Corrosion on the aluminium frame?

patrikn · Post by **patrikn** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:27 pm

Hi!

I'm about to be the proud owner of a FZR1000 -88, the bike I was dreaming of 24 years ago but could not afford...
I found a bike but I do not know if I dare to buy it because on the lower fram part, just infront of where the kickstand is attached, there is a layer of rust... on the aluminium!!???
Is it another material integrated in the aluminium to keep the weight of the kickstand or how can this happen?
How can I get rid of the problem? Anyone who have any experience of the same problem? Would you buy a bike like this?

Full view:

And a zoom in on the problem area:

Hope you can help me, please

/Patrik

Gizzard1533 · Post by **Gizzard1533** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:37 pm

The early models of the FZR had steel frames. If the rust is just surface rust you should be fine, if you clean it up and paint the frame again

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 4:51 pm

Yes definitely rust. The pre-exup models were all steel..before 89 in UK.

The rust you see there is more than likely occurred due to the clutch slave seals leaking at the back of the engine casing. The fluid runs down the back of the cover and drips on the frame in that area

patrikn · Post by **patrikn** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 5:02 pm

Do you think the clutch slave seals leakage is a bigger problem that the rust on the frame?

Do you mean that the main frame is steal as well?

banner001 · Post by **banner001** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 4:48 am

nice bike...but what an ugly swingarm older bikes had "what should we do with it...well we have some square box section...yeah that will do, put that on"...looks a tidy bike for the age though, enjoy!

Brown Stain · Post by **Brown Stain** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:30 am

The early FZR 1000 had an aluminum main frame. The lowers were steel and bolted to the main frame.

Stig · Post by **Stig** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 5:14 pm

I'd be tempted to take the slave off and give it a check. Looking at the evidence i'd be surprized if they werent leaking. The lower frame rails will clean up Ok looking at your pics, just need a clean up and paint

HybridSport600 · Post by **HybridSport600** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 9:47 pm

Looks like a clean bike, Id look more into the weld across the top of that section in your second pic, may be signs of previous damage.
But I do enjoy seeing an original fizzer!

"Got a $5 head, buy a $5 helmet"

reelrazor · Post by **reelrazor** » Tue Nov 13, 2012 10:02 pm

HybridSport600 wrote:Looks like a clean bike, Id look more into the weld across the top of that section in your second pic, may be signs of previous damage.
But I do enjoy seeing an original fizzer!
"Got a $5 head, buy a $5 helmet"

Yeah, I'm with hybrid here.

I know the casting is welded to tube steel at that location...that weld looks to be post-manufacture though (read not a yamaha weld)..although I have seen some pretty poor welds in steel by the middle aged japanese ladies...it could be original.

It wasn't uncommon for that frame tube to get screwed up in a left side crash...the kickstand catches the pavement and pretty much tears its' mount right outa the cradle.

I myself have an RZ frame with a YZ250 frame patch in that very location.....(and no kickstand).

FZRSupport: the FZROnline Archive