Hi from the UK - INDIAN Board Tracker tribute, my first build
- Thread starter PeteMcP
- Start date
I'm concerned about the load path on the swing arm and the flex imposed at the wheel spindle end. How are you going to deal with it?
Ludwig,
Could it be you're making the same assumption someone else did on the Rat Rod Bikes forum where I'm also doing a build blog of this project? He raised the same issue, and provided diagrams to illustrate his concerns - but failed to spot there are pivots in the chain stays (look close and you'll see them about six inches forward of the drop-outs) which subsequently overcame his frame geometry worries. Once he became aware of this factor, he withdrew his concerns.
Don't overlook the fact I'm going with a suspension rear triangle and seat tube lifted direct from a new, off-the shelf mtb frame. Are you saying I shouldn't trust the designer(s) of this system to have got it right?
As a relative newbie to all this, I bow to your greater knowledge of such things - so thanks for your input. Please explain your concern in a little more detail if possible. I'm all ears....
I'm not coming the expert, I simply didn't see the pivots, and was curious how you were going to deal with it. Please, let's be at 
, there's enough confrontation in the world outside.
, there's enough confrontation in the world outside.
Lud,
Phew, you had me worried for a while there. Glad the panic's over. Last thing I wanted was to contemplate a frame re-design. Damn those pesky pivots that don't show up in the pics.
Always pleased to have your input.
Phew, you had me worried for a while there. Glad the panic's over. Last thing I wanted was to contemplate a frame re-design. Damn those pesky pivots that don't show up in the pics.
Always pleased to have your input.
ALUMINIUM FUEL TANK COMPLETED...
Finished brazing the tank's aluminium parts together. Once again I used Durafix rod to braze the filler neck in place then Alubuild 300 to attach the 4" dia. cylindrical tank's two sheet aluminium end panels. Once assembled and cleaned up, all the sharp edges were rounded off using files and abrasive paper. Pics show how the bare metal tank turned out. Need to have 4 x nuts tig welded to the end panels for the fixing bolts, which I'll have done when I revisit the welders to have some aluminium bracketry and fillets attached to the frame. Looking forward to applying the tank's primer/paint/decals and patina'd finish.
View attachment 97638
Finished brazing the tank's aluminium parts together. Once again I used Durafix rod to braze the filler neck in place then Alubuild 300 to attach the 4" dia. cylindrical tank's two sheet aluminium end panels. Once assembled and cleaned up, all the sharp edges were rounded off using files and abrasive paper. Pics show how the bare metal tank turned out. Need to have 4 x nuts tig welded to the end panels for the fixing bolts, which I'll have done when I revisit the welders to have some aluminium bracketry and fillets attached to the frame. Looking forward to applying the tank's primer/paint/decals and patina'd finish.
View attachment 97638
Attachments
I love the tank, I ended up with a sideways Wisp tank, having had to junk an old sprinter tank on mine. I will be back groping about blindly once the weather warms up.
The tank is a beautiful piece of welded aluminium. I had often wondered what could be done with aluminium rod and this proves wonderful things are possible. What source of heat did you use?
Steve.
Steve.
Pete the tank turned out really well. I've a few sticks of the low temp aluminum rod that I've been saving for the right job. Stuff left over from a small repair job. No box so I'm not sure what to call it but it worked well on the job I couldn't reach with my spool gun or TIG torch. I used MAPP gas or propane torch for heat, but think a small brazing tip on a Ox's cutting rig would be better if you own one. The aluminum seemed to flow about like a high content silver solder with flux & the tube "coupon" I tested in the shop vise with a 2 lb. hammer fared pretty well. Rick C.
Steve, Rick,
I'm the first to admit this aluminium 'brazing' process is very low-tech and that a proper gas torch would be the right tool for the job. That said, I'm beyond pleased with the finished results on my second attempt at aluminium 'brazing' after debuting the technique on DECOLINER's tank. Hope I'm successful in attempting to get the message across to followers of this thread, that with care and attention, pretty much anyone can expect to get good results for minimum outlay using a household blow torch and canned gas. I managed to knock-up this tank using nothing more than 2 x 450g canisters of butane/propane. And I only needed to resort to a second can 'cause once a can is more than half empty, pressure drops considerably, meaning you end up struggling to achieve workable heat in any one spot on the work-piece thanks to aluminium's wonderful heat sink properties.
To achieve optimum results, I've found the secret is to pre-tin both surfaces being joined with a coating of molten brazing rod. Just be certain to heat the work-piece up to the required temp (720 degrees for Durafix and 300 degrees for Alubuild 300 rods) and the molten rod flows, as Rick confirms like solder when fed onto the aluminium's surface.
Trickiest part of building this tank was shaping its rear curvature to match the frame top tube. Lots of eyeballing and paper template re-jigging involved in getting it correct before I began shaping metal.
I'm not sure if you had a coat of fuel tank sealant in your plans but it may save you some grief later on. I don't have a lot of experience with it but I just gave my tank at treatment after finding some microscopic leaks and paint bubbling.
