Does this weld look normal???
Not gonna worry too much about it now. Seems sloppy welds are the norm. Guess as long as it holds no biggie. I am gonna keep an eye on it to make sure no rust comes through around the rough area.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,867
Likes: 268
From: People's Republic of Boulder Colorado
It looks like a "normal" MOCO-quality weld to me. A lot of the welds on these bikes look like they were done in a high school welding class. They seem to be strong enough, but they look like crap on a stick. Doesn't say much for pride of workmanship IMHO.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 868
Likes: 51
From: Illinois
By no means is it a perfect weld but it will definitely hold. The start of it is cold if I remember right that is called a cold start. The other half of the weld looks pretty good. The probably use a fast travel wire not what most people are use to seeing.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 6
Only X-ray will tell if it is a sound weld. You other option is to grind off the paint and dye or Mag flux test it.
Ignore it as it appears a typical HD weld to me....Watch to see if the paint cracks and or flakes off in that area.
Ignore it as it appears a typical HD weld to me....Watch to see if the paint cracks and or flakes off in that area.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,413
Likes: 17
From: eastern oklahoma
that weld is one which i would not let leave my shop when building anything, but it's just how harleys have been built for several years. the weld looks like a harley weld. look at where the downtubes join the neck area. mine look like a 12 year old kid was turned loose with my lincoln powermig. they're surely robotic welds, but one would expect better quality, hell even the japs can make welds that look superior to the harley welds nowadays. look at a santee or rolling thunder frame, they rock, like a stack of nickles from the tig work they've done. impressive indeed. your welds do look common run of the mill harley. they aren't pretty welds, but they'll do their job and hold.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 846
Likes: 30
From: Mile 49.5 Alaska Hwy. B.C.
C'mon now, it's a built up section fer strength, if yer not too sure 'bout it then dab some o mamma bears hot glue stick on it! It's fine, don't look too closely at the next plane you ride on cause you'll beef hooked! Ride On!
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Banned
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 771
Likes: 2
From: Hurricane,WV
I guess what I'm looking at , is the splatter, and the fact that the powder coat looks like it got pretty hot just to the left of the weld. And, I know they don't weld them together after powder coating. Or, is this an optical illusion what I'm seeing there?
