack in my frame weld, and gooey residue indicating a slow fuel leak with it gets filled. I will contact my insurance, I will also not ride a bike like this in its condition. Does anyone know if State Farm will total the bike or recommend a repair with frame replacement? I don't want to have a catastrophic frame failure in a hard turn. The crack is about 1/2-3/4 of an inch on top of the r/h side where the big rear cross bracket welds to the frame, right in the triangle area. This is a stress point for the engine and the frame. I am losing my confidence in Buell very quickly. I am the second owner. (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| No_rice |
well, all i can say is if you didnt wreck the bike there is no point in calling your insurance. they dont replace things just because they break, otherwise i'd call my insurance when the motor gives out. my recommendation would be to just find a reputable welding shop and have them fix it. if it was mine i would just go weld it up at my friends shop and not think much more of it. i do wonder why it was cracked though since the frames are strong as hell. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
No rice makes sense here. Two cautions: find someone who is fully experience with aluminum and with fuel tanks. They are both specialties. Also, please post a pic so we know where to look. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Well my forks were replaced soon after I purchased the bike for being bent by the previous owner, that impact probably caused stress cracks I'm guessing. They were replaced under warranty and not through an insurance claim...so I guess I don't know where to go...hmmph  | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
Screw all that I would call buell customer support and have a chat with them. I Depending on when you bought the bike, it still might be under warranty. Worth a shot. (Message edited by lost_in_ohio on August 30, 2008) | ||
| No_rice |
i guess being an 06 it still might be under warranty. i should have looked at your profile. if it has been wrecked though usually warranty gets thrown out the window so you have to make sure you know how you want to aproach it | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Well I can tell you my warranty was up in April 2008, I am at a loss on what to do. (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
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| No_rice |
so its an 06 and the warranty ran out in 06? thats odd. anyway, thats an interesting place for a frame crack. its kind of just randomly there. like i said, if it was mine i wouldnt loose any sleep over it. id just weld it and be on my way. it shouldnt even be to big of an out of pocket expense if you had to pay someone to do it. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Sorry April 2008...it was built in April 2006. I'm all screwed up... | ||
| Froggy |
Not trying to promote fraud or anything, perhaps stretch the truth with the insurance company? Tell them you were at work or something, found the bike on its side, no apparent damage but now it’s leaking out of the small crack. What do you guys think? | ||
| Packrat |
Well let's see, previous owner wrecked the bike ,thereby bending the forks-I'd bet that is how is the frame came to be cracked.. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I will probably see what they say, it is stressed for some reason...Act of God works for windshields. I am not a stunt rider, couldn't even describe how to do a wheelie much less try one. It has been a commuter and has 8,500 miles on it. Beats me... | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I never noticed it until now, what would an insurance rep say about getting it being fixed under warranty and now 6,000 miles later it has a crack show up? | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
 | ||
| Davegess |
Bent forks would indicate a pretty serious wreck took place. You don't bend those any other way. | ||
| Brumbear |
tell em you were in a hard turn and hit a pothole and your shoes fell and you wanna sue cause you were all drunk and ran a few people over at a bus stop. See how that works seriously that looks like an easy fix and if the frame was comprimised I am sure it would be way worse than that | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Well it leaks fuel, so something has been compromised. The crack will continue unless fixed, stop drilled or replaced. I can explain to my insurance agent that the bike was purchased and financed under the assumption is was in good working order, they may not help. An explanation of the fork replacement may assist my case to them and hold the selling party ultimately responsible. There is a history...just no insurance claims from before or accident reports. I was upset when the forks were replaced and the seller was not honest about the history, I could of been seriously hurt and the damage was not apparent for a while after buying it. The tech showed me the removed forks. Anyone could understand how upset I am about having no recourse other then eating more money for a lemon-esque bike. (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Xb9er |
thats tiny. Go to a welding shop. 5 minutes and $20 gets you back to normal. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Just a few hours getting the frame off...I have had more issues with this bike from lights, kickstands, chaffed wires....my patience is about up.  (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Guell |
It was stressed from being wrecked previously... Not exactly the bikes fault. Just have it rewelded and ride it | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I'll let insurance deal with it. With any luck they may want to total it. (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Babyhuey |
i would contact buell customer service,you warranty didn't expire that long ago. this is serious failure in the factories eyes. how good of a relationship do you have with your local dealer. they can file a goodwill claim for you and possibly get either the parts or labor covered if the factory won't bone up. i've seen frames with the neck completely ripped off and the rest is fine, this sounds like a serious manufacture defect. make the call and stick to your guns, you may be pleasantly surprised.-andrew | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I firmly believe that this is a frame defect, unique to the weld on this bike. This crack was not there when the shocks were replaced. The triple tree was not bent at the time of replacement. I am faithful like many others, despite the Buell's quirks. I am merely curious if anyone else had seen this or if insurance would help. Babyhuey...I am in Phoenix, and had the forks replaced at Chandler under warranty. (Message edited by roadkingtrax on August 30, 2008) | ||
| Brumbear |
Well I thrashed my front end and had no frame damage at all if that helps some wires were chaffed more crushed and the front tubes were comprimised the triple tree was bent all the crap up front and r/side foot peg holder for lack of a better word thrashed NO FRAME damage just fix it and ride it the insurance company might pay for it but if they do not at least you will ride out the season | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I hear what you're saying. I want to just seal it and ride and not worry about it...I'll always fear it will crack the whole way or something, or worse throw fuel onto a hot engine and you can read out it in the news. | ||
| Prof_stack |
I t-boned a car with my XB9S at about 25mph. The forks did NOT bend, but the frame released as it was designed to do. Your bike probably had a bit more of a jolt than what you were led to believe. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
Frame released? I guess I don't know what that means. Sad thing about the motorcycle, it was a Harley mechanic/dealership salesman private seller that sold me the bike and vouched for it's condition...lied to me and my girlfriend who heard everything we talked about and the questions I asked. She wasn't happy with the bike after all the initial problems I went through, back-ordered forks etc. I hesitate to mention this problem to her... | ||
| Hughlysses |
The crack will continue unless fixed, stop drilled or replaced. I don't think that's necessarily true. The weld has cracked edge-to-edge. I don't see why it would continue to propagate into the base metal on either side. I'd actually consider pasting it over with JB Weld, or they actually make a specific two-part epoxy for fuel tank repairs. That would stop the fuel leak. If this area is under significant stress, the epoxy will quickly crack in which case I'd look further into having the frame repaired. | ||
| Roadkingtrax |
I am in agreement with you Hughlysses, I only hesitate till I talk to Buell Customer Service before I apply any foreign material. If they give me the run around or don't give me any insight I will do just that. |
