Denny
Canned Monster
I want Bourbon too!
Grand Daddyish build
- Thread starter TNThomas
- Start date
TNThomas
Well-known member
Getting the rack and pinion (Latest rage 11") ready for the new beefier 1/2" components. The factory machined off a section from the actual rack, but it will be a little thin with that, so im filling it in with a few welds. Ill grind/clean it tomorrow. Side note, ive found a great use for old leather gloves: protecting vulnerable components while welding. Cut off leather fingers (from gloves) work great to protect threads from weld splatter in confined environments.
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TNThomas
Well-known member
Cleaned up
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TNThomas
Well-known member
Ok, got them drilled out and tapped for the beefier 1/2"-20 threads. First time tapping threads. I'll give myself a "B" grade. Got it done, but I got a little non-concentric on both sides. Probably while starting the tap. I also drilled them by hand, I dont have a drill press. But who knows, they might have been off from the factory. Regardless, I accomplished my goal, and I vastly trust the 1/2" bolts over the 3/8" ones it came with. Now I can weld the final steering wheel mount in place. I threaded about 2/3rds of the hole as it felt like I was about to snap the tap in half on the kast bit. So I stopped before that 
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madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
You mentioned adding some weld for additional strength. Is it possible that you accidentally did some heat-treating that made the metal harder to drill, harder to tap, harder?
TNThomas
Well-known member
Possibly, but I dont think so, pretty thick steel, I also turned my voltage down, and cycled the rack and pinion in the freezer to cool it down every few minutes (mainly so the grease bearings didnt melt). But its good enough for me!
TNThomas
Well-known member
I think the tap was getting a little askew the deeper it went. Just felt like I was flirting with breaking something, so I stopped
TNThomas
Well-known member
Ok, I got the rack and pinion back together. Shown is a mock up of what im doing for tie tods. Beefy as well. All bolts are right hand thread except the outer tie rod threads that connect to the rod. Ill weld the yellow bolt and one of the stainless bolts on the outer tie rod (LH threads) to the rod itself. But im going to wait to buils the tie rods till I know where my rear axles are at.
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madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
Good-looking tierods. I'll let Granny know you found the beef.
TNThomas
Well-known member
Please do, haha.
Denny
Canned Monster
Nice.
TNThomas
Well-known member
In trying to save a few bucks, I am going to experiment with using a dead (not this one, but exact same) fire extinguisher to build the housing to cover the diff. The I.D. of the housing needs to be 4.25". O.D. of the fire extinguisher is 4.50", Thats close enough to chop one to see if it would work.
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Denny
Canned Monster
And what did you start on fire to end up with a dead extinguisher?
TNThomas
Well-known member
Haha, good question: 1978 Honda GL1000 "Cafe racer." You can see it in my early photos on here. Had a full tank of gas in it. Valves really needed to be adjusted, and I kept spraying starter fluid in it trying to get it to start. Intake valve must have been open as it sparked, and fire traced up into my air intake, and caught the air filter on fire. I was scared the whole fuel tank was going to catch (bike was only a few feet from my house), so I sprayed it down. Definitely spooky, I have them stored everywhere now.
I sold off all my bikes (5) once we had kids. No major accidents, and I commuted for 10 years on them, so I got out while I was ahead. I realized I couldn't keep them all running as well. So I sold them, and the buggy is taking their place. I figure having go karts will be better and safer early in my kids lives as well. Baby #3 is on the way in May! Im trying to convince my fellow motorcycle Dad friends to do the same, it just makes sense.
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madprofessor
"Loose Cannon Creations"
Keep pluggin' away at it, stud!
Denny
Canned Monster
You are so right about getting out while you are ahead. In 1995 I took a sparrow to the head at 70mph. One of the few times I was wearing a helmet. It darn near took my head off. Then in 99 or 2000 I took a turkey to the chest on my Harley at about 45 - 50mph. The only thing keeping me on the bike was my sissy bar and God’s guiding hand. The pucker factor could not be measured. I had a gaping hole in my underwear, jeans and Corbin leather seat through the steel frame. To this day none of the material has been found! Not to mention I was covered from head to toe with turkey blood and parts. At first I thought I was dead. If it would have been an inch higher I would have been. Into the garage it went for the next decade. Never to be seen again until I traded it off for a bobcat skid steer. Only 9500 miles on it! I only ride mini bikes now.
TNThomas
Well-known member
Turkey! You poor soul! Dang. Thats terrible. Im glad you made it, thats no joke. KE= 1/2mv^2. I would need to do some unit conversions, but I wouldnt be surprised if thats essentially a 12ga shotgun to the chest! I know a Canadian that drove a Harley through a Grizzley. Medics also thought he was dead, blood everywhere.
TNThomas
Well-known member
Did you go thin wall for sprocket bolt head clearance? I am just going to order the steel I need. I found out my extinguisher is aluminum, and im set up for welding steel. Assuming finding a sprocket isnt an issue, im planning on doing a slightly thicker housing and just welding everything up.
Denny
Canned Monster
What about just gluing it all together with some black Permatex and drilling and tapping in a hole for a zerk and filling it with John Deere corn head grease. That stuff would never leak out.