Model Z frame

[saluki42]

Hi Has anybody got any photographs of the rear frame section, gearbox mounting section, for a 34 Model Z / Wessex. This may be the same frame that later found its way into the 37 Aero but not sure. I have a frame specialist tying to replace the tubes supporting the gearbox on my frame as a previous owner had beaten them flat and drilled a big hole through them I think to take a main stand.

[Doug]

This is the following year, the 1936 Aero 600. I do not know if it is exactly the same as the previous year, but suspect the 1934-35 models used all lug construction and no welded joints like they started to feature on the 1936-38 frames.



-Doug

[Red]

The photos are not as clear as Doug's but this is a Wessex frame that has been built in to an Aero. May help for comparison.

Roy

[saluki42]

Thanks Doug and Roy
What are these shiny black things, my only experience of a Douglas frame is a brown and grey rusty looking thing. Thanks for the pictures your right as usual Doug the Z / Wessex both use fully lugged pinned and brazed assembly.

My poor little thing has had to have the two short gearbox sections amputated, too badly damaged to save apparently. As the lower frame is made of two continuous tubes running front to rear wheel cradle my frame man is looking at ways of fitting new sections.

Chris

[EW-Ron]

He needs to fit (short) bits of tubing INSIDE the existing tubes to strengthen the bits he's going to weld back in.
Most frame gurus would have considered that BEFORE they'd done any cutting ?!!

You can sometimes squeeze flattened frame tubes back into round, with a bit of heat.
Steel is very accomodating of all sorts of indignities.
Having frame lugs in close proximity may limit this option ...

[eddie]

When carrying out welded repairs to frames, make sure the welded joins are clear of any brazed lugs. The inclusion of any brass from the brazing will render the welded joints brittle (with the risk of subsequent failure). When I had no option but to make a welded repair close to a lug, I cut the lug back, welded the 2 ends of tube back together, then built up the lug again with silicon bronze rod (making the repair invisible). This is the method I have adopted for repairs to the rear of the lower frame tubes on Mark series machines (where you dont have the luxury of being able to fit an internal sleeve due to the presence of the torsion bar).

   Regards,
                 Eddie.

[saluki42]

Thanks for all of your replies regarding this and yes I agree any competent engineer would not of cut before figuring out his approach to the job however, the seller thought it would be easier to ship if the frame was in two pieces so just hacked the damaged sections out and binned them.

[saluki42]

Just to let you know I've now got my frame back from the specialist frame doctor and apart from being fully lugged construction it now looks just like the one in your photos.