Topic: Swing Arm Frame Custom (Read 15725 times)

Dave · « **Reply #70 on:** February 26, 2009, 10:45:05 am »

at long last i got a fender radiused for this type chassis.. of course it needs to be carved down to the acceptable shape.. i started that process last nite.. i got one more cut on the length, then its on to the side shaping.. a couple of dings must be pressed for upper shock stud clearance.. i'll cut the struts off today also.. i was able to get a solid mark on their needed length also .. but its looking great.. the fender is the one on the upper right side of this catalog page.. its a kraft tech fender.. 180.00 bucks delivered.. but it works ..

Dave · « **Reply #71 on:** February 28, 2009, 07:51:40 pm »

o.k. after the pic. you can see the fender i am actually finally using.. i cut it to length & then stuck it up in the chassis for a look.. the radius lines i have marked on the fender will have to be modified & 2 " dings " heated & knocked into the fender for upper shock stud clearance.. these chassis aint like a rigid.. it takes numerous mock ups, to get it all to fit just right..

Dave · « **Reply #72 on:** February 28, 2009, 08:00:50 pm »

i have pressed the dings into the fender , so now its time to drill the frt. 2 mounting holes.. at that point i'll add a 1/8 th. in. thick spacer on each side between the fender & frame .. the norm. on these chassis to prevent scraping up the paint upon final assembly.. the 2 forward boltas will be tightened down with the seat on it, so as to align everything.. once its all set into position , i'll remark that radius curve line & mark out for the chain cut out .. it will then all be removed , the fender trimmed , the fender strut ends will be rounded , where i cut 5 inches off them , & there will be 2 more mounting holes drilled in the struts.. once all this is done & its reinstalled , i'll fit the bitch bar up, positioning its attachment lugs & trimming the randomly cut bottom ends..

Dave · « **Reply #73 on:** February 28, 2009, 08:11:03 pm »

the fender just sitting in there changes the looksof the roller & it all complements the tank or makes it blend in much better.. you gotta remember, with this type chassis , i'm going for the ultimate bobber look.. allowing for comfort , handling & ridability.. though it will be my standard chopper type clean wiring harness on it .. i will most probable have provisions for a detachable windsheild .. that fits & looks accordingly in size , as well as a set of detachable leather set of bags like what came on a pre 2000 model fatboy when they still came with bags as an option.. the fat boy style where a good bit smaller, than say a set for a heritage classic.. this will be the bike we carry with us in the toyhauler travel trailer i entend to buy.. me & the wife want to cruise to u.s.a. & see it all.. i'll carry a construction workers hot sheet for jobs & work a little along the way , hopefully finding some short term work in bike shops as we go.. at 52 years old , the years are rolling away.. its time to roll with it daddy-o ..

xylene61 · « **Reply #74 on:** March 01, 2009, 01:46:56 pm »

Now she's comin' together, bud. Amazing how much progress your eye can make by jammin' the fender on , even though you still gotta cut it. I though you would've schmeared some flat black over the tank by now. I guess you've come to like it....you gonna rattlecan the fender pink too? LOL

Speakin' of toyhaulers, This last trip to Florida was my first outing with my little toyhauler. It's a single axle 6x15. It already came equipped with factory installed sink, 2 burner propane stove and furnace,a cutout where it looks like there WAS a fridge, room for microwave in the top cupboards, and a portable toilet. I moved the furnace and took out the one existing storage cupboard and some makeshift bunkbed off one wall, and we can squeeze two bikes in there. That is a very tight squeeze though. It's wired for 120volt and the inside lights run off its own battery. No leaks! One tire failed on the way back, but I had a new spare. It pulls a little heavier than I thought it would, probably overwieght with two bikes and all that stuff we took but kinda looks like it would be relaxing to do a little longer term thing with it, like you've got planned.

