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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: l3uddha on December 13, 2007, 12:54:08 PM

Title: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on December 13, 2007, 12:54:08 PM
Can anyone weld me a set of steel case guards?

something along the lines of this, nothing crazy:

(http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/attachments/general-bike-related/9498d1195682779-custom-frame-sliders-1121071701.jpg)


preferably something I can drill and tap into the frame like the picture above, not into the engine mounts. Also, keeping the lower part as close to the case as possible so there won't be any ground clearance issues.

I expect to be going down on them, but I dont expect them to be invincible, preferably just help distribute the initial impact and keep my case from blowing oil all over the track.

I'm asking here hoping someone has a GS and can do the measurements and weld them up quick themselves. Name your price.


this isn't a thread arguing about the feasibility of these. please take that elsewhere.

Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: sledge on December 13, 2007, 02:38:55 PM
Any half decent fab` shop will rattle a set of them off for you, but I dont like the idea of drilling into the frame, particularly the stressed areas around the engine because any holes will substantialy weaken the frame and if the bars do take an impact they will probably shear any small diameter bolts clean off as well as damaging the frame at the same time. Tapping is a non starter, the wall thickness of the frame box section is not thick enough to accept a thread.

Much better if you can pick up on the exsisting engine mounts which are substantialy braced and reinforced.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: Foximus on December 13, 2007, 06:29:34 PM
Good idea.. i can totally do that and better.... get back to you in a few days...
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: Ski1215 on December 13, 2007, 06:46:21 PM
Those would take me about an hour to make at work. If I make a pair I'll post up some pictures and let you know how they work.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on December 13, 2007, 08:41:28 PM
Actually that is a very practical design for the GS on the track. A while back, werase643 and I were discussing a similar design. One thing Ken suggested was to keep the gaurd off the cases about 1/4" to 1/2" for adding a piece of nylon between the gaurd and case to be a bumper. This should help keeping them in one piece.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on December 13, 2007, 08:57:16 PM
thanks guys, please let me know what you come up with. just keep in mind that there are ground clearance issues with the aftermarket case guards, which I'd rather not have to worry about. that's a really good idea about putting them 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the case to stick in some sort of bumper between the two. i'm very interested in these, and i'm sure some others are too.

thanks again,
-Joel
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: coll0412 on December 13, 2007, 10:31:02 PM
What is the ground clearance cost with a type like this
(http://www.mcenterprisesusa.com/products/images/large/1000-90%20lrg.jpg)

I raced with them all season and I don't think I ever got close to touching them. Maybe something like this but some flat bar with tighter contours and a nylon "slider"
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: philward on December 14, 2007, 04:53:43 AM
Quote from: coll0412 on December 13, 2007, 10:31:02 PM
What is the ground clearance cost with a type like this...
Not much.  I have a pair and I reckon you'd be well into the foot peg before the guards hit.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on December 14, 2007, 07:52:19 AM
Quote from: philward on December 14, 2007, 04:53:43 AM
Quote from: coll0412 on December 13, 2007, 10:31:02 PM
What is the ground clearance cost with a type like this...
Not much.  I have a pair and I reckon you'd be well into the foot peg before the guards hit.

Any serious track rider has already raised the pegs with aftermarket rearsets or at least jack-up plates.

Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on December 14, 2007, 10:43:05 AM
Quote from: coll0412 on December 13, 2007, 10:31:02 PM
What is the ground clearance cost with a type like this

I raced with them all season and I don't think I ever got close to touching them. Maybe something like this but some flat bar with tighter contours and a nylon "slider"


