Broken Bulkhead

[bdm]

I was hoping to get some input from you about how badly that my season might suck. I hit a rock in early-season conditions and really damaged the bulkhead. Near as I can tell the a-arm did not take any of the force, just the left bulkhead.

I have seen some posts here where bulkheads were welded but have not seen any with this specific type of break from a direct impact. Do you think that it is weldable? If so can it be done without complete bulkhead disassembly? Cast aluminum is a special type of weld, right? How do I make sure that the person doing the welding is competent at doing cast aluminum.

Secondly, I have never filed a sled insurance claim. How do you think that they should handle this? I have not contacted them yet but would guess that, from their perspective, the bulkhead should be replaced - which probably means it is totaled. Opinions?

If a sled is totaled do they take into account the value of modifications when settling?

Thank you for any input, tons of snow on the way and I am seriously sad....

 

[bdm]

After staring at it a while while drowning my sorrows I am pretty sure that it would need to be stripped down. I can't see being able to weld the area where the frame overlaps the bulkhead without a teardown. If I am going to tear it all down it seems like the bulkhead might as well be replaced.

Input is still appreciated.

 

[grader]

the bulkhead is 2 pieces, left and right. you can probably get it here in the classifieds from one of the part out specialists. taking it apart will allow for closer inspection of other parts as well. i always run skid plates but not sure if it would have saved your sled or not. good luck hope there is no other damage.

 

[BETHEVIPER]

i have everything used to fix what is damaged, you would need to do a littl tearing down but it is not bad, they are halves, the lower pan can be straightened when the piece is removed, you really need a skid plate on these sleds because of the cast and the oil drain hangs down low and is not protected well by the cover.
pm me if you are interested in fixing this yourself.

motor can stay in to do this, it is not as bad as it looks.

 

[mikeb]

Replaced my right bulkhead last Fall. Not to bad a job but lots of stuff has to be removed. You also need a rivet gun.

If you had all the parts and a place to work you could do in a weekend.

If would consider a insurance claim.

 

[Len Todd]

I would take it in to the shop and get an estimate. They will tell you if you messed up more than the bulkhead. I suspect there could be more damage than what you are seeing (e.g. How do you know the A-Arm is O.K. w/o taking it off and doing some comparisons or measuring, etc.)

If you get an estimate, then you would know what you are really in for. Also, if the Insurance totals it, they typically do not figure in Mods. They go by the book value. If they did total it, maybe you could buy it back and then fix it. ??

 

[bdm]

Thanks for the replys guys, I guess that I went in to panic mode too quickly and posted without doing my homework (there are plenty of posts on the subject). I was thinking that replacement included pulling the engine and a nearly complete sled teardown, that is why I was thinking that it may be a total loss. Now I see that it is not nearly the catastrophe that I first thought.

If it is only $1 to $1.5K job (bulkhead and maybe an A-arm replacement) I assume that I would just take it to a shop and have the insurance deal with it.

I am not sure if the a-arm was damaged gut I don't find any impact marks on it.

Thank you again for the input. Now I am not so convinced that my season is over and life is looking brighter.

 

[AaronBND]

That's peanuts man! I did the same thing to mine and had it all changed and ready to ride in about 7-8 hours. No engine pull, just a lot of rivets and some patience. No big deal though!

Aaron

 

[bdm]

Still waiting for the insurance people to figure things out, sled is at the dealer and the dealer is ready to go.

I am sure that I could handle the fix but it is much tougher in the winter, snow everywhere, pressure to get done quickly, and I don't have a garage. It is fine doing sled work on the patio in the summer but in the winter things become much more difficult.

 

[mulot30th]

I did broke similar to that last year hitting a tree with my rh ski during a hill climb and took me 2 evenings to do the entire job.

I just replaced the rh half casting, did not remove engine but did have to remove the D-Brace...