Oops,, cracked the calfab a little...lol

[Mosh]

not to give you mosh but didn't you just tell another member to run theirs, thats what they are meant for? I may be wrong but I thought it was you.

I believe you are mistaken. Just searched my posts back to 2007 and did not find anywhere that I suggested someone run a calfab Tri-Z swingarm..
Maybe a westcoast or 250R calfab, since there are more out there, but not a Z.
However, I will insert foot in mouth, if you find otherwise. (About a Z calfab)

[Jason Hall]

IMHO, all swingers that have been welded together WILL break under extreme conditions eventually. The same Is true with the aluminum 88-89 TRX swingers. Also IMO most all aftermarket swingers (even chrome molly) are built too strong, and can't flex like they need to. I have talked with guys out west that desert race 450R's, and the one that holds up the longest Is the Stock 450r swinger. Its cast aluminum that Is beefy where It needs to be, but Is able to flex and twist as needed. I'm not saying that they (400ex-450R swinger's) don't break, but under some pretty grueling conditions they seem to hold up good.

I remember a thread on ATVriders.com where someone asked to see pics of broken 450r swing arms. Of course a couple people said they broke them, but had no Pics. They were probably the guys who spent 700.00 on a aftermarket swing arm and had to say that LOL. I have seen Lot's of Leager, walsh, Lonestar, JB swing arm's on Ebay. Most all of them that are For Sale are cracked!!! Now I will say, once an aluminum swing arm cracks, that's the end!!! Where the chrome molly arm would hold up longer after It has been welded.

I ran a Modded Stock 06 trx swinger on my aluminum 450r for close to 4 years, all I ever did to It was put pivot bearing In It Once. It made 2 week long trips to Glammis, and Many other torture rides right here In MI. IMO a 3 wheeler Is harder on a swing arm than a quad under normal and extreme conditions because of the twisting force put on the rear pivot section because of one front wheel In the center of the front end. Unlike a quad that leans over on the front suspension. One rear wheel landing's are the worst, as It twist's the 2 sides of the arm. Think about all the leverage the axle has to twist on the swinger. With the Big strong cross member where the shock link mounts hanging tough, they usually break along the sides like In Raffa's case. This Is just my opinion, and I'm not trying to cause argument. I'm just stating what I have seen MANY time's.

[Bryan Raffa]

great post jason thats why I went back to a stocker.. I have run tons of races on thos and they crack a little.. just waiting on someone to build a swinger for a tri z that I dont have to worry about,,, =)

[just ben]

I believe you are mistaken. Just searched my posts back to 2007 and did not find anywhere that I suggested someone run a calfab Tri-Z swingarm..
Maybe a westcoast or 250R calfab, since there are more out there, but not a Z.
However, I will insert foot in mouth, if you find otherwise. (About a Z calfab)

I looked too, my bad I thought it was you I did say that I may be mistaken. I cant even find the thread now. I dont have any trouble admitting when I'm wrong, sorry

[Bryan Raffa]

Thoe's that said it was destroyed,,,, stronger than ever!,, even better and deeper welds! off to G KING for A Show Stopper polish and some new stickers!

[El Camexican]

just waiting on someone to build a swinger for a tri z that I dont have to worry about,,, =)

If it ends up being an obsesion at some point you may want to invest $1,??? into a 4130 Chromoly copy of the stocker + whatever you want over stock length. Just make sure whoever welds it uses the right gas and rod and purges the inside of the tubes as they weld (pipe a few psi of Argon or whatever mix of gas you are welding with into the tubes to make sure the weld is free of impurities) and stress relive the welds afterwards. As far as Aluminum goes Jason is 100% right about cracking at some point. All Aluminium work hardens over time and once the cracking starts its like incurable cancer. Gussets may help, but they also add more stress to other areas that may have never been meant to be stressed by a weld. The same thing happens with Chromoly over time. The very properties (light weight and rigidity) we seek from these materials is what causes them to crack before mild steel would. Anyone looking to confirm this need only look at the 1985 GSXR 750 frames that were raced at a pro level, or talk to the owners of older Chromoly dragster frames. You'll hear that dragster frames don't wearout from racing, they wearout in their trailers as they are transported to the races on bumpy roads. I'll add that as much as most of us are do-it-yourselfers when it comes to welding parts that would put skin to ground in a failure situation it's best to seek out someone with experiance to do the work, or at least consult on the job. I've found aviation certified welders to be the best when it comes to Aluminum and Chromoly.