To anyone who has built a chopper

[lukerogers94]

i dont have much knowledge of welding and bike building, do you think that the chopper is a difficult project or do you think that i would be able to build it in around 9 weeks.???

 

[brendonv]

Hrmm, i would say yes but it would be a pretty crappy chopper no offense. I mean my kart is crappy coz i new nothing about metal work or karts when i built it. If i built it now it would be 10x better. But who's saying u can mod it later. I will never stop modding my kart. XD. If u have experience with metal work then yes but if u have never used a grinder, drop saw,welder ect. before then it will take a long time. Look at many builds and u will get more ideas. Spend a lot of time on the planning stage, do about 10 designs on a piece of paper until ur happy with it. If ur a bit unsure about something then sleep on it and i bet that night u will be thinking about it and then u think "ahh" and it will be all fixed haha.

Basically, dont rush and plan plan plan. U will kick urself later if u dont. I no planning is boring but its well worth it in the long run.

 

[mike75925]

depends on how much time and skill you have. one hour a night, maybe, if you can get an hour a night. the great thing about mini's is their simplicity. homework and honeing your skills takes the most time. once you know what you want, your skills are up to par, and you have your material you'll be flying through it. frame, maybe eight hours. frontend, another two or three. setting the wheels from pieces, two hours. installing the engine and driveline, two hours. rolling chassis in about 12-15 hours. full on chopper in 20-24 hours. make sure you do your homework.seat mounting, tank mounting, your measurements so you will be able to ride it safely, all the lil things take time, plan well

 

[lukerogers94]

thanks

hey guys thanks for the replies.
yeah i was having a think about that and i dont have much knowledge with welding etc, but i do have 2 friends working on the project with me so i should be right. we recently managed to get a 5hp fourstroke engine with a clutch for free which was a score. we planned to use scrap metal to make the frame next weekend, and then salvage some wheels and seat. although i have been looking and planning for ages im still concerned about stuff like sprockets, axles, live or dead? etc. Brendonv your from aus right do you know of any online aussie bike stores that i could get sprockets and chains etc from? (im in brisbane) look forward to hear from you guys, and will be sure to upload progress pics

 

[brendonv]

I got my sprocket n stuff from my local go kart shop. They have all that stuff. Otherwise its ebay. Bmikarts is a good one although there in america but i bought my brake caliper n disc from them n they were good. If i were u i would buy one of those complete back wheels with a sprocket attached and it has a drum brake in the sprocket. That is the easiest and cheapest option probably. Here it is: http://cgi.ebay.com/Go-Kart-Mini-Bike-Tire-Rim-Wheel-Brake-Drum-Sprocket-NR_W0QQitemZ390071802391QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGo_Karts?hash=item5ad2175a17&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=65%3A12|66%3A2|39%3A1|72%3A2127|293%3A1|294%3A50http://

It may be like $150+ or something for it but its worth it n just is so much easier.

PS: They dont show shipping prices to aus but they do ship there. Just email em, it will probably be like 50-70 bucks for shipping.

 

[EagleTalons]

I have some minibike wheels for sale. 10". 5" aluminum rims with a 72 tooth sprocket. Rear is knobby and the front is a sawtooth. Message me if you want pictures/info/pricing.

 

[lukerogers94]

brendonv- if i buy that item off ebay you linked, will i just need to buy an axle and chain, and thats it, i dont really understand what hubs are sposed to do are they vital? thanks for you help.

 

[GoAlterBridge]

The hub is vital, as the sprocket connects to it, and that's how you get the energy transferred from the engine to the rubber tire.

 

[toucan_sam]

you should be able to finish that thing in 9 weeks. Just over a month ago I started a chopper project, similar to the one on the homepage of this site and I'm almost done it now. I also had absolutely no experience with any welding or anything like that and I think I made it alright. But yea, definately make good plans first cuz I didn't really plan it well and that cost me a lot of time and frustration due to stupid little mistakes.

 

[lukerogers94]

you should be able to finish that thing in 9 weeks. Just over a month ago I started a chopper project, similar to the one on the homepage of this site and I'm almost done it now. I also had absolutely no experience with any welding or anything like that and I think I made it alright. But yea, definately make good plans first cuz I didn't really plan it well and that cost me a lot of time and frustration due to stupid little mistakes

could you post some pics i would be very intrested, what did you use for brakes? its the real puzzler because i dont really wont to buy anything, apart from sprockets and chain. and btw i found a great heavy duty clutch for free but its belt do you think i could just bolt or weld a sprocket to it to convert it into a chain clutch?

 

[toucan_sam]

just posted some pics here:
http://www.diygokarts.com/vb/showthread.php?p=55648#post55648

I used a brake disc caliper for the brakes and I used a sprocket instead of an actual brake disc... but not the same sprocket as the one im using for drive. As for your clutch, i'm really not sure if that will work... I wouldn't see why not but i'm also probably not the one whos advice is the best.

 

[skid20]

do you think i could just bolt or weld a sprocket to it to convert it into a chain clutch?

you really can't put a sprocket on the clutch. But you can use that clutch and run a belt to a jackshaft that has a pulley and another small sprocket to run a chain to your wheel sprocket.

I would just find a pulley for the back wheel and another for a tensioner and just make it belt drive.