Extending swingarm

Could a good welder extend a stock swingarm safely? I want about 3-4 inches and want to keep the stock look. Should some other brace be fabricated to make it stiffer? Any pics out there? This is for the 900.

Post edited by: bkitchen, at: 2006/12/25 13:22

Post edited by: bkitchen, at: 2006/12/25 13:24

sure people have been extending them for years,the key words are good welder. ive seen some extended swingarms that were really scary looking id recomend getting an extra swingarm to make the extensions from cut one as long as you can then cut rest from the other arm make some hollow slugs to extend inside of each tube 2-3" and plug weld in 3-4 spots in each tube then weld the one butt weld where the tubes come together,hit it on a belt sander and the average person will never spot it .another trick i like to do is slide the axle as far back in the adjusters as you can with a longer chain you can pick up an extra 1" that way without anybody realizing it.there is a really nice looking 79-80 ltd in the kz1000 gallery slammed in weeds with raked frame and stretched stock swingarm with origional paint.

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/25 13:54

So it is easier to cut the tubes and extend them? I had thoughts of cutting it just at the pivot tube and adding in the extension there. I thought would be easier to keep the width correct and sraight.

heres that ltd from page 41-42,man i love that bike!im used to the disc brake arms but drum brake should work the same.on disc brake arm i would cut one arm as far in front of mounting bracket for brake stay arm as you can that way you stock brake mounting hardware will work and people will have a harder time noticing whats been done on the other arm that you save the pivot from i would cut it as close as you can to the brake stay bracket but cut it on the pivot side so you dont have the extra bracket on your swingarm.as long as you clamp it down really good and measure as youre welding you should have no problem keeping it straight

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/25 14:07

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/25 14:08

Just remember if you decide to tackle this one yourself that you need to clamp those things TIGHT before you weld at all! They WILL move while you weld em! The interior slugs will help resists that a bit, but you'll need to jig them in some fashion.

*** Just noticed wireman addressed that already. Shoulda known that would be in his reply!

Post edited by: caffcruiser, at: 2006/12/25 19:11

You could also weld a piece of rebar on the bottom for extra piece of mind.

Ok I see what you mean now. That makes sense adn will have the stock look like I want. Ok Next question.... Anyone have a spare swingarm they want to sell??

donthekawguy wrote:

You could also weld a piece of rebar on the bottom for extra piece of mind.

:ohmy: :blink: thats why i said to use a hollow slug extending into each piece of tubing and plug welded in several places and butt weld the 2 pieces of tubing ,there should be no gap where the 2 pieces come to gether so you only have one actual joint with a piece of pipe or slug extending internally 2-3" in each direction;)lets see if i can post better picture of that ltd is it just me or does anybody else get a warm feeling when they see this bike?

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/25 21:08:evil:

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/12/25 21:09

Is the KZ1000 arm longer? If so, I have one that you could probably have. I don't need it. I just wanted the brake and hub, but got the whole shebang as a packaged deal.

kz1000 should be same length.tubing diameter might be a little bigger diameter and would have needle bearings which would be an improvement over bushings in 900 arm;)

wireman wrote:

kz1000 should be same length.tubing diameter might be a little bigger diameter and would have needle bearings which would be an improvement over bushings in 900 arm;)

Well there you have it. If that sounds like something someone can use I'd be interested in getting rid of it.

I would be very interested in that arm caffcruiser I will PM you.