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Got the down tubes welded out. [;)
anyone wanting to do this stretch needs to know that every bike is different and before you CUT ANYTHING you must have a number of reference points figured out.[S as each frame acts different when the down tubes are cut, because of stresses that are in the frame from its original assembly. my frames backbone move 1/8 inch to the right when cut. when the backbone is heated to bend, it must be heated even all around, I allow the weight of the bike bend it. when I get to the desired opening in the downtubes (4") spacers are put in and allow the weight to come down on a support. then sit that way for 24 hours. take out the spacers and allow the frame to relax. mine ended up with 3 3/4 stretch. check your reference points and adjust the backbone accordingly. I used the motor mount to move the backbone the 1/8"

I hand fit the tubing and make inserts to plug weld to. as the insert plugs and tube have to go into place all in one movement the wire in the left down tube is to keep the insert from falling down the tube.
 

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It has a dog leg look because the gap changes the angle. this is fine with me it looks good from the side and I mount my horn in front so the dog leg is not seen. you can heat the down tube down by the motor mount and get it pretty straight if the dog leg bothers you. Here in Socialist Calif its a capital offence to remove any ID or smog stickers on your frame.:eek: there is one on the left down tube that would be destroyed if I heated there. the militarized police here are always looking for a reason to bust you, or shoot you......
I think it turned out pretty good. now I will install my oval oil tank, with it I can see the top of my trans now[cl as anyone thats had to change out a solenoid or starter knows the stock oil tank is jammed down on the trans:mad: real pain in the butt to do. unless you're the kind of guy that just takes it to the shop and rights a check$$$$$. I can't
 

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Well got the oval oil tank installed:)
now its time to jig up my table to extend the springer, been a while since I have done one. and this is the first modern one. I used to use radius rods to extend the old springers. Funny story.....one year I did so many that the junk yard ( it specialized in old Ford cars) in so. calif found out what I was using them for and kicked me out. at the time I felt that was unfair, but I guess I'm guilty of cutting up a lot of radius rods.:rolleyes:
this one I will make my own oval tubing for the extension. be using 1 1/8 tubing and pressing it into a oval, same with the inserts.
Well better get to work.
 

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Well its been raining and cold so I took a long weekend sat-tuesday. yesterday I got going on my front end got them all jigged up and was able to get to the steel shop. today I will press the outer legs into a oval and press the inserts also. tried it out on a couple of pieces worked fine, :) here are some pictures
 

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Wow Doug, looks like a professional shop there. I am ignorant about bikes but I know nice work when I see it.
 
Well like they say "Assume" anything and it will come back and bite you....:eek:
I got bit the HD leg turned out to be .250 wall not .125 as the old springers were. so my sleeves will not fit. I ended up welding a hand formed 3/8 flat piece into the sleeves installing them into the leg pieces, then into the legs. still works the same as the original sleeves but a little more work. I don't like surprises:eek: got the welds all dressed down but I was too tired to take pictures ( forgot too).......next time
 

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A couple of picture updates.....the seat is a reproduction of a old plow seat that the Amish make. it is cast Aluminum the original seats were out of cast iron and some are really fancy. I'm going to have a padded cover that I can put on and off. nice and confortable.
 

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Well been working my butt off[;) lots of fab work,,,,,lots
Have the running boards almost done, the backrest mount, cover over the battery, pipes, bed, front fender. have the bars to do , rear fender mounts, and the wood work. my son in law and I bought a couple of pallets of hard wood from Indonesia. I thought it was from Africa but that was bad info. its really beautiful wood and we know a guy that makes "out of this world stuff with it":eek:. I'm using it on my bike and my 47 Ford truck. the guy is going to duplicate my dash out of this wood. I changed from a 5" speedo to a 3 1/8 one. to make it work, I'll leave the lights off the dash off but the rest will be the same except out of wood. my running boards will also have wood inserts. the bed will be a slat sided and a wood floor. another week of fab work then its paint time.
can't wait[dr.......its riding time here
 

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Well got it all mocked up......save for the rear fenders do that today. then it all comes apart and the wood cut and mounting holes drilled. then paint and final assembly.:)
 

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I've always HATED trikes until i saw this one! Its gonna look pretty good. I love the way it has that old "feel" to it!
 
Looking Good

Either you have a big pillow for that seat or you have one tough ass [S
When Calif. outlaws lane sharing I'll build some thing with a 3rd wheel and your's is a good inspiration. Thanks[cl
 
well been in paint mode for a week.....I didn't realize how many parts I fabbed up or modified till I got set up for paint. on my cars I use a lot of bedliner for a different look. on my bike I Am doing the same a lot of small parts will be painted with it. pedal mounts, seat post arm, frame of the bed, etc... the forks, battery cover, bars will be gloss black,running boards. the fenders, oil tank,gas tank will be Red.
the dashboard is made out of the hardwood that box and running boards inserts are made of. the guy who is building it got it ruffed out and came over for a fit check. thats the picture below.
monday will be more painting, hopefully by the weeks end I can start putting it together[dr
 

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Well got all my gloss black parts painted....today its time for the red.
man its hard to paint black in a shop thats so dark. the owner had a state guy change the 2 tube fluorescents to a single tube efficient fluorescent tubes with 1/2 the light. has to do with Calif laws. this state sucks
31 parts that I have modified or made...actually I have made 21 parts for this bike. [;) lot a fab work.
 

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Well finished my painting yesterday.....[cl place them in the second floor of my shop it gets 145 degrees up there, nice baked on paint.

now to pull all the tape off, and see how my wheel turned out.:)
 

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