And the first bend. Didn't do much today, thought about it alot.
And the first bend. Didn't do much today, thought about it alot.
That is a hand splint. I was a medic for years and saw those things all the time.Originally Posted by 8ninety8
Lynn
MOA #57883
Current Ride: 1995 K75 Standard
Past: 1978 Yamaha XS 750, 1976 BMW R60/6
Now it's motoring around the Midwest. Thanx for info, and service.
Made a separate form for the tank backbone.
That part of the tank apparently rests on the large rubber frame grommet/harness thingee, used the cut away as a press.
Here's the form. the S type watches with apprehension. Note homemade mallet. Isn't this fun? Stop me if I'm getting too much into detail.
Last edited by 8ninety8; 10-15-2012 at 04:35 AM.
And the wrap. May have to make a couple relief cuts. Right arm is getting larger. Beginning to feel more mellow about task.
Last edited by 8ninety8; 10-15-2012 at 01:58 PM.
(1) NOT too much detail.
(2) When SWMBO suggests that I'm crazy, I can now point to this thread, and say, "No, honey, HE'S utterly demented."
(3) I think I heard the R90S ask, as it watched the proceedings, "WTF is he doing?"
Keep on - this is really, really amazing stuff.
Walking Eagle
Coming along nicely. Good work! Please keep posting.
76 R60/6
97 R80GS
Strange material, when you give it whack on one side with the dimple mallet, it does the exact opposite radius bend on the other side, and the whole piece starts curving the direction not wanted.
Gonna try making a special U-shaped forming tool to force the backbone down onto original form. Can't get in there with a hammer, too narrow. Not absolutely necessary, but will give it a try. And it forms completely different working from the outside edge in, than starting in middle and working out. That 100 dollar welding rate is still mulling around in me head. Gee, a few hours and I could have my own crude TIG rig.
Slowed down a lot, it's autumn and had to ride the bike a little, and the other bike. The backbone just too big to bend and shape all the compound bulges unless I had the dies, and a ten ton press and a factory. So cut it up, more welding but have to try to save tank capacity. Here's the back right side, not quite pounded right yet. Right forearm starting to look like popeye.
Time to switch hammering hands. Otherwise you'll be leaning just to maintain a straight line.
What are you doing for petcocks and gas cap?
There's a couple of choices, petcocks, find the same threaded pipes as on present tank, can't remember the size, 20 or 22mm, or, there's plenty of brit type on/off aluminum weldable where you would run one side dry and then go on the other side for reserve. Never could figger why the stock petcocks both had reserves. Overkill?
The filler, well, have seen the usual monza type flip top that look, frankly, painfully high upside. Not that the stock/6 is much different.
Not much into style, so, a standard threaded pop up type, vented, flush with tank top would be much more useful, and are available aluminum weldable.
Still learning how to shape this stuff, pound in here, pops out there, roll it over there, rolls up over there. At some point it's going to get easier. The key is stubborness. Never get anywhere without sticking to it. Soon be taking some pieces to get welded, and that will show a lot of what is goin on. Got lots of time.
Haven't done much, update, plug started to fall apart with pounding, so had to glass the bottom side, it's just easier to pound right on a seam or bulge than to go back and forth. Haven't lost enthusiasm but it's autumn and there's so many other things to do. Welding rig to do the job properly runs about 1.8K, plus gas. Probably going with subbing the welding.
And to hold my interest a pic of how it might look if it ever gets finished. Looks like nothing I ever could have purchased, and like something I always imagined a cool tank to be. I'll be doing some serious shaping today, finally.
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