I have been around banshees since they first started building them, I have owned 9 of them in total, The one I have now has been featured in a magazine. I grew up on the Oregon coast with my parents house being dune access I used to ride more in a month than 10 other people in a year. I have been active in the busniess for most of my life and I have never seen the ball welded in the clutch linkage let alone it welding from pulling the bike with the clutch in...makes me wonder what you have to do to make this happen. I guess holding in the clutch in and reving up the motor for a long period of time I guess....