Hot Rod Troy
Coast to Coast
These are for my upcoming big arse project. It's a 78 XL350 Enduro.
Head Light Brackets
- Thread starter Hot Rod Troy
- Start date
tWistedWheelz
BUILT NOT BOUGHT!
Sweet! I have seen something similar somewhere before. :
Swapmeet Louie
Put some metal in yer eye....
Troy,
Could you post a little how too...
I need to make a couple sets here in the next couple of days. Did you use heat on the aluminum etc?
Thanks Louie
Could you post a little how too...
I need to make a couple sets here in the next couple of days. Did you use heat on the aluminum etc?
Thanks Louie
tWistedWheelz
BUILT NOT BOUGHT!
Louie, I made a quick how to in the $50 mod thread in 1-800-CAFE-HELP. Mine are a little different than troy's, but the same principle! No heat needed to bend. But it is a good idea to anneal the aluminum for strength once it is bent!
Hot Rod Troy
Coast to Coast
The first thing I did was to use a piece of poster board with a grid pattern printed on it. These started as a rectangle piece of poster board. I wrapped it poster board around the fork tube and folded it where I wanted the 90 deg. bend and taped it all down tightly. Once the poster board was on I drew out the pattern that I wanted on it and cut the tape. Once I could set the pattern on a table I adjusted my lines so that they would be straight and even.
The next problem was figuring out how to bend them without a bender. I asked Twisted how he did his; he said he wrapped them around the fork leg. I can't get to my bike because it's buried behind another one. So, I started looking around the web for a simple bender for flat stock (pic2). I had to find something that had the same diameter as the fork tube which is 37mm. The closest I could find was a socket that was exactly 36mm O.D.
I put the end of my flat stock in the vice and folded it over where I wanted the 90 deg. bend. It stayed a little round so I gave it some GENTLE nudging with a BFH and a block of wood. I hooked the 90 onto the 3/8" bolt and muscled the metal around the socket. Once it was there I clamped the two ends together and the beatings continued until morale improved. Mine anyway; the aluminum may not have been so happy.
After all that drilled it, tapped it, and screwed it. Oh the metaphors! Anyway that's it. I have about 10 to fifteen hours into these with the polishing and sanding, and filing and research for the bender.
If you have anymore questions just ask 'em.
Troy
The next problem was figuring out how to bend them without a bender. I asked Twisted how he did his; he said he wrapped them around the fork leg. I can't get to my bike because it's buried behind another one. So, I started looking around the web for a simple bender for flat stock (pic2). I had to find something that had the same diameter as the fork tube which is 37mm. The closest I could find was a socket that was exactly 36mm O.D.
I put the end of my flat stock in the vice and folded it over where I wanted the 90 deg. bend. It stayed a little round so I gave it some GENTLE nudging with a BFH and a block of wood. I hooked the 90 onto the 3/8" bolt and muscled the metal around the socket. Once it was there I clamped the two ends together and the beatings continued until morale improved. Mine anyway; the aluminum may not have been so happy.
After all that drilled it, tapped it, and screwed it. Oh the metaphors! Anyway that's it. I have about 10 to fifteen hours into these with the polishing and sanding, and filing and research for the bender.
If you have anymore questions just ask 'em.
Troy
Swapmeet Louie
Put some metal in yer eye....
Great idea for a litle bender Troy... Thanks
Louie
Louie
Hot Rod Troy
Coast to Coast
I like making the tools I need. I'm going to try making a planishing hammer one of these days. I want to use it to form the seat.
