k9 frame failure?

[Moespeeds]

I'm wondering more about what the down time is going to be, the guy loves to ride and he's pretty upset. Shit happens, and I know things break, he just wants it fixed quickly. The scary part is there is a pretty decent amount of rust in there, so it looks like it's been that way for some time. We just got back from an 800 miles trip last weekend! Thanks for the help guys, I'll call BD today.

 

[bdmridgeback]

I don't think there will be anything quick about a frame repair or swap.

 

[chaingunner]

Up side is he will be able to clean every nook and cranny! good luck!

 

[TheDeadOne]

Hey Moe,
I'm going to jump in here with an observation.
Yea, you can tell where he drags the frame on the bottom loading it in & out of a trailer. I noticed where it starts dragging and where it "stops". It stops, "Bluntly", no easing off, right at the leading edge of the trans. mount plate. I've done this as well before, loading my bike. It stops right then!, when it catches! I think it catches on "shock" arm mounting angle plate! Check the mount end to see if it looks bent away at the bottom of the shock connections. The crack is directly located at the rear edge of the trans. mounting plate. From what I can see from the pics. only, the frame is being bent upwards from the "lifting forces from the trans mount plate, due to the "transferred" lifting forces being applied to the frames underside at the leading edge of the trans mounting plate, due to the dragging during loading.
I don't know about coverage, from what I can see from here, but I'll hope so for ya! But it's gonna be a close call either way I think!

Good Luck!

 

[Moespeeds]

But would a single impact in that area be enough to break the tubing all the way through without any signs of impact or bending, without breaking that weld at the trans mount itself, or do any damage to the bottom of the shocks? I know he hasn't had the bike on and off the trailer too many times, only to take it to the dealer in Harrisburg for service.

 

[TheDeadOne]

Oh Yea! If he's going fast enough, it "hits" and "stops" HARD!
The welds are stronger than the metal it surrounds!

 

[TheDeadOne]

Shocks No! Shock Eng mounting angle? Oh Yea! I'll be bent out at the bottom.

 

[Moespeeds]

My own chopper drags going on and off my trailer, and I never had an issue, though I do have similar scrapes on the bottom. How fast can you pull into a trailer anyway? Just can't see this happeneing from loading the bike, and the scrapes in the pics are really not that bad when you see them live. For that kind of force, pulling into a trailer, when he doesn't even sit on the bike when he loads it. BTW dead, there is STILL a package sitting here for you I just checked! I'm taking it to UPS right now!

 

[woodbutcher]

if the impact was on the bottom, the metal on the top would be stretched/cracked. possible repeated impact with a speed bump, maybe rolling over a curb, i don't know.

 

[TheDeadOne]

My own chopper drags going on and off my trailer, and I never had an issue, though I do have similar scrapes on the bottom. How fast can you pull into a trailer anyway? BTW dead, there is STILL a package sitting here for you I just checked! I'm taking it to UPS right now!

Package. :lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: That's cool!

Your shocks are mounted differently I believe, they are recessed up inside more. Plus I'm not sure but the K-9 might even be lower ground clearance than the chopper. I know I can set mine down to 3" clearance, 4" or 4 1/2" is stock.
But what I do "KNOW for SURE", if that shock end mounting angle is bent or worse, broke, be must have hit it hard! That's the only explanation I can see from your pics and description of things.

Good Luck!

 

[Vegas]

Getting in and out of a trailer isn't going to crack that thick gauge of steel. First one we've seen so not all bad. It won't be quick as Jake said.

 

[TheDeadOne]

But if it cracks just slightly, that area has enough pressure on it from the swing arm, shocks, trans. torque to crack it even worse over just a short time!

Think about which way the torque from the trans would be applied!...Any Flex!...? Clockwise output shaft rotation, in front of pulley down!, behind pulley "UP"!

Right?

 

[ALDog]

The crack on top of the frame would be in line with something hitting the frame on the bottom and producing an upward force. If it were closer to a weld it would be easier to believe it is faulty but hard to believe the tubing would crack on top like that without something hitting the bottom of the frame. That's just my $0.02 worth but I do have a Mechanical Engineering degree for whatever that's worth.

:loony:

 

[Moespeeds]

I spoke to BD and the frame manufacturer. There has been one other crack in this same spot, attributed to vibration. BD wants me to take it to a dealer for a download and possible swap. The manufacturer was great, he told me no matter what BD says, they will send me a new, powdercoated frame if necessary.

 

[chaingunner]

:2thumbs: That's GREAT news!

 

[Tim]

I spoke to BD and the frame manufacturer. There has been one other crack in this same spot, attributed to vibration. BD wants me to take it to a dealer for a download and possible swap. The manufacturer was great, he told me no matter what BD says, they will send me a new, powdercoated frame if necessary.

Very cool. :2thumbs:

I looked at mine this morning and my Dog is looking good.

 

[TheDeadOne]

I spoke to BD and the frame manufacturer. There has been one other crack in this same spot, attributed to vibration. BD wants me to take it to a dealer for a download and possible swap. The manufacturer was great, he told me no matter what BD says, they will send me a new, powdercoated frame if necessary.

Good Deal! :2thumbs:
I'm glad to have been wrong! :lol:

 

[Eric]

glad thay are gona replace the frame, do you have to pay to swap it over??

 

[Front Runner]

Good to hear that they are going to replace the frame. Could hitting a speed bump do that to the frame?

 

[Moespeeds]

That's what needs to be determined I guess. I can do the swap easy enough, but not sure what that will do to his remaining warranty. Not much point in speculating though, he's going to get the bike to Black Dog in Harrisburg tomorrow.