Will Welding Hurt the Electronics?

[TimTyler]

I'm visiting a local welder today to get the Hepco-Becker rack that's installed on my bike reinforced. I don't want to remove the rack from the bike unless necessary. The work will be more exact and effective if the rack remains on the bike.

What precautions should I take, besides disconnecting the battery, to be sure that none of the bike's electronics get fried?

[Jumpin Jimmy B]

I'd disconnect the Motronic or take it off the bike completely.

 Speedo pod too.

 Everything grounds through the frame.

 Or blaze the connections using a Oxy/Actelene

 Scott underscore would know for sure.

[Elipten]

Remove the critical electronics but at least disconnect.  Ground the motorcycle frame if welder says that is safe.

[Inge K.]

+1 to both above, better safe than sorry.

Which includes:
1. Injection ECU, under the seat.
2. Ignition ECU, behind the headstock.
3. Instruments.
4. Flasher relay, in the relay box.
5. Fan relay, ----------"----------.
6. Alternator.
7. Battery.

Remove the relays, disconnect all others.

[drut]

When I worked in car bodyshop we used an anti-zap/surge protector  https://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/power-tec-anti-zap-surge-protection when mig welding with no problems.This was an issue because on some of the cars we worked on if you disconnected the battery you lost the radio security code and ecu had to "relearn" driving parameters.On a K bike there are no such issues so disconnect anything/everything you can is the safest advice.One thing I did learn was to make sure of a clean earth point as close to point of welding as possible:electricity like water follows the path of least resistance.

[TimTyler]

Thanks for the advice, All.

I found a long advrider post this morning asking my exact question, and the replies were all "disconnect the battery, get a good ground, leave the electronics connected, never had a problem" so I was not too worried.

I ended up disconnecting the battery and the ECU under the seat.  Now I need to paint the bare metal.

Shock adjustment ring is a little harder to get to, but it's not a big deal.

[F14CRAZY]

One of my buddy's, who completed a welding program at our Career Center, said when welding on vehicles to just disconnect the battery and ground as close as possible. He's done that when welding on my car, and I've done that when welding on my brother's car, and they've been fine.

An unrelated point...I have a theory that welding on a welder (the same welder) will open up a black hole and suck the universe into it...

[Elipten]

Tim:


I have just installed the H&B rack on my K75 and just installed the tragkorbs.  Top box is next.  Were you having issues with the rack that it needed reinforcement?

[TimTyler]

I bought the rack "new" at a discount but the cross-brace in the back was missing. The rack I received never fit the bike "like a glove". The right side arm that connects under the seat was about 3/4" too short and the left leg never lined up with the footpeg plate screw. I don't know if I got a bad rack or if my bike was whack. So getting the rack to fit took a little cutting and drilling and connector fabricating. Kind of a pain.

Last summer one of the rack screws at the footpeg came loose and the loose connection caused fatigue and eventualy a crack in the rack. I had a welder fix that small crack. I also created a much stronger cross-brace in the back to connect the left and right sides.

I also had a tip-over in a campground a while back and the right footpeg tube got bent a little by the edge of the tragkorb.

While at the welder the first time we discovered that Hepco-Becker brazed this rack at the joints. The connections are not welded. It makes for a more finished look and the lower heat probably stressed the tubing less. I read recently that the structural weak link on many HB racks is where the fottpeg tubing connects to the rectangle (where the tragkorb mounts) so I decided to have that connection strengthened. It gives me piece of mind and a little confidence that I can load on some gear without worrying.