'78 KZ1000 makeover

aww, shucks Leon, thanks :ohmy: The truth is, it wasn't as tight as it could have been. I offset the miter to the inside, moving the tube out and leaving a larger gap between them in the middle, despite the curved tubing.

Now I'm wondering if I should roll some more tubing and install curved braces in the top front corners from the perimeter tubes to the front down tubes....Hmmmmmm......

I'd have to put the engine back in to make sure everything could still come off while bolted into the frame, but it would look trick

UPS brought my newest toy, an ebay special.

1/6 hp Gast diaphram vacuum pump. I plugged it in and it pulls a good vacuum :woohoo: I need to hook a gauge up to it and see how much vacuum it can pull down, see how much pressure I can apply to my laminates. Heck, if I can get 10 psi of vacuum, that's 1440 lbs of pressure on the laminate :blink:

28" of vacuam is normal for perfect conditions in my experiance in refrigiration anyway

porchev914 wrote:

I'd have to put the engine back in to make sure everything could still come off while bolted into the frame, but it would look trick

If you put that curved brace in there it could afford you the clearance necessary to get things in and out. My straight braces in the same location will allow for cam cover removal, but not the head. I will have to place the motor with the head in the frame, and then install the cam cover. Maybe you'll get lucky and be able to remove the head in the frame.

Not that it matters, but straight braces will be marginally more rigid. Any tension on that curved brace will act to straighten the curve, while a straight piece will directly transfer the tension to the attached frame tube. It's is highly unlikely that the differece will be noticable without the use of a frame load testing jig and a dial indicator. They look killer, and I would totally use the curved brace.

PLUMMEN wrote:

28" of vacuam is normal for perfect conditions in my experiance in refrigiration anyway

I have read that refrigerator pumps make great little vacuum pumps- they're quiet and pull a really good vacuum. Their limitation is in volume.....not that I'm going to be removing alot of volume

Now I am curious about two things Plummen. One, where did you get the inspiration for the frame bracing you added to your frame? Two, is that bike together yet?

just seemed logical at the time brace it that way since it didnt cause any clearance issues with servicing motor.
i got offered a job running the maintenance/service dept of a steel foundry/casting co on 3rd shift a couple days ago,they want me to start next monday.so anyway if i take the job ill be able to work regular hours,not to mention ill have access to a plant covering 6 acres of ground with tools ive never imagined at my disposal! :woohoo: anyway one of the reasons they want me so bad is for my fab/design skills since i showed them some of my work up close,the master plumbers license/refrig licenses and electrical contractors licenses helped also. :laugh: so now ill be able to concentrate on some of my own bike projects instead of running service calls 24/7 all over town,so yes i will be showing some progress on some stuff soon

porchev914 wrote:

UPS brought my newest toy, an ebay special.

1/6 hp Gast diaphram vacuum pump. I plugged it in and it pulls a good vacuum :woohoo: I need to hook a gauge up to it and see how much vacuum it can pull down, see how much pressure I can apply to my laminates. Heck, if I can get 10 psi of vacuum, that's 1440 lbs of pressure on the laminate :blink:

i actually picked up 2 full size yellow jacket vacuam pumps last week for like $65 each at a local pawn shop when i was driving through town,lots of guys not working unloading tools cheap at those places

I never even thought to check pawn shops. You're right though, alot of guys from all trades would be hocking pro quality tools to pay the rent. Congrats on the job offer! Who would have though showing someone your bike would have helped to get you a job :ohmy: I'm way to close to the edge myself, working anywhere from 10-30 hours a week. It sure doesn't keep me flush with enough extra cash to throw at the bike

yessir,plenty of room! :laugh:
he!! you could have stick welded that,hehe.looks good ,the curved tubes are perfect.good job,
leon

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