Subframe breakage

[raYzerman]

I'd like to complain this is impacting my EOM plans...... Dean who now owns my '14 FJR, has overloaded the rear end one too many times, and the rear subframe is broken. This is not your typical FJR subframe break at the tail, and I haven't seen one like this..... It has a Givi 357 rack, which saved the very rear, but the frame broke further forward. In fact where the rack mounts. To fix it, need to weld the threaded bosses back on, then the Givi rack can be used as a jig to hold everything together, weld up and reinforce....

Welder people are swamped, and I can't get anyone to do it (yet), need it done by Monday, or that bike isn't going to depart for EOM on time (Wednesday). The sorta good news is same subframe used since 2006, so I am getting expedited shipping quoted for one from Florida to NY, where I can go pick it up Monday.... we'll see. Wish me luck.

[FJRoss]

Wow. What was he carrying in there?
I think I would want to replace the whole thing. I wonder if Steel Stick Epoxy would hold temporarily?
Stuff is pretty strong...
Permatex makes a comparable product.

[Dan Cooper]

Ray,
Your negligent buddies problem shouldn't become your problem.
I know you're a good guy to take on projects like that, but DO NOT let it keep you from EOM.
If your buddy can't make it, that's his doings and his problem and his loss for missing EOM.
My guess is he will fail to learn anything from this event and continue to overload the trunk once the subframe is fixed or replaced and probably have a repeat breakage.

dan

If you help someone when they're in trouble, they will remember you...when they're in trouble again.

[raYzerman]

No worries, Dan... we go way back, so not a problem.. Besides, he will pay, lol. It's a two day ride, so planned to leave Wednesday. PlanB, trailer on Thursday. Have a frame coming from Florida, should arrive in NY Monday I hope. No JB weld for me, we're gonna fix it right and be done. Planning to fix the behaviour issue but also have him get the Yammy aluminum rack which has extra bracketry at the front mount and to seat latch bracket.

[FJRoss]

No worries, Dan... we go way back, so not a problem.. Besides, he will pay, lol. It's a two day ride, so planned to leave Wednesday. PlanB, trailer on Thursday. Have a frame coming from Florida, should arrive in NY Monday I hope. No JB weld for me, we're gonna fix it right and be done. Planning to fix the behaviour issue but also have him get the Yammy aluminum rack which has extra bracketry at the front mount and to seat latch bracket.

I wouldn't consider the SteelStik as anything other than a temporary solution. No question that fixing it right with a competent weld (or replacing it) is the way to go. I read about the Yamaha aluminum rack but never saw a photo of the attachment to the bike. That looks like the way it should have been done in the first place. (As long as they didn't use the same glass-like alloy used in the rear sub-frame and the front mirror stay).

[extrememarine]

Those Kanadian Girls are 'big boned", eh?

Hope it all falls in place - see ya next week...

[Hppants]

I am curious as to how much weight did he have in the top box? And was their something else that contributed to this? I dunno - some hellacious bump in the road? Something?

I know it's happened, but that's the first subframe break I've seen with the 357 rack.

I pack a LOT of shit in my top box. Re-thinking that now....

[gixxerjasen]

All of this.

I am curious as to how much weight did he have in the top box? And was their something else that contributed to this? I dunno - some hellacious bump in the road? Something?

I know it's happened, but that's the first subframe break I've seen with the 357 rack.

I pack a LOT of shit in my top box. Re-thinking that now....

Corrugated road perhaps? Doing some dual sport riding on the FJR? Crazy. Now I'm glad I have the 357 AND the stiffy, though it might not help in this case, it's good to over compensate.

[raYzerman]

Embarrasing amount of weight has been carried... perhaps you'll recall our western adventure trip where he also wore out an Angel GT in 2500 miles... I had not realized what weight he was carrying on that trip. It's a wonder it didn't break on that trip.

However it begs the question, just how much passenger weight can you carry... dead weight vs. live weight, etc.... and again, I have never seen one fail like this one. Several have had failure right at the tail due to top boxes full and bouncing, but not up here... chances are you're safe but keep the weight down if you can.

[Hppants]

Thanks for the commentary, Ray. It's hard for me to quantify "embarrasing amount of weight". One man's embarrassment is another man's stupidity (the latter would be me).

IIRC, the last time I was "LOADED" and weighed the top box, it weighed like 38 pounds (17-ish KG). How would that compare to Dean's situation?

On tour, my top box is my kitchen. Ya'll have seen my food porn. It's important, but not "break the subframe" important....

[Festus]

Tell him it's a motorcycle, not a pick up truck And they sell water all along the route, no need to bring cases of it

[danh600]

The moral of the story here folks is that top boxes are an abomination to the Lord. Sooner or you will be smote for putting one on your bike.

[wheatonFJR]

The moral of the story here folks is that top boxes are an abomination to the Lord. Sooner or you will be smote for putting one on your bike.

You just say that because your wife is on her own bike. Lol.

[LKLD]

The moral of the story here folks is that top boxes are an abomination to the Lord. Sooner or you will be smote for putting one on your bike.

You just say that because your wife is on her own bike. Lol.

Yeah, and?

Dan and I have figured it out. Put the pretty lady on the back, drive like a methed out hooligan, and they’ll want their own bike…problem solved.

[bigjohnsd]

This new Yamaha piece certainly does a better job of bringing the weight forward, reducing the cantilever effect, and the steel bracket can't hurt the overall strength of the installation.

[Hppants]

And the mounting uses four bolts up front rather than 2.

[garauld]

This new Yamaha piece certainly does a better job of bringing the weight forward, reducing the cantilever effect,...

This is not really accurate. The subframe and everything attached to it behind the forward edge of the steel brackets that come with the new Yammi aluminum rack is mostly unsupported. This means it is all cantilevered and is held in place and supported in bending by the strength of the U-section subframe members. In an extreme case of loading, the U members would probably crack and fail just forward of said steel brackets. The cantilever effect is not reduced, but is actually increased as the potential failure location is moved forward. I would not worry too much, however, unless you plan to place a lot of weight back there and ride on bumpy roads. Another thread over on FJROwners is currently discussing this issue.

[raYzerman]

Replacement subframe arrives right on schedule! That's the good news. Wrong part, it's for a Gen1. Engaging with ebay seller... my displeasure has been expressed...

[gixxerjasen]

ouch.

[escapefjrtist]

That stinks Ray. Time to break out some aluminum stock and fab a temporary repair?

~G