Testarossa's 78 KZ1000 Fighter Build

testarossa wrote:

You aren't kidding about that baffle being thin sheetmetal. I'm guessing that it's 24ga. As soon as the arc would stabilize I would start to burn a hole. I resorted to using loads of small tack welds. I bet I put 150 tacks on that thing. Next time I'm gonna make a new baffle from scratch.

Mark, I'm kicking myself for not knurling those footpegs before I welded them up. Knurling steel takes a lot of tool pressure, and it helps to have a sacrificial section to chuck on that will be cut off. I'm not sure how I'll handle it yet.

u are so narrow minded young man.
i see 2 obvious, options. i can lend u my trusty grinder, or u can continue your tack welding foray, and tack some lumps on there.


those pegs just might work. dif , but that doesnt mean bad.its worth a look if u like them. can u add more knurl the rest of the way across?

Mark, I'm satisfied with my lumps, thank you. Plus, I wouldn't want you to go without ole Betsy!

As for adding the knurling, it is difficult to match up knurls. Best done in one continuous pass.

BTW I have a trusty grinder of my own. It has held up for nearly 15 yrs. Don't forget that I am on Team Grinder.

You may be stuck with knurling a new piece of tubing for the pegs, then cutting off and rewelding the peg mounts on the knurled tubing. As for the freestyle pegs, I can just see you pulling a no handed backflip with those things I would suggest you throw 'em on just to see, but that is more fab work that you don't need. The exhaust looks nice and clean..I'm still jelous you have an exhaust!

Way to go on welding that baffle. It looks good. I just got a bottle for my mig welder and am itching to try it out.

porchev914 wrote:

You may be stuck with knurling a new piece of tubing for the pegs, then cutting off and rewelding the peg mounts on the knurled tubing. As for the freestyle pegs, I can just see you pulling a no handed backflip with those things I would suggest you throw 'em on just to see, but that is more fab work that you don't need. The exhaust looks nice and clean..I'm still jelous you have an exhaust!

I got most of my scars trying freestyle tricks when I was a lad. I guess that's why I am a bit more cautious these days. I don't heal so fast anymore. I'm gonna punt on the footpegs for now. Bigger fish to fry.

Tony wrote:

Way to go on welding that baffle. It looks good. I just got a bottle for my mig welder and am itching to try it out.

First MIG welder? It's addictive! Get an auto-darkening helmet if you don't already have one. They seem expensive until you use one. Worth every penny.

x2 on the auto darkening. It's amazing the first time you use one.

testarossa wrote:

BTW I have a trusty grinder of my own. It has held up for nearly 15 yrs. Don't forget that I am on Team Grinder.

:laugh: :laugh: Thats funny Josh.and u have the scars to prove it.

testarossa wrote:

Tony wrote:

Way to go on welding that baffle. It looks good. I just got a bottle for my mig welder and am itching to try it out.

First MIG welder? It's addictive! Get an auto-darkening helmet if you don't already have one. They seem expensive until you use one. Worth every penny.

This is my first mig welder. I bought the auto darkening helmet a couple of months before I bought the mig welder. :laugh:

Have you used the welder with flux core before you got the bottle?

testarossa wrote:

Have you used the welder with flux core before you got the bottle?

Gotta love the flux core! :whistle:

testarossa wrote:

Have you used the welder with flux core before you got the bottle?

I used it to do a couple of small project. The splatter was pretty bad. I was welding some thin stuff and did the same as you did by doing a bunch of very short welds.