[YellowRancher]

I just bought a 1998 450 foreman today. Hasn’t ran in 7 years, put fresh gas in it and it started right up. I noticed that before i bought it that where the front top right a arm connect to the frame its rusted completely off. Took it to my garage and the frame peice connected to it just came off alltogether. Is it worth welding back? And if so will it hold? Or should i go ahead and buy a new frame?

 

[retro]

If it is rusted so much that it fell off from the frame tubing then what will you weld to? Or is the tubing still thick and strong? If so, fabbing up another set of brackets might fix it if its done well. If making new brackets their location on the frame & alignment with the centerline of the rear brackets bolt holes on that side are critical to success.

In other words its probably an easy fix for someone skilled. What does the rest of the frame look like? If its rusting through elsewhere you're better off replacing it.

 

[shadetree]

i sure hope your bank account has a ton of money in it ??..lol. the price for a new frame would be wayyyyyyyyyyyyy over what you paid for the atv !..lol ( unless you buy a '' new '' used frame ? ). and with it being a '98 ?, something tells me, honda discontinued that frame ?, ( i have not checked ), you might wanna check if you can even buy a new frame from honda ?, just be ready to fork out some Benji's !..lol.

 

[YellowRancher]

Everything else on the frame is fine. Thats the only place with rust, which was most likely from running it through the cow fields and what not without washing it after. I only paid $400 for it and it runs great. Thats just the only down side to it. Theres a fram i can buy for $350, but i wanted opinions on if it was worth fixing or not? Yes, it fell from the frame tubing. We have a welding school which i go to and was going to take it there and see what we could come up with to either fix it or if its beyond repair.

 

[SamUK]

It could be welded but your probably going to need to cut back the frame to remove rotten tubing. Also, as that A Arm has pulled, pushed and twisted until the pint it broke free it stands a very good chance that that area of frame is bent.
If I had to repair it I’d make a jig that bolted to all 4 hubs so I knew everything was dead on square, only then would I start fabbing a new section of frame.
So my opinion on a proper job is... It’s a BIG job to properly.

If you look on PSN (powersportsnation) they have two frames on there at the moment, both for good prices.

Edit: If you do go ahead with a repair remember to move the brake lines well clear, brake fluid is flammable!

 

[retro]

... and don't ever weld on the frame until the battery is removed and every harness connector on the bike has been disconnected from its component. Don't forget the stator plug and the display meter if it has one..!

 

[fishfiles]

the a arm is still available but cost $240 for one , they are proud of it , I would sell you a used one if you are around New Orleans to pick it up --------------------- Power Sports nation .com would most likely have you one used

 

[LedFTed]

wire connects

... and don't ever weld on the frame until the battery is removed and every harness connector on the bike has been disconnected from its component. Don't forget the stator plug and the display meter if it has one..!

i have not heard this, yet.. i know how complex electronics are, and it makes prefect sense.

 

[YellowRancher]

I was looking at buying a frame and just cutting the peice out of the other frame, then welding it on instead of making a whole new peice of frame. I really don’t want to swap everything over, but if it comes down to it that’s what i’ll do. Also, is there any difference from a 98-04 frame? Es or footshift? Mine is a footshift and don’t know if the foremans are like the 350’s where all frames are the same or if they have little differences.

 

[SamUK]

A frame replacement will be the easier option in my opinion, I see no benefit in cutting a good frame up to add a good piece to a rotten frame. If you’ve got a good frame in front of you put your parts on it.

 

[fishfiles]

I totally missed that it is the frame that rusted away and not the a-arm like the thread title suggested ------I have never had to fix where the a-arm bolts to the frame yet , but have fixed other weldments that broke or rusted off before , by making a saddle out of a pipe , make the saddle wide enough so you get to good metal on the frame , weld the ears which seems like you would have to remake as your sounds rusted