Welded crank

[stik-m]

I am a new banshee owner. Could someone please tell me the purpose of welding the crank. I have a 2004 with toomey t6 pipes and silencers, jetted and k&n filter. I have read on several posts that with these upgrades the crank should be welded?

[Phelps]

if you plan on staying with that setup you may never need to have the crank welded. welding the crank is to keep the crank web from moving on the pin and it getting out of true. it's 50 bucks plus shipping and seals and gaskets. my opinion is to wait until you decide to have the cylinders ported, or you tear it down for a rebuild.

[BUILDER]

I agree with what Phelps said. I ran my stock crank for 4 years in my bike with no problem at all but when I tore it down for a rebuild I went ahead and shipped the crank off to be welded. If you are going to run the motor the way it is for now I would not worry about it. The stock cranks are just pressed together and over time will start slipping but that usually only happens when you stat bumping up your compression and building your motor.

[stik-m]

Thanks, it all makes sense now, didn't know it was pressed together. How often should I rebuild the top end? The guy I bought it off of said the bike only had about 20 hrs on it. And If you look at it, you can tell. Its really clean. Chain rollers and guides show no wear. He said he never adjusted the chain. I have put about 5-10 hours on it.

[bansheesandrider]

Not to throw water on your fire, but I lost my first crank on my bike with nothing more done to it but pipes and a K&N filter in the airbox when the bike was a year and a half old. The crank spread and took out the thrust washers for the rod and then the bearing failed causing over $700 damage and that was fixing it myself. Because of this, I weld every crank on any Banshee I own ASAP, I don't want to lose another crank and ruin all my other nice parts when it lets go- if you are lucky when it lets go all you will need to replace is the crank, pistons, and head( or domes if it is a coolhead). If you are not lucky, you may have to replace cases or cylinders.