I plan on pulling the motor and gas tank off before getting it welded, I don't want something worse to happen. Plus I've been wanting to paint the motor anyways so what better time right.I have down time on it so I'm gonna go for it. I still have to cut a brace for the tube. I've been thinking of ideas so I'll come up with something
micargi puma gts newbie build
- Thread starter Motakitty
- Start date
You don't need to remove all that stuff just to weld. I've had all sorts of stuff welded on the bike as is, as close as an inch away from the carb.
Lol. The thought of removing stuff when you don't have to is terrifying for me, cause on my setup it means a 4-hour job
Interested to see what paint you use; the auto zone paint I used has bubbled up on the head and flakes right off!! My buddy tells me he uses the orchard surprise hardware paints for $3.
Lol. The thought of removing stuff when you don't have to is terrifying for me, cause on my setup it means a 4-hour job
Interested to see what paint you use; the auto zone paint I used has bubbled up on the head and flakes right off!! My buddy tells me he uses the orchard surprise hardware paints for $3.
I was gonna use the vht stuff for engine blocks. Taking the motor out only takes about 15 minutes
This is my least favorite and to me seams like the weakest. The first one seams to be the easiest and should work fine and the middle one seams overkill and kinda tricky since the seat tube sits at an angle. Tell me what you guys think. Oh and I'll use metal that is thicker than the stock bracket.
Here's an idea to kick around. Fill the void. Your seat post sits in that fork, fill the void from the top bar back. Drill a few holes in the plate, and you can mount your switches and fuel valve there. Its an idea I was considering for my up coming Micargi build.
Out of your three drawings, I sat center as well.
Out of your three drawings, I sat center as well.
I thought of filling the void completely. I'm gonna make a couple plates out of cardboard first and see which one I like best. I do like the idea of making two pieces but I know one piece would be stronger than two but two will be easier. Plus if I fill the void it will add allot of strength and if I make it go across the front bars it will reinforce the welds from the area in front of the seat post. I'm liking the filled void idea. I'll make some templates first though.
So here's what I'm going with. It'll strengthen the bike allot and add some space for other stuff. I'll have a shop weld on a bracket to mount my muffler as well.
It turns out that the seat tube comes through the other tubes at a 90° angle so that made it very easy to just make the bracket with a hole in it. I have a metal plate from a jeep bumper bracket that's twice as thick as the original bracket so I just have to cut it out and prep the frame to get welded.
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I thought about doing that but then more pressure would be on the welds I think. It was the welds that broke but the bracket. Plus with it being how it is it reinforces the stock joint at the top where the two tubes meet so I'm fine with it how it is. Also there's a tube at the bottom that this new bracket will reinforce. I want this to be the last time this happens. After welding I'll grind em smooth a bit then paint it to match.
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Thanks. Sucks this had to happen but everything was going so well. It was just a matter of time I guess.
i should probably take back the comment about not needing to remove stuff. If you have a leaky petcock definitely dump the gas or at least cover your engine with something. Just before a little bit of patch up welding I had leaned the bike over, and the fuel line caught on something and came off with gas getting all over the motor. Started welding the holes in the header and BAM my whole engine catches on fire!! Blew it out real quick wiped it off and kept going! That bracket is gonna add some weight but it will definitely be strong.
I'll probably take the carb off and dump the gas. I'd have to remove the throttle cable from the carb anyhow so removing the carb is just the fuel line and the connection bolt. I know it'll add a little weight but I'll take the strength and if I lose a couple pounds it'll make up for it
The weight will be infinitesimal, a pound or two at most. You ain't pedaling(I assume, I hear those stretch cruisers aren't nice to kick around) a big lunch would have about the same impact on weight. Its not like you've got to use quarter inch plate steel.
Ya I'm not worried about the weight. I was cutting the bracket out yesterday when my dremel decided enough was enough and decided to take a smoke break. I'll need to get a new one but don't have the cash for one but I still have a hack saw and a drill so I think I can still cut it out it's just going to take a bit longer to make now. Oh well