Cranbrook Springer Forked BTR YD100 Replica Build (without fabrication)

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Oldbiscuit

Well-Known Member
Oct 3, 2020
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A company I used to work for had a drawn over mandrel tubing bender that was completely covered up with junk an dirt/ grease. Nobody knew what it was or how to use it. It was a monster of a machine, but I got it cleaned up and put into service. I was the head of research and development and I was sending all kind of parts out to get bent before I discovered we had the bender. You could make really nice tight 90deg bends with no deformity. Company was split up years back and I’m assuming the bender was probably scrapped.
 

Nightster

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Mar 3, 2021
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This is a bit over the top but here's an Idea of what it looks like.

Steve.

That don’t help much with Concept since this pipe is much thicker, but I appreciate the concept. I get the same part, I just haven’t seen the advantage yet although I know it’s there. I still need more practice, lol. I’d rather have screw some stuff up and learn, then do it correctly. I’ve been spending more time on this site reading threads and I see there’s a lot of people here that know what they’re doing, I’m a beginner. So I’d very much appreciate any interest anybody is taking in my project.
 

Nightster

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Mar 3, 2021
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If it's 1/8" tubing you may need a helper bar to slip over it to add leverage but unless you pack it with sand it will still crush and kink the tubing.

Steve.
That’s a good idea, I’m willing to experiment for a good final product.

However my first attempt with sand still provided a crimp. That’s OK, still learning still experimenting I’ll get this
 

fasteddy

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Feb 13, 2009
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One warning I forgot to mention. You can heat tit up to help the bend but make sure the sand is dry. When I was in school a shop teacher showed us how to do this. In the late 1950's Go Karts were just starting and 1/4 Midget track cars were their predecessors.

He told us he had a student who was bending some pipe a couple of years before for a 1/4 Midget at home and he used sand that wasn't completely dry. To make things even better the young mechanic welded bolts into the ends of the pipe to hold the sand in leaving no place the resulting steam could escape from.

Fortunately his welding wasn't up to standards apparently and one bolt came off the end of the pipe, went through the side of the garage and embedded it's self in the wall of the house next door. He suggested a hole be drilled next to the end of the pipe if we were going to weld up the ends so any steam could escape. If the bolt hadn't come loose the pipe would have split open.

Steve.
 

Nightster

Well-Known Member
Mar 3, 2021
735
1,738
93
61
Texas
One warning I forgot to mention. You can heat tit up to help the bend but make sure the sand is dry. When I was in school a shop teacher showed us how to do this. In the late 1950's Go Karts were just starting and 1/4 Midget track cars were their predecessors.

He told us he had a student who was bending some pipe a couple of years before for a 1/4 Midget at home and he used sand that wasn't completely dry. To make things even better the young mechanic welded bolts into the ends of the pipe to hold the sand in leaving no place the resulting steam could escape from.

Fortunately his welding wasn't up to standards apparently and one bolt came off the end of the pipe, went through the side of the garage and embedded it's self in the wall of the house next door. He suggested a hole be drilled next to the end of the pipe if we were going to weld up the ends so any steam could escape. If the bolt hadn't come loose the pipe would have split open.

Steve.
I did use wet sand, oops

Fortunately I want that diligent about sealing my pipe lol