Dave · « **Reply #75 on:** March 01, 2009, 03:12:22 pm »

i'm thinking about paint the bike pink with green pok-a-dots ..

that should stir some words at the next rally .. one item can change the look really fast.. i found i'll need to modify the rear oil tank mount also .. i need to cut a long U shape into the back side of it so it wont touch the fender & make a rattle.. i build all my rear soft-tail type rear oil tank mounts myself & then get them powdered .. this one was already made in a batch of 5 awhile back , so i'll just have to run it thru the powder guy again when its cut..
toy haulers are the shit.. the one i'm after is 32 ft. long.. the cargo compartment is totally blocked off from the rest on the living quarters & it doesnt have to be unloaded for set up.. but then i have plans that will require the convenience.. i have narrowed my search down to three models.. i just gotta shop the pricing now & makethe decision.. its bumper pull so i'll still be able to haul bikes inside & the atv in the bed of the truck.. of course i have the truck for it.. its a 1 ton, with single rear wheels.. 4x4 of course.. 36 in. tall 14 in. wide tires.. the tires on it in the pic. were 35 inchers.. it has the perelli scorpion tires on it now.. rancho shocks , .. super chip programmer ..

Dave · « **Reply #76 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:19:06 pm »

the fender has been whittled down.. trheres a shadow on the bottom frt. of the fender struts that makes it look not to the correct radius of the strut where the fender is cut.. but it IS cut perfectly.. i have the fender off to smooth the cut edge in exact & recheck the radius using my cut template.. i need to remove the struts now & round in the ends & drill 2 holes in each one for the rear mount bolts.. then i can reassemble it , drill the fender holes for these mounting attachments , bolt it all down solid & then fit the bitch bar up..

Dave · « **Reply #77 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:25:37 pm »

its nearing the time to dissassemble the roller & weld the few tabs onto the frame , so it can be coated.. it wont be long at all til its time to paint the sheetmetal either.. for those wondering how it all looks off the lift sitting on the ground.. it all jives exactly like i wanted it too.. i fabbed up the rear oil tank mount & thats just another item in the growing list of shit to be powdered..

Dave · « **Reply #78 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:32:34 pm »

this paint scheme is similar to to what i want.. i like the purple pearl flaming on the gloss black background.. i dont have pics. of the sides of this tank.. wolf might though , as he painted it.. this was the original factory tank from THE DEACON { aka slick } 's sporty ..

Lightnin · « **Reply #79 on:** March 08, 2009, 06:17:30 am »

let's hear it for pinky's revenge comin along

woody · « **Reply #80 on:** March 08, 2009, 08:57:14 am »

Wow Dave I really like the tank colour

NOT.
Awesome Site your got here Dave

Dave · « **Reply #81 on:** March 08, 2009, 03:02:15 pm »

thanks woody.. welcome to our little world here..

Dave · « **Reply #82 on:** March 19, 2009, 07:37:57 pm »

well after dicking around long enough the fender is mounted the way i want it.. the seat is even bolted down solid.. its all a good fit..

Dave · « **Reply #83 on:** March 19, 2009, 07:39:24 pm »

bear in mind once the wheel is pulled back to center it better.. plus the added weight of the drive train & my fat ass.. it will squat it a good bit..

this all makes the fender fit the wheels contour perfectly .. now , onward to mount the bitch bar now.. thats gonna be a fit & weld the mounts to the bar thing.. then drill & tap holes in the struts that dont go all the way thru for a clean attachment..

xylene61 · « **Reply #84 on:** March 19, 2009, 09:56:25 pm »

That's the spirit, Dave. More progress from a busy man keepin' his eye on the lids of lots of pots.
I'm lookin' at "reply 82" and see the nice flat top on the fender you searched for. Glad ya waited. It's perfect.
I know them springs aint gonna squat too much, even when MY fat ass is on 'em. Are ya sure you're not too high with the fender? It looks like it's an inch too high from here, but you're there, so who am I to second guess?

