Is this frame worth saving?

napanorton · Sep 8, 2012

As a result of a trade, I ended up with a '73 frame that has seen better days. It's amazing what folks will do to these bikes! The worst of it is is the side stand attachement area. It's been repaired/welded very poorly. It looks like the original was broken off and someone tried to repair it by welding in a chunk of steel, and adding material to lower tubes. Unfortunately it looks like a bit of a hole was left in there...

I don't need this frame at the moment, so I'm trying decide if it's something I should try to get fixed and have for some future project, or maybe sell it if it has any value. Worth anything?

-- Thanks, David

concours · Sep 8, 2012

That is an easy repair for a competent fabricator. The repair tab is available from www.oldbritts.com

dave M · Sep 8, 2012

I agree with Concours, this damage is relatively easy to fix and the new tab will actually strengthen the frame in this area if the job is done correctly. It is always useful to have another serviceable frame.

Torontonian · Sep 8, 2012

Can you take another good frame with it to the talented welder so he can measure-eyeball-weld this chromoly frame back the way it was? Or even photograph another good frame to death and explode the photos to work from. There are dimensions in the manuals too. Good luck but don't toss it ,I've seen much worse.

bwolfie · Sep 8, 2012

The frame I used on my combat was much worse. I was able to easily repair it like new. ours is an easy fix.

napanorton · Sep 8, 2012

OK, so the consensus is fix it - anyone know anybody around the greater Northern California/SF bay area I can take it to? What would it be worth fixed up? I'm trying to figure out how much is reasonable to pay for fixing.

Thanks!

Torontonian · Sep 8, 2012

Try friends and the Barter network. Trade your services for theirs. No cash involved. Printout frame details and photos of correct large to present, show up with hot coffees and food for all involved. Or bring cash the other way. Good luck ,it's California after all...

rpatton · Sep 8, 2012

http://www.motorcycleframeman.com/

napanorton · Sep 8, 2012

This shop looks perfect! Know anything about therm? Thanks!!!

rpatton · Sep 8, 2012

I haven't had him do any work for me but Guido had him do some work on his bike. He was pretty happy with it.
This type of thing is right up his alley. He'll also check the frame for straightness for free.

Rohan · Sep 8, 2012

Torontonian said:
Can you take another good frame with it to the talented welder so he can measure-eyeball-weld this chromoly frame back the way it was? .

Commando frames are mild steel. No chromemoly involved anywhere.

Someone had the welder amps turned up too high, Commando frame tubes are quite thin walled.

john robert bould · Sep 8, 2012

Most things are Repairable, It's what you are happy with when done, its allways back of your mind, personaly i would find another.

Hobot · Sep 9, 2012

Its mild steel for gosh sakes which be filled in likely rather stronger than the thin tube itself, plus that area is backed up by the cross tube and iso mount near by and historically ain't an area the frame tends to break at anyway, I think that's back above rear iso mount. Have em do little dabs at a time as distortion it main thing to worry about. I just had like 10" of welding done right there to add plates for hard points so for extra strong repair could weld on sheet strip then grind back so, bondo some and no one but your frame dresser will know. I discovered my Peel had both down tubes weld filed d/t old injury from crash bar mounts, before my time. It got tested bad as any could be. Repair or new don't matter but for time and effort to spend not end results is all.

mikegray660 · Sep 9, 2012

if you can get to San Jose i know a geezer whos magic on welding, and his pops is a frame guy - he does all the frames for phil @ fairspares PM me and ill get you the numbers etc etc - he can also tell you if its really repairable or not(i just went through this same thing and we decided the frame was shot) - so he does know norton frames

oh and the guy in Sacramento does good work too

napanorton said:
OK, so the consensus is fix it - anyone know anybody around the greater Northern California/SF bay area I can take it to? What would it be worth fixed up? I'm trying to figure out how much is reasonable to pay for fixing.

Thanks!

Snorton74 · Sep 9, 2012

Verne Funeston at GT Enterprises repairs frames. He's fixed Kenny Dreers frames for years. I would only send it to someone who can ck that it's straight and ck the iso alignment, in addition to being a good welder. He's very busy and very slow, so be prepared to wait A WHILE!! Occasionally better frames than yours come up on eBay, for only a few hundred dollars. So it might not be cost effective to repair the one you have. Good luck.

john robert bould · Sep 9, 2012

100%! Filling big holes in tube is not my bag :!: and before you all ask...yes i have been a welder for 20 years...tig,mig and stick.

Snorton74 said:
Verne Funeston at GT Enterprises repairs frames. He's fixed Kenny Dreers frames for years. I would only send it to someone who can ck that it's straight and ck the iso alignment, in addition to being a good welder. He's very busy and very slow, so be prepared to wait A WHILE!! Occasionally better frames than yours come up on eBay, for only a few hundred dollars. So it might not be cost effective to repair the one you have. Good luck.

Rohan · Sep 9, 2012

Take it to the local hot-rod maker - they are used to making rusty stuff good enough for another life, so this would probably be a 5 minute job for them.

If it doesn't look bent, it probably isn't.
Lotta bikes in use have had their side-stands repaired, its a known Commando weakness, after all. ? I've welded up the sidestand areas in my 850s, its mild steel so not exactly rocket science. Lot easier to do when its a bare frame.

ILLF8ED · Sep 9, 2012

mikegray660 said:
if you can get to San Jose i know a geezer whos magic on welding, and his pops is a frame guy - he does all the frames for phil @ fairspares PM me and ill get you the numbers etc etc - he can also tell you if its really repairable or not(i just went through this same thing and we decided the frame was shot) - so he does know norton frames

oh and the guy in Sacramento does good work too

napanorton said:

OK, so the consensus is fix it - anyone know anybody around the greater Northern California/SF bay area I can take it to? What would it be worth fixed up? I'm trying to figure out how much is reasonable to pay for fixing.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

Is this Puccio Welding close to San Jose airport? I had a featherbed frame down there at the suggestion of Phil and Ken Armann.

john robert bould · Sep 9, 2012

Are Commando second hand frames rare in the state's? there is plenty over here in blighty. In fact last week there was a frame in the US for sale on Ebay UK

mikegray660 · Sep 9, 2012

their rare only when you need one ! i remember selling one on ebay for $100 maybe 7 years ago - now you can't find them for under 4-500 dollars!

john robert bould said:
Are Commando second hand frames rare in the state's? there is plenty over here in blighty. In fact last week there was a frame in the US for sale on Ebay UK

Is this frame worth saving?

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