SuzukiSavage.com - Will frame welding damage electronic components?

Big John

YaBB Newbies

Offline

Savage: the new Old
Brit!

Posts: 31

Gender: male

Will frame welding damage electronic components?
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. Undecided

TIA, BigJohn

Back to top

Big John

IP Logged

verslagen1

YaBB Moderator
ModSquad

Offline

Where there's a
will, I want to be
in it.

Posts: 28752
L.A. California
Gender: male

Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Reply #1 - 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.

Back to top

Versey's Place
Tech Section Index

IP Logged

batman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3806 osceola new york Gender:	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #2 - 06/25/17 at 20:12:02 Is it possible that welding could demagnetize the rotor?
Back to top	my old work mates called me MacGyver IP Logged

verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28752 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #3 - 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.
Back to top	Versey's Place Tech Section Index IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #4 - 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.
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

batman Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 3806 osceola new york Gender:	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #5 - 06/25/17 at 23:12:56 I'm thinking if it was an AC welder it might be more likely to do damage.
Back to top	my old work mates called me MacGyver IP Logged

Eegore Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 7990	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #6 - 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?
Back to top	IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #7 - 10/26/17 at 10:38:55 You absolutely do not want to have the swing arm pivot between the ground and weld.
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

Eegore Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 7990	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #8 - 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.
Back to top	IP Logged

Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 17784 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #9 - 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.
Back to top	« Last Edit: 10/26/17 at 12:48:03 by Dave » Someday I will be old......But not today! IP Logged

Ruttly Serious Thumper Offline Thumpers Rule Posts: 4997 Manteca , CA Gender:	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #10 - 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.
Back to top	The Topic Terminator IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #11 - 10/26/17 at 14:53:51 If you have the swing arm on the bench, the electronic parts are safe.
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

sawkuh YaBB Newbies Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 17	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #12 - 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.
Back to top	IP Logged

justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component Reply #13 - 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.
Back to top	The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion.- Edmund Burke. IP Logged

badwolf

Serious Thumper

Offline

Ridin' my Lil'
Bagger - 153k miles
so far

Posts: 793
Palm Beach County, FL
Gender: male

Re: Will frame welding damage electronic component
Reply #14 - 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'

Back to top

IP Logged