Qestion for the welder pros, I want to weld a nut to my chrome lower triple tree, can this be done , looking for ideas or tips, I have a wire feed welder and the will to try, fist off will this welder be enough.I am installing a shovel head headlight nacelle on my bike a need a nut welded to the lower tree on each side to hold it in place, I want to keep my current tree so that I retain the steering lock and stock fork stops, I could get an old shovel lower tree but then lose the steering lock and fork stops.

 

Welding over chrome sucks but it can be done. My recommendation would be to take an angle grinder and clean the area that you want to weld of the chrome

 

Isn't the triple tree aluminum?

 

The triple trees are aluminum and requires special type of welding. A standard wire mig welder will not work. You would need to take it to a specialist and get an aluminum nut. You can not weld a steel nut to aluminum.

 

Was not aware it was aluminum, thx for that info, will have to look into a local shop doing this for me

 

Better find someone with skills to help. Welding/ chrome equals melted paint or the muti coloured temperature chart for metals left on your chrome which is plated. So you 'll end up at the plating shop.

 

Couldn't you drill and tap the area where you need the nut? You may have to make some kind of spacer to take up the difference, but I don't see it being impossible. Then if you ever decided to go back all you would have to do is "plug" the hole instead of grinding and buffing off the weld.

Just a thought.

Edit* just read your other thread and realized what font end you have. The lower triple tree should defintatly be steel if it's a night train 41 mm.

 

Yes it is a 41mm FXSTB night train front end, would that make it a forged steel lower tree and weldable

 

I don't think the Night Train had a steel tree. I believe some of the FL softails did though.

 

Can't you drill and tap a hole instead?