Sip MigMate 130 Aluminium Welding

[Tom Fortune]

Hi all,
Ive recently got into enduro motorbiking,
I have and have broken a few items whilst out having fun which is inevitable due to lack of experience i suppose, they are mainly cast items such as aluminium brake levers!
The question is, can i weld one back together to keep in my backpack in case of emergency? ( doesnt need to be pretty, just bare-able to use!)
When reading difference sources some say it is possible and others say its not! People have told me that due to the aluminium being cast it will melt as soon as i attempt to weld them back together using the 4043 0.8mm aluminium welding wire. Is this true?
If it is possible, may you suggest wire speeds, gas flow rates etc. I have also heard that the best shielding gas to use is pure argon? is that correct?
Please find attached photos of the proposed item i am keen on welding back together
Many thanks
Tom

 

[hotrodder]

Stock up on spare brake levers and/or buy some hand guards. Buying a lot of spare levers will be cheaper than a bottle of argon, spool of ally wire, teflon liner etc and waaaaaaay less frustrating than trying to weld broken brake/clutch levers back together

 

[Chris Stevens]

Might be easier to loosen off screws clamping levers to bars a little, so the lever clamp moves around the bar when you crash, rather than snapping the lever blade?

 

[pedrobedro]

A lot of levers have a weak spot built in so when they break you still have enough left to pull on to get you out of trouble. Buy spares and keep them handy. Levers may be clamped to the bars and pegged so they don't spin, check before you loosen the clamps but it's not an idea I would go with on a motorbike.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Folding levers work well in some situations, but will still snap if direct up or down force is applied. Best thing to do for enduro is folding levers, if clamp screws are phillips replace with allen bolts, assemble with loctite and tighten just enough to allow clamp to twist round the bars, with heavy impact up or down. Thats what they use on WEC bikes, and means very few issues with levers.

You need to prep your bike very carefully if you are a beginner to enduro, and if you ride a lot of forest stuff it might be worth fitting bark busters of some sort, as they can save you from some nasty injuries. Also if you are competing seriously, and are riding anything bigger than a 250, think seriously about getting a smaller bike, as it will be much easier to ride fast, than bigger capacity.