frame bracing

NakedFun wrote: They should have T-Shirts made that say "Got Gussets?" ....Lol

So Leon, when you making the gusset kit 2.0? Do your loyal customers get to buy the kit addendums at a discount!

Cory

for real right !

they really tie em together.




i would be happy to spend several hours bending,notching,dimpling out the gussets to add to your already braced kz frame sir :evil: .
discounted from a king to a princes ransom :woohoo: !!!!!!!!!!
when shall we start ?

leon

Wow- exactly how much HP do you plan to run with all that bracing?

leon

531blackbanshee wrote:

leon

Giggitty Giggitty

Well right away of course! I do like the front steering tube lower braces, along with the additional plate the is punched on the throat of the down tubes....

Would have to re do my steering stabilizer and oil cooler mounting....

Cory

BTW, one thing to keep in mind when doing the under seat bracing is to make sure the seat lock is in place and will clear the bracing....had to notch for mine!

Cory

just wanted to add this pic of an 02 police bike frame.



for reference of how far kawasaki went with the bracing.

leon

I have a dilemma. I need to brace my frame for the upgrades I have made. One guy wants $400 to TIG it in. That is me providing the kit and having the frame blasted and ready to weld. My brother knows a guy that does this sort of thing and he wanted 700-1200. He checks to make sure the frame is square and puts the frame in a jig. To those of you that have put a bracing in did you TIG, MIG or braze? If you did it yourself did you have the frame braced up? If not was the frame empty? How do you keep the frame from warping? If you had it professionally done how much did it cost you? $700 is just to much money. I just want to get rid of the frame flex not race the damn thing.
Thanks Jon

Ideally the frame would be set in a jig but having some crankcases and the swing arm bolted in the frame at the very least will work.
You should have the frame checked for straightness if it is an unknown quantity, if you have rode the bike before and all was ok then just get on and weld it.
Gas weld /braze or Tig are the best methods.
Arc and mig can create brittle joints.
Work equally along both sides of the frame to avoid distortion.
Also when fitting triangular gussets etc DO NOT weld right in to the corners as this creates stress areas (See the first pages of my café project for examples ).

zed1015's advice is spoton 100%.

paying close attention to doing the same spot welds/welds equally from side to side is one of the biggest things to keep in mind.
this gives every pull an equal and opposite pull to help prevent deformation.

if you have to mig it pre-heat is a good way to help reduce the brittleness zed referred to.

leon

Those are all real good tips. I did not Jig my frame, but left engine and swing arm components in place. I MIG'd the frame as that is the preferred method of welding that I have access to. Otherwise I would TIG. I did not preheat the frame, but I did move from side to side and using a stitch welding method that helps regulate the amount of heat you put into the joint. You need enough to complete the fusion, but not enough to cause warpage or melting of the base steel. I found the frame material to be pretty thin and of less quality than the material of the gussets. I felt if I did not stitch it I could blow some holes into it. FWIW. I am sure there are much more knowledgable welders on here than me (Leon and Zed)

Cory