Topic: Operation BOBZILLA!

[rustrocket92]

I moved the bike into the other side of the lab yesterday so i would have a lil more room to work. Not much more room but it should help.







 



   

[rustrocket92]

I went and picked a 78k parts bike this weekend for 150 bucks. The guy I bought it off of said it was running before he butchered the frame all up. He said "I think I fried something welding on it". I got it home hooked a couple wires that were unplugged ,ran a gas tank to it and VROOOM! So now I have another possible engine for my build. There were no gauges with the bike so I really don't know how many miles were on it.  But it does run and there are no oils anywhere on it so I may use the 1978 motor for this bike. As far as the frame goes I think I am going to cut it up and make an engine stand out of it.

[rustrocket92]

I bought some 3/8 collars with set screws in them and welded them to some small tabs because I think I am am going to run my taillight wiring thru some small copper tubing up to the electrics box kinda like this.

[rustrocket92]

I went a different route this time for oil pressure gauge. Last time I just drilled and tapped the cap and screwed in a 90 degree fiiting for the gauge. This time since I am planning on using copper tubing for the oil lines from the tank I figured I would do the same for the gauge.








   

[Alan F.]

I like the way your mind works man, that's pretty damn cool.

[Retro Rocket]

I like the way your mind works man, that's pretty damn cool.

+1, the copper pipe gives it an industrial old school look ....very cool.

Mick

[moham]

Just think of the patina! in 150 years it'll look look the statue of liberty!

Seriously, great stuff. Unique and imaginative. That bike sure does have a mean stance. Also, I vote for putting in the 78 motor...nothing like the Ocho!!!

[rustrocket92]

Thanks for the comments guys! I am not sure which motor I am going to use yet. The 73 engine looks to have an oil leak from the front side of the head but the 78 is dry as a bone. Which exhaust seals better ? spigots or no spigots ?  I also have 3 sets of carbs now 73k, 78k, and 78f so i have to decide on that also. I still have to make something to hold all my electronics but we are making progress. Hopefully we will get more done this weekend.

[rustrocket92]

I made some more small parts yesterday nothing major. I am really starting to run out of things to build until I get some more parts (rear fender, the actual oil tank, rear tire, and get the 16" rim laced to the hub). But I did start working on the rear brake linkage and some other small stuff.
I cut out a small aluminum collar and then drilled it for a bolt.













I still have to weld some sort of base on to mount the tube to the frame, drill and insert  grease fitting in the tube, and cut the spilned section off of it, but I think it will work just fine. I have to get a motor back in the frame so that I can start working on exhaust and my forward controls.   

[rustrocket92]

I had to make some small spring mounts for my seat and here is what we have so far.



1- nut,2- small washers,1- bolt, 1- 3/8 spacer, 1 thick washer ( cut out with a hole saw ) and 1 small piece of 3/8 airline.



put the small piece of 3/8 airline into the center of the 3/8 spacer.



then install the bolt, washer thru the spacer and then a small washer and the nut.



put them in the ground clamp and weld them together the plastic airline will melt right out of it.



now I just have to weld them to the bracket. I have leather washers coming in the mail. Now I have to make some mounts for oil tank that will attach it to the bottom of the bracket. So we are making some small steps forward on the project.

I started staring at the exhaust pipes and am trying to figure what the hell to do with the pipes.

   

[VonYinzer]

Love what your doing with this bike man. Very cool. Also, just noticed that your in Chester WV. Im right up the road from ya in Beaver County PA. Maybe Ill see ya out on the road this summer.

[rustrocket92]

Thanks VonYinzer for the comments. I am trying to get it done for some summertime ridin but in the meantime I work in Monaca so you might see "Operation Birth Kontrol" running around in your neck of the woods.

[rustrocket92]

Ok I have been pretty busy at work and stuff but I have got some things acomplished and somethings turned out to be a total fail. So lets get caught up shall we.

I wanted to make a samll bracket to go between the fork lowers. I started with a piece of rectangular tubular and then broke out the hole saws.

 



then we took the cut off wheel to it.













It was at this point that I relized the fork lowers I was using as a guide were different from the ones on the bike so this thing is pretty much worthless!

So lets move on to something else.   

So I started to think about my electronics box and I think I got it figured out.













I think it will work out all right. But we will have to see.   

So then I started working on the sissy bar. I have decided that the only way I will make a sissy bar for it is if i can remove it very easy.













I think after I make some more parts for the sissy bar it will work out all right. But now my license plate bracket doesnt fit so its back to the drawing board on that one.
     

[rustrocket92]

got a lil more work done this weekend on the sissy bar and fender mounts.











I think I fixed my plate bracket so now everything should have clearance,





and then I started on the pan to  mount my battery box.




   

[Hannibal Smith]

Man, I love this bike!

[rustrocket92]

Thanks Hannibal, I love the A-team !
 

[rustrocket92]

The pipes i got off of ebay finally came in from Nevada yesterday so I had to stick one up there and check them out.







I have to clean them up some but I think they will work out nicely.

[captaincrash80]

Love what you're doing with this bike. Makes me wish I had a welder.... and a drill pres... and time.... 

[75cb550 (kyle)]

rocket, youre an inspiration, man.... those pipes look great

[Steel Dragon Performance]

You have a gift, go with it,  you do good work.     

[rustrocket92]

Thanks Captaincrash, 75cb550, and Steel Dragon Performance. Steel Dragon I will probaly be gettin ahold of you about stacks soon.

[Old75_ratafe]

Damn man after looking at this I almost want to chopper my 750...almost.  Great work, I got a drill press and welders.... You make me feel like a total slacker lol.

[TyMatthews]

Hey, just a word of caution about using copper pipes connected directly to steel.  Making electrical contact between two dissimilar metals in the presence of an electrolyte (in a bike's case, water) will create a galvanic couple that could lead to preferential corrosion of one of the metals more rapidly than it otherwise would.  Copper and steel fit into this category, with the steel corroding faster than normal.  The only way to prevent premature corrosion of your steel parts connected to copper is to electrically insulate the two metals.  A good insulating paint or powder coat on the steel might do the trick, at least in those areas where the copper is making contact with the steel.  You could also carefully wrap the copper in the connecting areas with some kind of dielectric tape. 

And of course to keep your copper looking like copper instead of like the Statue of Liberty, assuming you want the former and not the latter, you should treat it with a corrosion inhibitor, such as benzotriazole.  This chemical can be purchased in a number of different commercial flavors.

[HedNut]

Doood... that bike is looking sick..you have some crazy fab. skills too!  AWESOME work man! Cheers!

[rustrocket92]

First off we have this pretty much useless bracket but i kinda liked the look.





Then we started workin some more on the forward controls.