i've read both; that some people haven't had a problem, and others have scraped them repeatedly and hate them. personally, i'd like some sort of protection and not have to worry about scraping hard parts.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: The Buddha on December 14, 2007, 11:32:27 AM
I dunno wy he had to drill into the frame, the engine bolts are right there ... on a GS its even easier.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: ecpreston on December 14, 2007, 04:08:52 PM
I've found the aftermarket case guards pictured above work great for me, but one more drop and I'll need another set, so if someone's thinking about welding something up for cheaper, I'd consider buying a set if that helps.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on December 14, 2007, 10:26:25 PM
the srinath could prolly find someone to fab a set for ya. :bowdown:
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on December 19, 2007, 12:09:56 PM
bump
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: The Buddha on December 19, 2007, 01:07:49 PM
The srinath has made stuff like that before, and decided that working at a sweat shop was the way to go ... as opposed to not working ... OK ... but anyway, charlotte was better for me, much shorter commute, much more access to welder and shops of most kinds. I dont have contacts here - yet. I get some time off and I'll make some contacts, and start with easier stuff.
Cool.
Srinath.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: Ski1215 on December 19, 2007, 05:23:20 PM
Bhudda I'll try to see if I can come up with something this weekend. I work in a fab shop and it should be easy. I also live very close to MA so it would be possible to pick them up if I were able to make them this weekend. We usually only have 1/8th" diamond plate sheets and various size angle iron. I can use that stuff and be creative. Other than that it the angle iron, so they'd have to be relatively small and not very creative. Let me know before the weekend if you've got anything in mind.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on December 20, 2007, 07:49:18 AM
hey sounds great & thanks.

whatever you come up with i'm sure will be fine. the simpler the better!  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 07, 2008, 07:33:30 PM
bump
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 09:53:56 AM
Has everyone who offered to fab something bailed on you?

You want to attach them to the frame and not the engine mounts?
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 08, 2008, 11:01:19 AM
Quote from: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 09:53:56 AM
Has everyone who offered to fab something bailed on you?

it appears that way lol.

Quote from: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 09:53:56 AM
You want to attach them to the frame and not the engine mounts?

i'm open to ideas. i just need something.  :dunno_white:
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: davipu on January 08, 2008, 11:09:32 AM
i have a set of the srinath guards that i'll sell davipu@yahoo.com
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 08, 2008, 11:43:16 AM
you've got mail.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 12:04:57 PM
Let me know if that falls through and I will see what I can come up with.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: davipu on January 08, 2008, 01:04:01 PM
hey, D, want to do another parts box thing? whare i send you a whole box of parts and you send me money?
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 01:21:19 PM
Quote from: davipu on January 08, 2008, 01:04:01 PM
hey, D, want to do another parts box thing? whare i send you a whole box of parts and you send me money?

What do you have?
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: davipu on January 08, 2008, 02:45:16 PM
a couple airboxes wiring harness, brake parts, engine case covers off a gs450 2sets, ingition advancers,  head and cyl i think. and i have a whole pile of parts that i havn't looked at in 6 months,
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 02:49:22 PM
I am in the process of building another motor right now. I am not sure if I have all of the shifting/indexing stuff under the right cover. Let me see if I can get a good inventory of what I may be missing and see if you have any of it.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 15, 2008, 08:28:35 PM
Quote from: dgyver on January 08, 2008, 12:04:57 PM
Let me know if that falls through and I will see what I can come up with.

:icon_confused: looks to have fallen through.

have anything in mind?
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 16, 2008, 05:07:05 AM
I looked at it a little the other day and the GS is a little different than the Kaw motor, the GS cases are back a little more. Not a problem. I will see what metal I have and what I can come up with.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 16, 2008, 06:47:02 AM
sounds good, thanks a lot.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 20, 2008, 10:43:23 AM
Here is what I came up with.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v64/dgyver/GSmods/GSleftcaseguard.jpg)
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 20, 2008, 06:47:21 PM
friggin sweet! thanks for going through all that trouble.

however, i've changed my mind and I'm no longer interested in these.









HA kidding!  i'd love to take this off your hands. 

let me know what you want for it, and is there one for the opposite side as well, or do you think one of those machined steel covers is fine? I know someone on here is selling them, but I remember them being a little pricey.  just curious what you think.
Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: dgyver on January 20, 2008, 07:11:18 PM
There is a matching one for the right side as well. I just did not take a pic. I will see if I can round up some mounting bolts tomorrow. How about $40 shipped?

I like the right side aluminum ignition covers, all of my bikes have them. But they still leave the left side vulnerable. I tossed one bike down the track around 60 and it survived. The cover may be good for 1-2 more slides. I have wanted to weld an aluminum plate to a stock stator cover. Not sure if the the cover would stay stable and not warp. May try it anyway on a scuffed cover, worst thing I trash it.

Title: Re: Can You Weld?? - custom case guards...
Post by: l3uddha on January 20, 2008, 07:35:28 PM
ok sounds good, you've got a pm.