Landracing Forum

Bonneville Salt Flats Discussion => Build Diaries => Topic started by: sheribuchta on February 06, 2008, 08:01:58 PM

Title: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 06, 2008, 08:01:58 PM
We are starting a new build diary here. Its going to be a very simple drag bike style frame. But its going to be tough enough for dry lakes or salt racing. The tubing is going to be a little thicker than drag racing. Nothing exotic. Its 1 1/8 inch .125 wall d.o.m. Its a double down tube single tube backbone. Your typical harley frame. Although any motor and transmission could fit into it. Its simple. Its inexpensive. And its something that probably half the people here could build.
The first step is making some type of fixture to hold your parts in place. It could be done with angle iron and some threaded rod. Some scrap tubing.
The first thing to do is build the neck. This particular bike I made my own neck on the lathe. It takes a bearing race and a timken bearing, one on the top and one on the bottom. If you can't make the neck a local machine shop would be happy to do it. Or I will do it for a small fee. The rear axle castings are off a harley davidson softail swing arm  I like to use them because they have that 50's look. You can actually make them out of 1/4 inch cold roll plate, but on this bike I'm going to use these. The backbone and the seat post will be 1 1/2 in .125 wall d.o.m. Its going to have a 75 inch wheelbase with a 30 in long frontend and 45 degrees of neck angle(rake).
Enjoy the pics.
Willie Buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 06, 2008, 08:05:12 PM
The first four pics were pretty much of the frame jig setup and the neck in place on the jig.
The next four pics will be the frame jig with the neck the axle castings and the front frame tubes bent but not fit.

willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 06, 2008, 08:08:14 PM
A couple of more pics.
willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: Glen on February 06, 2008, 08:16:10 PM
Willy, you need a bigger shop. :-D :-D
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 07, 2008, 12:46:13 AM
Hey Glen  my shop is fine   its 3600 sq. ft    I need less projects

willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: isiahstites on February 07, 2008, 01:09:45 AM
Willie you are a bike building fool........what is that like four bikes in the six months? What tubing bender do you use?

Scott
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 07, 2008, 01:53:15 AM
its been cold this winter so im a little slow when the weather warms up i will be able to work longer days the bike in this build will just be a frame for a customer --it a very simple frame styled after the 57 harley frame --ive seen a lot of junk aftermarket frames and thought if someone watching wanted to build one they could just follow along --it doesnt take a lot a frame jig that can be made from just about anything --a bender although tubing can be bent around just about anything --and a good welder either a tig or a wire feed and some one that knows how to run it --the bender i use is a jd squared  it works really will the bender is about 250 dollars then the dyes are a couple hundred each depending on size it will bend 1 in to 2 in round they also make dyes for square tube im not sure of the sizes i think they have a web site iv had the bender for about 14 years and would reccomend it highly    thanks  willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: isiahstites on February 07, 2008, 08:39:31 AM
Yeah I have been looking to get a JD2.

Scott
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: Sumner on February 07, 2008, 11:07:49 AM
its been cold this winter so im a little slow when the weather warms up i will be able to.......................willie buchta............

Modesto Weather:

Today:  High 63F.
Tomorrow: High 64F. 
Saturday: Plenty of sun. Highs in the upper 60s.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 60s.
Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 60s.

................ cold?????????  It hasn't been above 40 here for almost 2 months...........the pictures were taken yesterday.  Funny how the cold effects us old guys  :cry:.

c ya,

Sum


Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: GH on February 07, 2008, 11:17:03 AM
Sumner, I thought I would like to live in Blanding, not any more, looking at all that snow.
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: Sumner on February 07, 2008, 11:28:48 AM
Sumner, I thought I would like to live in Blanding, not any more, looking at all that snow.

Well it is the first time in years that we have had a winter like this.  Last couple years it was rain when it should have been snow.  Besides you wouldn't have to live here all of the year.  Go to AZ in the winter  8-).

(http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/temp-pictures/GMC-SNOW-Missouri.JPG)   

.....................and this picture wasn't taken in Utah, but at my Mom's house 35 miles south of your place in the banana belt  :evil:, and how many days were you without elect. last year in that ice storm.  Maybe Blanding doesn't look that bad  :lol:.

Willie sorry to mess up your new build.  You are doing some really nice work and I'm watching and learning.  Thanks. 

Sum
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 08, 2008, 09:33:09 PM
afrer looking at those pics it suddenly seems a lot warmer here  willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 14, 2008, 02:10:36 PM
Here's some more pics on the frame build  the bottom frame rails are done and welded to the neck and rear axle castings   the front engine mount is finished the rear engine mount is finished  the front and rear tranny mount is finished  and the seat post is installed and everything is tacked into place  the next will be the top frame rail and the back top tubes  Here's the pics
Willie Buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: sheribuchta on February 14, 2008, 02:11:16 PM
more pics
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: willieworld on February 16, 2008, 11:37:08 PM
The frame is done it is still in the frame jig but it is done. If I get a chance I will pull it out tommorrow and take a couple more pics.
Willie Buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: isiahstites on February 17, 2008, 01:31:47 AM
Wille it appears you are going to run a belt for the final drive. Did you offset the motor to accomadate the width of the belt, if so how much?

Frame looks great!

Scott
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: willieworld on February 17, 2008, 06:31:14 AM
i had to go back and look at the pics --the owner will run a chain the trans i used for setup just had the belt sprocket on it but i think the frame could run a belt --if someone wants to run a belt i would make the back of the frame wide enough for the belt --i would never offset the motor and trans ---maybe if it was a sidecar bike--funny that you mention it but i dont think a belt would last land speed racing and its way to hard to change gear ratios       how is the frame coming on your bike    how much rake did you decide on     willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: isiahstites on February 17, 2008, 09:55:32 AM
I am going to figure everything out tomorrow.

Looking forward to seeing your bike finished.

Scott
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: willieworld on February 17, 2008, 10:33:33 PM
Here are the final pics of this frame
willie buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: willieworld on February 17, 2008, 10:34:34 PM
ok  two more
Willie Buchta
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: Peter Jack on February 17, 2008, 10:50:52 PM
Never worry about putting in too many pictures Willie. Those of us who are builders can never have too many details shown. It expands our idea bank as we go through them.

You do nice work, generally in a very simple and straight forward manner.

Pete
Title: Re: framed or not to be framed
Post by: willieworld on July 18, 2008, 01:18:30 AM
hi all   here is the frame jig all painted   



i have used this frame jig for a long time -i can build any motorcycle frame on it every thing is adjustable ---wheelbase---axel height front and rear---neck height---rake--- backbone stretch ---any rear tire width---ridgrd frame---softail---or swingarm-- any harley motor and trans --anyway if you look at the first and last pic on this thread you will see before and after thanks

willie buchta