Recent content by two-smoker

I finalized the headlight mount today. I couldn't get a clear picture of the bottom, to show how I have it attached to the lower tree, but I think you'll get the idea.

I finally had a small amount of motivation to do some work on the bike today. So I made a mockup version of the headlight mount, FINALLY in the place I want it. And without those stupid headlight ears! Plus I burned in a few gussets ( not shown ) at the rear of the frame join, below the swingarm...

1973 TX500 with Rebel 450 engine, front end is off 2008 Hyosung GT650R.

Many moons ago, my bike looked like this... I stumbled across this picture a former friend took of it before I went insane..... I should've been outside working on it today with the weather finally starting to warm up, but my depression is pretty bad, so i didn't...

Sigh... At this point, I wish I'd have put more effort into using the Yamaha frame as a whole, instead of trying to make it fit the Honda cradle..... Oh well. Moving forward. Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

Well, it might LOOK like a step in the wrong direction, but this is a big moment for me. I now have proof I can get the motor out of the frame, and it's all in one piece! Mostly..... Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

Mine is actually a '73, so the '78 tank is not original. It does look nice tho. I'm using a Farmhand 125 flux/mig welder. Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

Alright! Finally we get into some good stuff. I got the frame situated so I can take out the motor again. None of this is permanent, it's just need it to be strong enough that I can remove the engine without the frame seperating. Once I can get to the inside to do a proper job of welding...

Holding it in position gives an idea how much better it's going to look without those ridiculous ears.... I love it. Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

Well, obviously, cut it off and weld it into the new trim ring, of course! You'll note, though, that I had the heat turned up waaaay too high on the first weld, and burned through. So now I have a hole to braze up..... I tried using the welder to patch it, but the hole just kept getting bigger...

Well..... Not exactly. It appears that the Chinese made headlight I got is actually sightly smaller in diameter.... The bulb fits in it smartly, but I had planned on re-using the trim ring with the rock guard on it. I'll be damned if I lose a $300 LED bulb to an errant stone. So what to do...

So... You might be wondering. What is so special about a 7" bottom mount headlight? Well (aside from eliminating the ugly mounting ears), I'm putting in the LED bulb that was in the factory shell. Here is the trim ring from the new light next to my modified factory piece, including the home made...

Alright, I finally started getting the new headlight ready for fitment. Curious? Well, here it is. Oooooh, shiiiny..... Well, for now. Trust me, it's not staying that way. Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

One thing a lot of people get confused with is that the switch sources usually connect to ground, not power. So any time the bike is powered up, all the positive terminals are on. Starter button connects to grind, not positive. Etc. Sent from my Phone 2 using DO THE TON mobile app

I also wanted to get a nice clear shot of the upper frame modifications I started, so that after the lower cradle is welded in I can still remove the engine. In spite of the Honda having lower displacement, it is slightly larger than the original Yamaha engine. Go figure. And no, this isn't how...