Starting to take shape a little more. Figuring out how it’s all going to fit together.
W I D E & Loaded - OUT, unfortunately ☹️
- Thread starter Toeslider
- Start date
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Current situation:
So I was working on the whole “front wheel/axle/bearing” situation and everything was going well until, well, it wasn’t. I was making good progress whittling the axles down so the bearings would fit, but then I decided to get my hokey-ass Harbor Freight lathe involved to speed up the process and promptly ruined most of the threads on the axle shaft. I think it can be made to work for the purposes of this build, but if I ever want to use the original components again I’m gonna have to buy a $100 axle. Luckily Worksman is pretty good about replacement part availability so it should be available down the road if I need it.
So I was working on the whole “front wheel/axle/bearing” situation and everything was going well until, well, it wasn’t. I was making good progress whittling the axles down so the bearings would fit, but then I decided to get my hokey-ass Harbor Freight lathe involved to speed up the process and promptly ruined most of the threads on the axle shaft. I think it can be made to work for the purposes of this build, but if I ever want to use the original components again I’m gonna have to buy a $100 axle. Luckily Worksman is pretty good about replacement part availability so it should be available down the road if I need it.
I’m sure there’s an owners manual somewhere that warns this is a bad idea:
...but hey, the axles are “masheened” and the new bearings are on:
If I had taken a little more time and not boogered up one set of threads I would be done right now, because the other side works fine.
...but hey, the axles are “masheened” and the new bearings are on:
If I had taken a little more time and not boogered up one set of threads I would be done right now, because the other side works fine.
I am liking this level of crazy.
It appears the rear wheel situation will be much less problematic...only have to drill 23 more holes in 1/4” steel and I’m done!
MAIL CALL:
Once I get into these things I start getting new ideas and hit eBay/Amazon. Stuff is starting to show up on my doorstep now.
Finally got my last set of Chinesium bearings from overseas because I didn’t want to pay $3 extra to get them from the states. Hopefully I can get this front wheel thing nailed down this weekend.
Also got what I hope to be my rear fender today. Obviously it doesn’t just bolt on, but I need to get my rear wheel configuration set so I can see what needs to be done to the fender.
Speaking of rear wheels, I think I have settled on a pair of the heaviest cast aluminum wheels in the world. Now I need to try some tires to get a height and width, and at least finish my mounts enough so they will stay in place while I mock things up.
I should have some front fenders and hubcaps by Monday at the latest. And a trailer hitch...
Once I get into these things I start getting new ideas and hit eBay/Amazon. Stuff is starting to show up on my doorstep now.
Finally got my last set of Chinesium bearings from overseas because I didn’t want to pay $3 extra to get them from the states. Hopefully I can get this front wheel thing nailed down this weekend.
Also got what I hope to be my rear fender today. Obviously it doesn’t just bolt on, but I need to get my rear wheel configuration set so I can see what needs to be done to the fender.
Speaking of rear wheels, I think I have settled on a pair of the heaviest cast aluminum wheels in the world. Now I need to try some tires to get a height and width, and at least finish my mounts enough so they will stay in place while I mock things up.
I should have some front fenders and hubcaps by Monday at the latest. And a trailer hitch...
Well, in between “dumb things I gotta do” projects this weekend I managed to gnaw some holes in some metal, at least enough to throw some wheels on to mock up the stance for the rear. I’d actually like them to be a little closer together, but I like the way these wheels fit and I’m kind of at the limit of what I can do with their width and offset. I’m getting some free tires on Monday to try, so maybe that’ll change things. I was originally going for something that looks like a big “mono-tire” in the back, but this may work. The idea is to split the fender in half front to back and widen it a bit so it at least covers the gap between the tires. My projects are constantly in a state of flux, I move things around and if I see a look I like I change directions.
The Renaissance Man
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Gonna look awesome
Crazy cool. 
So, two steps forward, one step back (guess that’s better than 1 step forward, 2 steps back...) - turns out all VFR front wheels are not created equal, even from the same generation bike. Not insurmountable, but I can’t make both of them work the same way using the same bearings. I was trying not to mod the wheels at all, but in all honesty these two wheels are kinda janky anyways so I may just hit ‘em with a grinding wheel to make my life easier.
Got some more big stuff to mess around with while I’m waitin’ for little stuff!