Dave · « **Reply #85 on:** March 21, 2009, 02:41:00 pm »

if the shocks were bottomed out, i would still have a good inch before the fender would hit the tire, so its impossible it could ever hit.. with the wheel centered in the adjustment slots .. it looks much better .. on a stock bike of that chassis design the fender would have much more metal on the sidewalls & have a much taller profile tire too.. i got my son & wife to both sit on it while i looked at it & i had the wheel in the center of the adjustment slots & it was really looking right.. of course i didnt take pics. of all that .. but your suggestion was good thinking.. i did cover those bases.. that was the next thing in my mind after alignment of the fender .. another factor that dictated it all was the shape of the seat.. the chassis takes a shovelhead 1965 to 1984 seat , if you use an out of a box seat , as its designed to take .. the fender must also fit close to the seats contour when its on its frt. mount.. so theres alot of alignment issues that hit you from every possible angle you can imagine.. & then you have to press a dent in each side so the fender will contour around the top shock stud nuts & threaded part that extends thru the nut.. its not as simple as bolting up a rigid frame fender , or a soft-tail fender.. theres alot of alignment issues that must all fall into place together for it to fit correctly.. all the same reasons i had to so picky on the choice of fender i used.. short answer.. is, i had to clamp the fender to the struts numerous times in numerous positions to ge it all to blend together.. then get a mark , make a cut & do it all again a tad at a time to avoid cutting off to much..

Yona · « **Reply #86 on:** March 21, 2009, 06:36:09 pm »

Hey , Blood, want me to widen that seat for ya!!!

"plus the added weight of the drive train & my fat ass.. "

Dave · « **Reply #87 on:** March 24, 2009, 09:24:45 am »

actually it fits the old lard ass pretty good bear.. i'm bigger in the gut , than in the ass actually ...

xylene61 · « **Reply #88 on:** March 24, 2009, 11:57:27 am »

Okay. let's not go braggin how SMALL yer ass is now...Bear, widen the damn seat! Who's he foolin? LM(fat)AO

Dave · « **Reply #89 on:** March 27, 2009, 12:34:26 am »

Dave · « **Reply #90 on:** April 06, 2009, 09:34:43 am »

o.k. i gotta work 3 weeks of 7 days a week 12 hours a day at the plant , so until its over, this is on a temporary hold.. BUT I WILL BE BACK .....

xylene61 · « **Reply #91 on:** April 06, 2009, 05:57:47 pm »

awww crybaby...LOL hey, last time I looked, there's 24 hours in a day...Just teasin' . Bank the cash, and return with a vengance. At least ya got the other scoot to ride.

Dave · « **Reply #92 on:** April 07, 2009, 09:30:51 am »

with a vengeance it will be brother.. i got a spacer list for you.. these need to be stainless if you can.. & i have a shirt for you.. i gotta get puzzled some h.d. shirts too..

xylene61 · « **Reply #93 on:** April 07, 2009, 11:57:48 am »

as long as the spacer list aint written on the TEE shirt... I got the stainless..

Dave · « **Reply #94 on:** April 10, 2009, 09:40:27 am »

naw.. its will be on paper '' give me your addressi'll send you the shirt & spacer list..

Dave · « **Reply #95 on:** April 25, 2009, 12:14:11 am »

as i sit here typing on my new laptop from a wireless connection.. { new shit to me }

.. its time to get back on this build.. i got a complete tech cycle contour series 2 in. open belt drive set up from bibs, on chopperweb.. included also was the tornado 1.8 starter ............7 the jackshaft for it.. the set up was litely used & true to form bibs sold it all to me for 1/2 its new cost.. THANK YOU MR. BIB'S .. i wasnt near needing this part yet, but at this price i couldnt pass it up for someone else to grab up.. so next up i'm on to getting the bitch bar fit up & the few final welds on the frame.. at that point its paint & powder coat time.. i just dropped some items off to be coated.. & this drive stuff is next up..once the rear brake is here & the hand controls are ordered it will be getting close motor & tranny time.. i gotta do some home remodel stuff to keep thr o.l. happy while this is all happening.. so bear with me it will be slow for a short while ..

Rchop · « **Reply #96 on:** April 26, 2009, 12:44:24 pm »

Dave, what is the application on that seat and where did you get it? I'm thinkin about changing the seat and rear fender on my ironhead and I like the look of your seat.