Wret I'm with you on tank sealant. I just did a stainless tank that was seeping under the paint & I couldn't locate where to save my life, even using pressure..so I sealed and problem solved. I also like to use on tanks that are mild steel as a rust preventative. Easy to do before the initial mounting & fueling up...does increase the cost a bit but it's worthwhile for me. Rick C.
Wret, Rick,
On both DECOLINER and my latest tank (must come up with a name for build No. 3...) I coated the inside with POR15 Tank Sealer. Great stuff - and not just for rusty old tanks. Works just as well on new-build tanks. Basically comprises a mixture of paint and cyanoacrylate (superglue) that sticks better than sh-t to a blanket. Found it necessary on DECOLINER's tank after finding it impossible to get completely pin-hole free seam joints. Seemed like every time I re-heated a particular area to cure a pin-hole, another would form somewhere else. Gave up chasing the pin-holes in the end and went with the tank sealant remedy. Didn't even bother checking this latest tank for pin-hole leaks. Just sloshed the POR15 straight in as soon as it was completed. Tank is presently sitting on a radiator - midway through the tank sealer's recommended 96 hour curing process. Last thing I want after spending time painting/decaling/patina-ing this tank is to end up with fuel leaks. I've got it covered guys.
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Good man! I've used the Eastwood product as well on old factory tanks & the latest leak was a new commercially built stainless tank, only about 1 drop per 36 hrs, but that as you said ruins a quality paint job & just isn't right on top of it all. Rick C.
Not much progress to report this week.
But over the weekend I did at least manage to draw-up the 12 x various brackets, fillets and motor mounts which have now been electronically mailed to a local company who will profile them in 5mm (near enough 3/16") aluminium by water jet. First time I've used this service - so I can't wait to see the results.
But over the weekend I did at least manage to draw-up the 12 x various brackets, fillets and motor mounts which have now been electronically mailed to a local company who will profile them in 5mm (near enough 3/16") aluminium by water jet. First time I've used this service - so I can't wait to see the results.
SNOWBOUND....!
Nothing happening here right now due to being snowbound since Tuesday, courtesy of 'The Beast from the East'. No mail delivery since then - so the parts I ordered have no chance of showing up till there's been a substantial thaw and the roads begin to become passable again. That may take a while yet considering the local authorities are concentrating most of their manpower and snow plow resources to keeping the main A1 route open. Plowing roads here in Northumberland's boonies must be way down their list of priorities.
Here we have to rely on local farmers plowing roads with their tractors - but that presents its own problems in that the snow they clear from the road surface ends up being piled 4-5 feet high at the roadsides. Plowed single-track roads in this neck of the woods end up looking more like bob-sleigh tracks with high banked sides. Nightmare when on-coming vehicles meet and there's nowhere to manouvre. Today (Sat) we still have 3ft snow drifts covering our entire driveway. Car is well and truly blocked in the garage. And even if/when I could get it out, I'd have a tough job shoveling through the 5 ft wall of compacted snow and ice blocking off my driveway entrance, left behind after the last plowing attempt a couple of days ago.
Other than a few light snow flurries yesterday, things seemed to have settled down - but it's snowing again today and temps are minus 6, so not even the remotest sign of a thaw anytime soon.
Ran out of milk/bread and most other foodstuffs on Wednesday. Now getting by on the contents of our freezer. Food-wise, it wouldn't make a difference even if I could get to the local store - they haven't had any deliveries this last week so their shelves are empty. Thank goodness we haven't had to deal with any power cuts - that would put us in real trouble, being entirely dependent on electricity for heating/cooking. I have a camping stove ready if the worst should happen.
We're not alone here. This is a nationwide event. Worst since 2010 - which, it has to be said, was far worse. The UK has been ground to a standstill for 5 days since Tues, during which red weather warnings - the highest threat level - were issued . Only the foolhardy have ventured out during that time, with most airports/railways/schools and many businesses shut down. Umpteen stories of stranded motorists and travelers - even on the UK's major roads - have dominated the news.
US folks, used to dealing with (and coping with) far greater levels of snow, on seeing the BBC's news coverage of these events are probably wondering how a country's transport infrastructure grinds to a halt in what appears to be relatively little snow? Probably because hardly anyone here drives a truck. Or has even heard of snow chains. And our attitude to snow fighting, following three years of almost snow-free winters, is generally, 'Don't worry about it. It'll probably never happen'.
I recall staying with a pal's family in Brattleboro, Vermont every January between 1999-2013 and in his barn was a tracked excavator, loader/backhoe, a truck fitted with its own plow and three skidoos. All for personal use plowing-out the mountain road up to his place and bringing back supplies. Talk about being prepared!!! To a Brit, that just seemed unreal. Anywhere here in the UK, that would be enough hardware to run a business (lol).
Gotta go be creative and prepare lunch. Buttered cream crackers. Yum...
Nothing happening here right now due to being snowbound since Tuesday, courtesy of 'The Beast from the East'. No mail delivery since then - so the parts I ordered have no chance of showing up till there's been a substantial thaw and the roads begin to become passable again. That may take a while yet considering the local authorities are concentrating most of their manpower and snow plow resources to keeping the main A1 route open. Plowing roads here in Northumberland's boonies must be way down their list of priorities.
