Rotor Drilling
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cb 550 guy
have a good day dude
you can try with a drill press.
Ease
83 XJ650RK, 77 TS-250
I keep being told by every "professional" I speak to not to try and do it myself... and I also get told that some shops just won't do it...
Only advice I can give you is to either do it yourself in a drill press with excellent drill bits and lots of lube, or take em off and bring em somewhere with your pattern in hand and ask (or call and ask). Couldn't hurt!
Lots of people have it and plenty are still getting it done, so there's gotta be someone out there!
Only advice I can give you is to either do it yourself in a drill press with excellent drill bits and lots of lube, or take em off and bring em somewhere with your pattern in hand and ask (or call and ask). Couldn't hurt!
Lots of people have it and plenty are still getting it done, so there's gotta be someone out there!
TonUpSoldier
bad assed, super fast and fully gassed
There is a guy on fleabay that will do your rotors for $50 bucks i think. You just have to hunt him down. Having said that, supplied with a good pattern, and as said good bits and lube (heh, he said lube) you CAN do it yourself. Just go slow, and be precise, and DONT chamfer the holes when your done.
I think the pattern may be more important than the machinist... you need the right balance between adequate ventilation and disc strength retention. Most shops likely refuse the work to avoid liability issues.
Big words always make it sound like you didn't pull the answer out of your arse don't you think?
Buy LOTS of bits and machining oil of course... but work out your right arm for at least a month before hand (you will be amazed at how tired your arm is going to get) and be prepared for the most boring tedious yet focused hour or two of your life ;D I have drilled a few cribbage boards and the constant repitition drives me crazy everytime.
Big words always make it sound like you didn't pull the answer out of your arse don't you think?
Buy LOTS of bits and machining oil of course... but work out your right arm for at least a month before hand (you will be amazed at how tired your arm is going to get) and be prepared for the most boring tedious yet focused hour or two of your life ;D I have drilled a few cribbage boards and the constant repitition drives me crazy everytime.
TonUpSoldier
bad assed, super fast and fully gassed
I would for sure, as Canada Dan says, get a pattern. Making one yourself, while you may get lucky, can result in some issues that arent pretty to think about. Generally, the patterns are set up as Dan says, to allow for adequate ventallation (which is the purpose of doing it to begin with) yet leaving enough disc behind that it doesnt shatter from the process, or thereafter when ridding and heat and force build on it. Keep in mind exactly what it is you expect those little (really, they arent that big) discs of steel to do. Alot of you guys have smaller displacement bikes, and are likely more the "rocket jockey" build than I, so its not to hard to stop your bikes with even moderate sized discs (compared of course to drums) But any larger displacement bike, which *I* or someone my size would be stradling (im 6'4 260) Id for sure keep in mind that I rely on these things to stop my 500+lb bike, plus its 260lb rider (not including gear) Id be using a pattern. Long answer, short subject. Enjoy
S
Scarcat
Guest
OK ... let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of drilling rotors:
Advantages:
1) Weight Reduction
2) Heat dispensation
3) It looks very cool
4) Makes a sound like a flying bee when you brake (or at least mine does)
Disadvantages:
1) Improperly done, it'll add vibration to your wheel
2) I've heard that a brake rotor, if it breaks, breaks between the drill holes
3) Possibly could wear your brake pads quicker.
I talked to a mechanic about drilling rotors a while ago ... here's his recommendation:
1) You can do it yourself, but be very careful to balance the wheel. Being off by a degree can lead to catastrophic failure due to weight imbalance.
2) Modern rotors are scalloped for performance rather then drilled. Scalloped rotors provide the same advantages in terms of heat loss, but since you aren't going completely through the rotor, the likelihood of rotor failure is greatly reduced. Any good machinest should be able to do it for about $35 a rotor.
Advantages:
1) Weight Reduction
2) Heat dispensation
3) It looks very cool
4) Makes a sound like a flying bee when you brake (or at least mine does)
Disadvantages:
1) Improperly done, it'll add vibration to your wheel
2) I've heard that a brake rotor, if it breaks, breaks between the drill holes
3) Possibly could wear your brake pads quicker.
I talked to a mechanic about drilling rotors a while ago ... here's his recommendation:
1) You can do it yourself, but be very careful to balance the wheel. Being off by a degree can lead to catastrophic failure due to weight imbalance.
2) Modern rotors are scalloped for performance rather then drilled. Scalloped rotors provide the same advantages in terms of heat loss, but since you aren't going completely through the rotor, the likelihood of rotor failure is greatly reduced. Any good machinest should be able to do it for about $35 a rotor.
TonUpSoldier
bad assed, super fast and fully gassed
I've actually heard that the holes help to clean the brake pads. I've only at the moment one bike with factory drilled rotors, and to be frank, ive never really paid attention, but i guess the theory is possible.
I agree. I think it would be a wiser decision. I am thinking about it myself. It sounds like the rotor has to be balanced and the holes drilled very precisely. If they are even slightly off it would be dangerous. I think that I'll actually spend the money and get it done by a pro than seemingly just randomly drilling holes. Cause I don't know what the f&%k I am doing when it comes to precise measurement!!!
S
Scarcat
Guest
When it comes to machining stuff, I don't know what I'm doing either, but think of it this way ... the weights they put on tires to balance them are very very light. I suppose if you messed up, you'd have to get your tire re-balanced ... but then again I wouldn't think of getting the rotor drilled without getting the tire re-balanced.
