So many problems, Just wanna know....?

perplexium · #1 04-13-2009, 09:27 AM

Now to start off i would like to say I have run this kit for over 5000 miles on an old Vega beach cruiser from 1970s, full on hard tail and everything. I was riding an average of 14 miles 1 way and putting in some good miles for a few weeks. Loved the engine even thought the motor mounts stripped and the chain destroyed 3 wheels. It was time for a new bike something that would offer a little more ease to my Sore bottom. I purchased a Motiv full suspension bike i am starting to modify. The frame is aluminum and is wider then the motor mounts will accommodate. I am planning to weld mounts to the bike and motor witch will allow me to complete this monster Full suspension project I just need to have a few questions answered. In order to weld mounts directly to the motor i need to know exactly what these little beasts are made of. I need to know what kind of metal and what temp they are cast at. If anyone has ANY idea of where i can find such information let me know please. Or if you are a welder yourself and have welded parts to your engine to make it more sturdy let me know the process used, IE. (Tig, Mig, what kinda rod used and amps) Any information will help me at this point because I am going into this project with blinders on. Im going to Post pictures later of my build and will give the information i find most use full back to the community. Just like i said if you have any ideas or comments on this post leave some feed back i would love to hear from all my Motor Head buddys.

toytime · #2 04-13-2009, 10:23 AM

Hate to answer your question with a question but why not just make mounts that bolt to the engine? A flat metal bar with a muffler clamp sort of thing.

commander · #3 04-13-2009, 11:33 AM

Yea Toy I was gonna suggest that also, if you attempt to weld to the engine block itself I can guarantee a failure will happen. Part of it just cast aluminum, it can be welded best using a tig welder but will not hold under much pressure.

Your best bet is to make a steel brace to bolt to the motor mount itself and then fit your brace to your bike. I have used the "drill your frame and use 1 bolt " method but it broke after just 1 mile, so i made a wider steel bracket and used a u-bolt to tie into it and that u-bolt wrapped around my lower center post like on most motor mounts.

good luck

**Dan** · #4 04-13-2009, 04:37 PM

I have to agree with the mounts idea. Far easier, removable and leaves the paint job intact. And there are a lot you can buy for very lil $. Bolt and good to go. Not that making one is all that hard. I make em with a drill press, a vise, 3 bolts to shape the "U" and hardware store flat stock. (mine ain't pretty, but work well)

perplexium · #5 04-13-2009, 06:21 PM

Can anyone post a picture of what their home fabricated motor mounts look like? the reason i decided not to go with the motor mounts is because after the first 2 where striped out i replaced with larger diameter American made bolt and still get the same shear off that happened with the original bolts. I was thinking about maybe buying heavy duty epoxy and fixing the bolts into the engine permanently. Any pictures and or videos of what your mounts look like would be much appreciated. Thanks!

toytime · #6 04-13-2009, 06:49 PM

I looked around for pics with no luck but another member may find one.
You must not be seating your engine in place properly and are using the two studs to draw the engine into place. The engine should sit in place and the studs are to just hold it in place.
As for making a mount, try to picture a piece of flat piece of metal bar about a 1/4 inch thick and about 5 inches long and one inch wide. Now you drill four holes in it. Two of the holes are lined up with your studs. Now it can be mounted on the engine. Now you take a muffler clamp and from the front of the bike you put the clamp over the bikes downtube and through the remaining two holes. Now you put the two nuts on the clamp and you are done.
Another way I have used is to drill one hole in the centre of that stock mount that comes with the kit and put a bolt through it. You can drill the frame and run that one bolt through the frame. Go over to sickbikeparts site and look at how they make a rear mount. Same idea as my first suggestion but they use a larger bracket and run with two muffler clamps instead of just one and thier mount runs vertical instead of horizontal. I'm sure you will get it after seeing it.

commander · #7 04-13-2009, 07:12 PM

I tried the drill thru method , but it didnt last.

So then I welded a nut on either end of the "universal" mounting bracket and used a u-bolt to finish it off. this method was much stronger

toytime · #8 04-13-2009, 07:32 PM

Found a couple of pics. I see that one vendor is now offering the muffler clamp fix.
Other pic was too large. I will edit it into this post in five minutes...
Having probs. Here is the link, just scroll down until you see both ways. You are looking for the "NEW" mount that goes for 13 bucks.
Google Image Result for http://www.keywestpaddlesports.com/120.gif

commander · #9 04-13-2009, 08:19 PM

yup Toytime, thats the right idea and basically what i did for free, uhm I shoud say free with some elbow grease. But for less fabricating minds that mount is perfect for over sized tubes.The one in your link , not your picture

**Dan** · #10 04-14-2009, 01:12 AM

dax's ENGINE_KIT_PARTS_PAGE_4 (thats how mine look but not as purty)

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