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Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 6:21 pm
by Chuey
Yesterday I mitered the fittings and brazed on some frame stiffener bars. They came out really nice. Next, I'll put an engine/trans combo back into the frame and make a bar that attaches to the two top transmission to engine bolts and tie that to the bars in the pictures. I did that on my Cafe' Racer and I like the result. This is a 1978 frame which I bought with a Krauser engine. I'm working on a swing arm for it as well.
Front
Rear
Chuey
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:01 pm
by melville
Chuey wrote:Yesterday I mitered the fittings and brazed on some frame stiffener bars. They came out really nice. Next, I'll put an engine/trans combo back into the frame and make a bar that attaches to the two top transmission to engine bolts and tie that to the bars in the pictures. I did that on my Cafe' Racer and I like the result. I'm working on a swing arm for it as well.
Chuey
Nice work! But about this bit:
Chuey wrote:This is a 1978 frame which I bought with a Krauser engine.
Do tell more!
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 7:37 pm
by guy
The frame stiffener I am using is arteritis.
Guy
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 8:14 pm
by SteveD
guy wrote:The frame stiffener I am using is arteritis.
Guy
Inflammed arteries 
That might stiffen up your thinking a bit! 
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 9:00 pm
by mattcfish
melville wrote:Chuey wrote:Yesterday I mitered the fittings and brazed on some frame stiffener bars. They came out really nice. Next, I'll put an engine/trans combo back into the frame and make a bar that attaches to the two top transmission to engine bolts and tie that to the bars in the pictures. I did that on my Cafe' Racer and I like the result. I'm working on a swing arm for it as well.
Chuey
Nice work! But about this bit:
Chuey wrote:This is a 1978 frame which I bought with a Krauser engine.
Do tell more!
+1
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2012 10:27 pm
by Chuey
I bought this bike several years ago. The original plan was to put the engine in my Cafe' Racer. The engine is a pre-Nikasil 1000cc with Mikuni flat slide carbs. The bike has Lesters that are in pretty good condition.
The previous owner (PO) said that it ran great and was super reliable. He said he used it like an old pick-up truck and if any of his riding buddies rode the bike, they were very impressed with its power.
When the bike came to me, it had real high handlebars and that was topped off by the fact that bar backs put the handlebars roughly in my gut. It felt like a little old lady's bike. It was super dirty. The carburetor cables did not work well at all. I made new cables by using some of the ferrule parts from the old cables and combining them with bicycle shift cables. For a lower position, a clubman bar was put on. I can say that if a bike does not have a fairing, I prefer a very low position such as clip ons produce. That makes the wind work for you instead of you fighting the wind.
Since the bike is equipped with Krauser exhaust pipes, it's too loud for me. For that reason, I haven't ridden it much since I got it. Well, that and the fact that I've never gotten the brakes working great and the engine was pretty clackity. If you think loud valves save lives, get some Krauser heads and you'll live past one hundred! The reason I didn't put the engine into my Cafe' Racer is that it's pretty neat having the Cafe-ness without being a temperamental bike.
Chuey
Re: Putting on some frame stiffeners:
Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:07 pm
by mattcfish
Yeah, parts aren't easy to come by from what I here. It could easily drain a bank account. Of course it would be a very cool bike. Never seen a full on Krauser Cafe.