A
Hey all!
I cracked a "carbon fiber" overstructure tube on my sled, so I decided to replace both tubes with titanium. I found a great deal on a couple of perfectly-sized titanium tubes online, so I jumped on it. Here's the process and the end result.
1. Take photos prior to disassembly so you know how bags, wires, etc. are attached to the tubes.
2. Remove all bags, wires, etc. attached to the tubes.
3. Remove the two big bolts on each tube holding it to the frame.
4. Heat the bottom of the tubes inserted in the metal brackets to at least 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This took about 15 minutes of continuous heat from a heat gun to dislodge. You are trying to heat up the high-temp glue enough that it releases the tube. Eventually, you will be able to twist the tube back-and-forth and pull it out.
4. Drill/grind out any rivets going through the tube, which will be located where the tube slides into the bracket at the bottom, right next to the glue.
5. Clean up your mess, go online, buy your titanium tubes from China and wait a month and a half for them to arrive (this part need not be followed to the T).
6. Drill holes in the new tubes in the exact same locations as your old tubes (easier said than done, a drill press or a vice helps a lot).
7. Slide the new tubes into the metal brackets. I had to sand out the old, dried glue from the inside of the brackets with a Dremel to make it fit.
8. IMPORTANT! Now is the time to align the holes for the two big bolts and screw them into the frame. If the holes are not perfectly spaced, you may need to slide the tube back out and drill a larger hole. Do NOT proceed to step 9 without completing step 8.
9. With the tubes bolted in place, you may now drill appropriately-sized holes through each bracket and tube for rivets, OR you may remove the tubes and apply a high-temp, high-strength glue such as Lord Fusor Metal Bonding Adhesive, and then slide and bolt them back in place. To get the best of both worlds, use the rivets and the glue.
10. With that done, take a moment to marvel at your unnecessary MacGyvering, and then reattach all of the bags and wires to the tubes as they were in the photos you took two months ago.
11. Yay, yer’ done.
Here are the perfectly-sized titanium tubes to replace the fake carbon fiber tubes on the Pro-ride overstructure: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Titanium-T...8?pageci=e31ffbaa-b1a2-4e15-8289-aacaca88a089
I cracked a "carbon fiber" overstructure tube on my sled, so I decided to replace both tubes with titanium. I found a great deal on a couple of perfectly-sized titanium tubes online, so I jumped on it. Here's the process and the end result.
1. Take photos prior to disassembly so you know how bags, wires, etc. are attached to the tubes.
2. Remove all bags, wires, etc. attached to the tubes.
3. Remove the two big bolts on each tube holding it to the frame.
4. Heat the bottom of the tubes inserted in the metal brackets to at least 300 degrees Fahrenheit. This took about 15 minutes of continuous heat from a heat gun to dislodge. You are trying to heat up the high-temp glue enough that it releases the tube. Eventually, you will be able to twist the tube back-and-forth and pull it out.
4. Drill/grind out any rivets going through the tube, which will be located where the tube slides into the bracket at the bottom, right next to the glue.
5. Clean up your mess, go online, buy your titanium tubes from China and wait a month and a half for them to arrive (this part need not be followed to the T).
6. Drill holes in the new tubes in the exact same locations as your old tubes (easier said than done, a drill press or a vice helps a lot).
7. Slide the new tubes into the metal brackets. I had to sand out the old, dried glue from the inside of the brackets with a Dremel to make it fit.
8. IMPORTANT! Now is the time to align the holes for the two big bolts and screw them into the frame. If the holes are not perfectly spaced, you may need to slide the tube back out and drill a larger hole. Do NOT proceed to step 9 without completing step 8.
9. With the tubes bolted in place, you may now drill appropriately-sized holes through each bracket and tube for rivets, OR you may remove the tubes and apply a high-temp, high-strength glue such as Lord Fusor Metal Bonding Adhesive, and then slide and bolt them back in place. To get the best of both worlds, use the rivets and the glue.
10. With that done, take a moment to marvel at your unnecessary MacGyvering, and then reattach all of the bags and wires to the tubes as they were in the photos you took two months ago.
11. Yay, yer’ done.
Here are the perfectly-sized titanium tubes to replace the fake carbon fiber tubes on the Pro-ride overstructure: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Titanium-T...8?pageci=e31ffbaa-b1a2-4e15-8289-aacaca88a089