First up, I got me some Hoosier-daddy well-loved racin’ slicks! Not sure if they’re the size I want to go with, but they were free so why not slap ‘em on? I don’t get to keep the wheels, and I’ll probably have to mount some new tires in return, but that’s what I got a tire machine for. It doesn’t cost me $50 every time I want to try something now.
Next I got me some good ol’ boy Peterbilt hubcaps to hide all the atrocities I’ve been doing to these wheels. Fabbing up some clips should keep me busy for a day or so.
Next, some classic gen-u-wine Arlen Ness fenders...in plastic! They’re cheap because they’re ABS, not metal, which should make them easier to work with.
When I saw the little box they came in I was a little worried they might look too small, but they seem just about right for front fenders.
Probably won’t do much with any of the fenders until I get everything back together more and sitting back on the ground, but so far things are lining up how I envisioned.
First up, I got me some Hoosier-daddy well-loved racin’ slicks! Not sure if they’re the size I want to go with, but they were free so why not slap ‘em on? I don’t get to keep the wheels, and I’ll probably have to mount some new tires in return, but that’s what I got a tire machine for. It doesn’t cost me $50 every time I want to try something now.
Next I got me some good ol’ boy Peterbilt hubcaps to hide all the atrocities I’ve been doing to these wheels. Fabbing up some clips should keep me busy for a day or so.
Next, some classic gen-u-wine Arlen Ness fenders...in plastic! They’re cheap because they’re ABS, not metal, which should make them easier to work with.
When I saw the little box they came in I was a little worried they might look too small, but they seem just about right for front fenders.
Probably won’t do much with any of the fenders until I get everything back together more and sitting back on the ground, but so far things are lining up how I envisioned.
Eh, I don’t hate ‘em. Could be a little bigger and in better shape, but these could work.
Next step I think should be to get the front wheels/axle buttoned up and see how it sits.
Next step I think should be to get the front wheels/axle buttoned up and see how it sits.
Diggin' the look of the Hoosier Daddies ! This is a really wacky and fun build!
RaT oN~!
RaT oN~!
More parts pile stuff:
Firstly, I WILL get this front axle done this weekend! I’m done messing around trying to save wheels no one will ever be interested in! Here’s the issue: because of how this is all fitting together I am using the inside holes of the wheels to support the wheel, instead of the bearing races like they were originally (on a motorcycle). Because it’s a bike this should work fine, but the holes aren’t the same size side-to-side, or now even wheel to wheel. The fix:
35mm diameter bearings, and a 35mm hole saw. Just gonna make everything the same size. Also, why spend extra money on an axle spacer when you can just order a 10-pack of bearings for $10?
Next up, I’m actually sort of surprised this amazon item showed up:
I needed a 2” hitch mount for something, something you see everywhere and don’t think much of until you go to buy one and they’re $40. Somehow I found this one on Amazon for $5, so I took a chance and bought two of them. They actually showed up and are decent quality! Perfect for what I have in mind...
Firstly, I WILL get this front axle done this weekend! I’m done messing around trying to save wheels no one will ever be interested in! Here’s the issue: because of how this is all fitting together I am using the inside holes of the wheels to support the wheel, instead of the bearing races like they were originally (on a motorcycle). Because it’s a bike this should work fine, but the holes aren’t the same size side-to-side, or now even wheel to wheel. The fix:
35mm diameter bearings, and a 35mm hole saw. Just gonna make everything the same size. Also, why spend extra money on an axle spacer when you can just order a 10-pack of bearings for $10?
Next up, I’m actually sort of surprised this amazon item showed up:
I needed a 2” hitch mount for something, something you see everywhere and don’t think much of until you go to buy one and they’re $40. Somehow I found this one on Amazon for $5, so I took a chance and bought two of them. They actually showed up and are decent quality! Perfect for what I have in mind...
Have a link for that hitch plate?
Spent some time in the shop tonight and got further than I thought I would:
It’s still got a case of the Weeble-wobbles I need to fix, and it looks more like a car than I thought it would, but I’m kind of diggin’ it? First thing I need to do now is shore up that rear end so it doesn’t fold in half when I sit on it!
It’s still got a case of the Weeble-wobbles I need to fix, and it looks more like a car than I thought it would, but I’m kind of diggin’ it? First thing I need to do now is shore up that rear end so it doesn’t fold in half when I sit on it!
This beastie is insanely cool!!!
LOVE IT!!!
LOVE IT!!!