Here we have to rely on local farmers plowing roads with their tractors - but that presents its own problems in that the snow they clear from the road surface ends up being piled 4-5 feet high at the roadsides. Plowed single-track roads in this neck of the woods end up looking more like bob-sleigh tracks with high banked sides. Nightmare when on-coming vehicles meet and there's nowhere to manouvre. Today (Sat) we still have 3ft snow drifts covering our entire driveway. Car is well and truly blocked in the garage. And even if/when I could get it out, I'd have a tough job shoveling through the 5 ft wall of compacted snow and ice blocking off my driveway entrance, left behind after the last plowing attempt a couple of days ago.
Other than a few light snow flurries yesterday, things seemed to have settled down - but it's snowing again today and temps are minus 6, so not even the remotest sign of a thaw anytime soon.
Ran out of milk/bread and most other foodstuffs on Wednesday. Now getting by on the contents of our freezer. Food-wise, it wouldn't make a difference even if I could get to the local store - they haven't had any deliveries this last week so their shelves are empty. Thank goodness we haven't had to deal with any power cuts - that would put us in real trouble, being entirely dependent on electricity for heating/cooking. I have a camping stove ready if the worst should happen.
We're not alone here. This is a nationwide event. Worst since 2010 - which, it has to be said, was far worse. The UK has been ground to a standstill for 5 days since Tues, during which red weather warnings - the highest threat level - were issued . Only the foolhardy have ventured out during that time, with most airports/railways/schools and many businesses shut down. Umpteen stories of stranded motorists and travelers - even on the UK's major roads - have dominated the news.
US folks, used to dealing with (and coping with) far greater levels of snow, on seeing the BBC's news coverage of these events are probably wondering how a country's transport infrastructure grinds to a halt in what appears to be relatively little snow? Probably because hardly anyone here drives a truck. Or has even heard of snow chains. And our attitude to snow fighting, following three years of almost snow-free winters, is generally, 'Don't worry about it. It'll probably never happen'.
I recall staying with a pal's family in Brattleboro, Vermont every January between 1999-2013 and in his barn was a tracked excavator, loader/backhoe, a truck fitted with its own plow and three skidoos. All for personal use plowing-out the mountain road up to his place and bringing back supplies. Talk about being prepared!!! To a Brit, that just seemed unreal. Anywhere here in the UK, that would be enough hardware to run a business (lol).
Gotta go be creative and prepare lunch. Buttered cream crackers. Yum...
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WOW! I can remember being grounded because of snowstorm a couple times, but like you said with all the snow equipment most was only for 3 days. I can remember one when i stayed in town at my dad's place, used his snowmobile to take supply to the wife and kids, so i could go to work the next day. But story's like yours are quit common out in the western, or eastern mountain range country, but again they have the equipment.
Sorry to here about you being not able to do or go, been there and done that many a time. But only for a day or so, long weekend at the most. Be different in the country though, when i was working, guys would be out for a few days longer till they got plowed out. Here in town now i am ready, had a lake place and so got a big garden tractor with blower on it. Able to go through 2 ft. of snow, in one pass. Now for me it's fun when it snows, do our block of street and 2 ,or 3 driveways. But ready for the big one like we used to get, seems most go south or east now, and miss us. Hope you get plowed out and your needs soon. ......Curt
Sorry to here about you being not able to do or go, been there and done that many a time. But only for a day or so, long weekend at the most. Be different in the country though, when i was working, guys would be out for a few days longer till they got plowed out. Here in town now i am ready, had a lake place and so got a big garden tractor with blower on it. Able to go through 2 ft. of snow, in one pass. Now for me it's fun when it snows, do our block of street and 2 ,or 3 driveways. But ready for the big one like we used to get, seems most go south or east now, and miss us. Hope you get plowed out and your needs soon. ......Curt
I know it's a mess Pete, stay safe. I'm a a fan of BBC radio and internet news & have friends in G.B. so I've kept abreast of the Beast. We seldom receive copious amounts of snow or ice here in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) so our governmental ability to cope with severe winter events is somewhat akin to what you've described. In 2001-2002 ice hit and took down the power transmission lines leaving many in rural areas without electricity for over a month. Those with all electric homes were well and truly screwed! As you noted we are big on trucks with 4 WD & getting resupplied with food stuffs and other necessities wasn't so much a problem.
We will keep you and yours in our prayers. Rick C.
We will keep you and yours in our prayers. Rick C.
Curt, Rick,
I appreciate your responses.
Jen and I traveled extensively in the US, exhibiting at narrow gauge model train shows nationwide three times a year between '96-'13. Always was impressed at the resources and hardware my pals seemed to have at their disposal. Can't ever recount visiting a pal's garage or 'man cave' that wasn't festooned with the right tools for the job when it came to landscaping and snow clearance.
I appreciate your responses.
Jen and I traveled extensively in the US, exhibiting at narrow gauge model train shows nationwide three times a year between '96-'13. Always was impressed at the resources and hardware my pals seemed to have at their disposal. Can't ever recount visiting a pal's garage or 'man cave' that wasn't festooned with the right tools for the job when it came to landscaping and snow clearance.