Welding Question

Eddie wrote

You never considered driving it further down the tube then?

 

If it was going to move up *or* down the tube, it would have moved by
now. Trust me.

 

Ahh but in this instance that wouldn't be a problem would it since if
they end up welded together I'll be happy. Or am I missing the point?

My worry was if something was going to corrode and then weaken but
thinking about it the ali isn't going to and I wouldn't think the
stainless bit would either. If it does who cares anyway I'll probably
have flogged the bike by then and if not I could always make another bit.

As someone else said I think I'll have a go at rivetting the 2 together
and see what happens.

 

Which I haven't got.

Now that's something I'd not considered before, rivetting. I could have
a go at that I've only used my rivetting gun once after all and it's
probably easier than tapping the ali. Hmm I'll suggest that to pops.

Thanks for the comprehensive answer. As I indicated it's something which
was fixed up on my bike (ie it's not exactly a standard Suzuki part). If
it goes wrong I will just have to bite the bullet and buy a new part.

 

Caustic soda. Dissolve the aluminium.

 

Yup. Standard bikeshop/framebuilders way of doing it. Obviously do
not do this with an aluminium frame.

 

If it was an aluminium seatpost in an aluminium frame, it wouldn't be
suffering from bi-metallic corrosion wotsit in the first place, would it?

 

No, but they do still get stuck when people don't grease them. And,
yes, people don't grease them.

 

Not as stuck as this one.

That's a bit of a religious matter over on r.c and uk.r.c, isn't it?

 

heheh, I do feel your pain. I had several to deal with when working
as a mechanic.

**** urc. I've stopped reading the group after one too many inane
rant about other road users. Good place are the forums over at
bikemagic.com. The maintenance one is pretty handy.

 

Might have a look at that, if I get a chance. Ta.

 

An air chisel may yield some results in splitting the Al post along its
length. Try one of your friendly local body shops.

 

.... and probably split the frame at the same time, I shouldn't wonder.
The frame tube is already looking slightly distorted, which might make
things interesting when I try to put a new seat post in - assuming I
ever get the remains of this one out, that is.

I think we managed to cut along most of its length with the hacksaw
blades anyway, and what's left still won't come out.