Lightnin · « **Reply #97 on:** April 27, 2009, 06:55:16 pm »

if i recall, the seat is for a the frame, but he had to modify it by strapping it to the frame and heating it from below to get it to better fit the fender

Dave · « **Reply #98 on:** April 28, 2009, 09:55:58 am »

very correct lightnin.. its a seat for a 1965 to 1984 shovelhead swing arm frame.. dennis kirk was the only company that had one in stock & for a fair dollar.. they do make one for a sporty of any year model also, but if you revamp an early sporty, by lowering the rear , a fender remount is needed, if you lower it alot , so you will have more hump than a sporty , as sporty seats are mostly flat underneath.. a big twin seat of this application is what we will use on mark's ironhead.. on marks sporty we recut some antique aluminum fender struts for a big twin to fit it.. helping in the mounting of a fender to have more hump.. for clearance due to the extremely lowered rear arm.. the bottom of these seats being plastic allows you to use a heat gun to soften the plastic & by using rachet straps , form fit it to you chassis.. this is the same seat & installation method i used on my lil' grey evo. that i sold after many years of riding.. the seat is made by saddleman trvelcade & is called a " low-boy " .. it has a gel pad.. very comfy for this type seat..
randy you are welcome to call anytime if you ever need to.. 225-505-2280 .. i get home about 4:00 every afternoon ..

Rchop · « **Reply #99 on:** April 28, 2009, 12:41:56 pm »

Thanks Dave, I put your number in my contact list. I was thinking about remaking the fender struts like curved soft tail struts and puting new fenders front and rear. I'm thinking now, of just making a pan and sending it off to Johnny after the struts and rear fender are mounted. Just the idea stage now, I've gone round and round on what to do with this bike and I've finally decided on a slightly modified restoration like I've done with my older BMW's. This one will be a keeper for me since it reminds one of my favorite TV shows when I was younger. Ahhh...to live the "Jim Bronson" life, all those fine lookin chicks and happy endings LOL

Dave · « **Reply #100 on:** April 29, 2009, 09:51:28 am »

cool randy.. anything i can pass on to you that may help.. i'm at your service.. these type mods. really make an iron head look right .. short shocks are a must have.. i have a tem-plate for these struts i used on marks bike if you want a copy of it..

Rchop · « **Reply #101 on:** May 06, 2009, 12:48:11 pm »

Dave, could you direct me to a pic of the short shock set-up?

Dave · « **Reply #102 on:** May 07, 2009, 09:19:47 am »

do you mean the shocks themselves, or the way it sits as in these pics. of mark's chassis.. if you buy new shocks i'd use the progressive 412 series.. cheap & very effective..

i used a late model set of 11 1/2 in. sporty hugger shocks.. the sporty custom shocks will work too.. there are a few things to consider when lowering an ironhead this much..
#1 chain to oil tank clearance.. we had to revise the oil tank to adapt .. no big gig though..
#2 the sprocket cover may need to be trimmed slightly.. the starter fits tightly into this side also..

this is the lowest i've ever slammed an ironhead & i'm sure there will be a few things to work out still as we go.. we didnt have a motor handy for fit up.. we played it by ear, but past experience tells me it will all be good..as you can see the stock shock is alot longer.. you can choose how much lowered you require.. the shocks in near any length are available..

Dave · « **Reply #103 on:** May 07, 2009, 09:27:38 am »

those are big twin custom fender struts.. if you want the pattern let me know.. lowering it this far causes the need for more hump over the rear tire, thus ditching the typical sporty flat seat style..

Rchop · « **Reply #104 on:** May 07, 2009, 01:16:46 pm »

Looks nice Dave, thanks. I like the struts, but I'm thinking about making a curved set that match the fender curve. I'm not sure I want to go that low, but I will be thinking about this while I finish my race bike build. Thanks, this puts great ideas in my head

Chopper Forums

News:

Author Topic: Swing Arm Frame Custom (Read 15725 times)

Recent