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Message started by Big John on 06/25/17 at 11:14:39

Title: Will frame welding damage electronic components?
Post by Big John on 06/25/17 at 11:14:39

Hi all I hope this topic has not been covered already. I searched but could not find it.
I need to do some light welding on my 03 Savage (posts for seat springs). From previous experience I have learned that some electronic components like ECUs and other devices are at risk of damage from pulses caused by arc welding somewhere on the vehicle. I wonder if anyone has welded on their bikes with the electronics in place and have noticed any problems afterwards. :-/

TIA, BigJohn

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by verslagen1 on 06/25/17 at 11:25:55

A professional welder said no you don't need to.
watched him do a fine repair on a header and had no problems afterwards.

My brother said better safe than sorry.
pull the ecu and rectifier, disconnect the ground, and no problems afterwards... except it doesn't charge, replaced stator, rectifier and still doesn't work.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by batman on 06/25/17 at 20:12:02

Is it possible that welding could demagnetize the rotor?

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by verslagen1 on 06/25/17 at 20:18:10

when I changed the stator, the cover wasn't as hard to pull off as I remembered the 1st time.
so, it's possible.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/25/17 at 21:29:35

I'd think Where the ground is relative to where the welding is being done could matter,

Getting shocked from knee to foot
Or across the chest
Or across the temples..

Just thought, cuzidunno.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by batman on 06/25/17 at 23:12:56

I'm thinking if it was an AC welder it might be more likely to do damage.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Eegore on 10/26/17 at 10:33:18

While the bikes are down for the winter I was considering trying to weld on some tabs to the swingarm for storage boxes, and trying to build an engine bar.

I know the swingarm can be pulled off easily but is it best to just strip the entire bike down to only a frame to weld an engine bar?

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/26/17 at 10:38:55

You absolutely do not want to have the swing arm pivot between the ground and weld.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Eegore on 10/26/17 at 10:48:51

Right, the swingarm will be removed, but is it best to take off everything else?

Another option would be to just buy a frame separate, I see those around, and then rebuild I suppose.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Dave on 10/26/17 at 11:10:52

I had the Rectifier, ignition module and battery removed when I welded on the Savage - those come off with just a few connectors and a couple bolts....easy peasy and it only takes a couple minutes to get them both off.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Ruttly on 10/26/17 at 12:26:45

Best precaution is to remove negative battery cable(s) and unplug the major components.

At very least do the first part of that.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/26/17 at 14:53:51

If you have the swing arm on the bench, the electronic parts are safe.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by sawkuh on 10/26/17 at 19:10:44

This is outdated but I didnt want my first post to be a question. I welded on my kickstand (ground on the rear axle) and didnt remove the battery or unplug the ECU. Hind sight I would absolutely do it but nothing was damaged and it wasnt one quick zap, I got some heat in there.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/26/17 at 20:12:13

When I was the mechanic for an oilfield company one truck lost a u-joint twice. The second time I knew it shouldn't have died, because I knew it wasn't old. I discovered the ground strap from engine to chassis busted. Current was flowing through the u-joint.. Not healthy for bearings.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by badwolf on 10/26/17 at 20:38:14

A lot of bikes that are re-wired have the negative running thru the steering head bearings instead of a ground wire. But it is not under the same stress as a u-joint, and the headlight has it's own ground. Just the current for the running lights and t/s can't do much, compared to say, a welder.
Just sayin'

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Dave on 10/27/17 at 02:14:56

4E5C4A5648553D0 wrote:

I welded on my kickstand (ground on the rear axle) and didnt remove the battery or unplug the ECU.

That probably wasn't the best place for the grounding clamp. The path of the electricity flow was either through the needle bearings where the swing arm pivots, or through the shock springs or shaft......or through the rear brake cable to the brake pedal.

It would have been far better to find a ground somewhere up on the frame near the point you were welding.......get the clamp as close to the welding area as possible.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by Eegore on 10/27/17 at 10:04:16

"I had the Rectifier, ignition module and battery removed when I welded on the Savage - those come off with just a few connectors and a couple bolts....easy peasy and it only takes a couple minutes to get them both off."

I will try this route first and see how it goes.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by sawkuh on 10/27/17 at 16:25:52

Was the closest unpainted spot besides the actual motor. Like I said, hindsight wasn't the best but as far as weld quality I'd rather have a clean, far contact over a close, dirty one. What I was aiming for was don't do it, but if you already did it, what's done is done and it is not necessarily dead.

But yeah, closest unpainted ground you can find.

Title: Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 10/27/17 at 18:58:04

The object isn't the closest.
It's avoiding sensitive stuff between.

A ground clamp may not open enough, C-clamp vise grips on the peg mount, ground on those,