250-500cc Noticed fractured swingarm just in time

I was about to change out the swingarm bearing and noticed this:





The crack is ~50% of the circumference already and it goes completely through the material as I was washing the crud out of it and water drains out of the crack.

As the crack is right at the oem weld I suppose that it should be possible to make a 'V' groove and TIG weld it back. I'll contact 'my' welder so he gives my an opinion.

Good that I found it in time, could have been an ugly crash if the back tyre goes amok.

BTW. It's my WR300 2010 with +600hrs on it.

Cheers !

good thing you noticed it ! that might have killed you .

Wow good catch on your part. Just went out and looked at mine no crack but no where near the hours. Might be able to find a reasonable one in ebay

600 hours! You got your money's worth A good welder can fix that.

I have an appointment tomorrow with the welder, hope it's going well.

I think the aluminum used for these swing-arms is to rigid/brittle, I already broke the chain-guard a few years ago and the tab was re-welded, good since. I did also found another post in this same forum with a swing-arm problem on the very same bike model but on a different location:

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/2009-wr300-cracked-swingarm-what-should-i-do.45094/

Tomorrow will be a busy garage day, install new bearings to welded swingarm, linkage and mount everything back, want to go for a ride on Saturday !

Cheers.

Welding done:



Was in the garage until night and rode today, no issues !
Hope it hold up for some time.


Cheers !

Wow, glad you caught it in time! Nice weld.