can someone measure their sidecar loops?

[john HD]

hey guys,

one of the last projects i need to do is to recreate my side car loops on my frame. my bike is a '55 FL

a buddy of mine just purchased a vintage south bend lathe. i thought this would be a good project to break it in.

i need to know the O.D. and I.D. and the width. a rough idea of the outside curve would be helpful too.

i plan to turn a pair and then cut them to match what i have left on my frame then weld them in place.

thanks in advance.

john

[Ripley/Fla]

My bike is a "56" but has a wishbone frame? They are 1 inch wide. I.D. is .930 to .936. At the thickest wall it is 5/16" thick. Mine doesn't have a curve on the outside. It has a casting parting line about 5/16" in from the outside. It tapers down from this 'center' to 1/4" wall thickness at each end. So the angles are different one is shallow, one deep. I don't have my camera but maybe someone can post a picture. If I was doing it I would turn a tube, fit it to whatever is left on the frame - and then hand grind the part that you 'see' to look like an original casting. With some unevenness or character! If you don't plan on running a sidehack, you might consider brazing the part in place. You will be able to shape it with the rod and it will be easy to grind and file. Again a picture would help. Good Luck!

[hydra74]

i measured my frame and they are about the same as ripley here some pictures

[john HD]

thanks guys!

that is exactly what i needed to know!

john

[john HD]

one quick question.

what direction is the long taper? is it to the outside or inside?

john

[hydra74]

do you mean the casting line on the outside of the loop? if so it go's to the outside

the photo's with the measuring tool shows the left loop

[john HD]

update,

here is the raw material for the loops. more to follow after i saw them up and begin the jigging and welding process.

thanks for the info guys!

john

[mbskeam]

looks good....
when I did mine I used 15/16 set-collers way before the internet...LOL

mbskeam

[Ripley/Fla]

Wow! You certainly don't mess around! I hope you read this because I might have been talking out my ass about the brazing. I did a search about frame welding and am not sure what to do. Future welding over braze equals crack - so you might want to think about it. Anyway produce these rings for others on this sight - they look a lot better than the usual Far East import crap.

[john HD]

ripley,

i got some good friends who get things done pronto!

i will be welding them in place. i just need to decide if i will do it stick or mig. everything on mid 50's frames are welded.

as far as manufacturing them goes, race frame from austraila makes them for about 40 bucks. however i believe their design is more rounded and appropriate for knuckles.

anyone who wants to make them could just copy the photo above and give it to a machine shop to make their own. or buy them from race frame. they also make very nice repair forgings if you want to replace the whole part.

i will be roughing them up a bit as suggested to make them look more a part of a casting.

more later!


john