ECHO
- Thread starter tjwilson
- Start date
If there is a bike related question, this site always seems to be the best source for an answer.I love seeing all the ingenuity on this site! Very cool truing stand idea.
And that wheel! Beefy and glamorous. Like a 'plus sized model'.
"Beefy and glamorous", midwest corn-fed.
Frame Start
So far the frame has been putting up a fight. This is a fairly simple design with no place to hide mis-aligned or crooked tubing connections. Wasn't until I had everything final welded and was putting the frame into the fixture that I realized the bottom bracket centerline was off. Ended up having to cut off the BB and re-weld. Got it the second time though!
So far the frame has been putting up a fight. This is a fairly simple design with no place to hide mis-aligned or crooked tubing connections. Wasn't until I had everything final welded and was putting the frame into the fixture that I realized the bottom bracket centerline was off. Ended up having to cut off the BB and re-weld. Got it the second time though!
Chain-stays
Originally I started out trying to bend the chain-stays from 3/4" tubing. Was struggling a little till I realized I had a donor frame with basically the same bends I was trying to make. After separating the existing chain-stays I sleeved and added extensions to the front and back of them. Diameters are a little different but I'll be able to blend them together later.
My welds are still looking like I'd make a better cake decorator than welder. I'm getting good penetration so I'm confident they will hold. They just don't look very pretty.
Tire and crank clearances are close to what I had drawn out. I'm using temporary tabs for the dropouts because I'm not sure of the final angle of the cantilever tubes yet. With the final dropouts I'll have the flexibility to move the tire back a little for more clearance if I need to.
Originally I started out trying to bend the chain-stays from 3/4" tubing. Was struggling a little till I realized I had a donor frame with basically the same bends I was trying to make. After separating the existing chain-stays I sleeved and added extensions to the front and back of them. Diameters are a little different but I'll be able to blend them together later.
My welds are still looking like I'd make a better cake decorator than welder. I'm getting good penetration so I'm confident they will hold. They just don't look very pretty.
Tire and crank clearances are close to what I had drawn out. I'm using temporary tabs for the dropouts because I'm not sure of the final angle of the cantilever tubes yet. With the final dropouts I'll have the flexibility to move the tire back a little for more clearance if I need to.
a caveman like me would add to my clearance with this modded visegrip. It crimps nice dimples into the tire area of the stays. I've made some wider tires clear a middleweight Schwinn easily.
Carl.
Carl.
Looking good!
Don't worry about messy welds, as long as they are strong: "A grinder and paint make a welder what he 'aint"...
Don't worry about messy welds, as long as they are strong: "A grinder and paint make a welder what he 'aint"...
That's perfect, I'll be making one of those up for sure. Thanks!
Very true. I just have these crazy dreams of one day creating weld beads that will hang like jewels around each tubing connection. I love seeing the craftsmanship of those that can pull that off.
Seems like it has been forever since I last checked in and posted. There has been a little progress...
Cantilever Tubes
Started with the gradual curve by tacking the two sides together and running them through the tubing bender. I don't have any in-process images of making the smaller bends. Just image running around trying to find adequate leverage any / everywhere I could to get them to bend.
Cut and capped the front ends.
Welded up in and out of the fixture.
Cantilever Tubes
Started with the gradual curve by tacking the two sides together and running them through the tubing bender. I don't have any in-process images of making the smaller bends. Just image running around trying to find adequate leverage any / everywhere I could to get them to bend.
Cut and capped the front ends.
Welded up in and out of the fixture.
Rear Drop-outs
Decided to go with a chain guard and modified the drop out a little to flow better with the guard.
Cardboard mockup.
Putting it into metal.
I intended to get a shot of just the finished drop outs but forgot. Here they are mocked up on the frame. They actually have a tab that slips about an inch and a half into the frame end for added strength.
The seat stays curve in toward the seat post. I wanted the drop outs to hit the middle of the seat stays. Added a bit of a bend to make that happen by placing the drop outs in a vise and giving them a strategic whack.
All welded up.
Decided to go with a chain guard and modified the drop out a little to flow better with the guard.
Cardboard mockup.
Putting it into metal.
I intended to get a shot of just the finished drop outs but forgot. Here they are mocked up on the frame. They actually have a tab that slips about an inch and a half into the frame end for added strength.
The seat stays curve in toward the seat post. I wanted the drop outs to hit the middle of the seat stays. Added a bit of a bend to make that happen by placing the drop outs in a vise and giving them a strategic whack.
All welded up.
Great stuff 
Is the chain guard mounted yet? If not, are you going to line up the top rear of it where it meets the seat stays with the top of the drop out? I did it in photoshop to show what I mean...
Glen.
Is the chain guard mounted yet? If not, are you going to line up the top rear of it where it meets the seat stays with the top of the drop out? I did it in photoshop to show what I mean...
Glen.
Thanks. Plan is to line the top of the guard with the top of the space at the center of the dropout. The cardboard mockup shows it a little better. I'll also add some metal to the back of the guard to fill the space in front of the seat stay. Something more like this (I adjusted the bright spot on the guard a little and "smoothed" the weld too to help show what I mean):Great stuff
Is the chain guard mounted yet? If not, are you going to line up the top rear of it where it meets the seat stays with the top of the drop out? I did it in photoshop to show what I mean...
View attachment 87415
Glen.
I like the lines following through from positive to negative at the rear but the front is bugging me a little. Maybe I'm just being OCD but I like seeing the radius of the chain guard centered with the BB.
It does look good as it is though, just a minor observation.
