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Frame welding?
- BSKZ650
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What are the frames really made out of, I would be more concerened about mixing metals.
Just a thought
77 kz650, owned for over 25 years
77 ltd1000, current rider
76 kz900, just waiting
73 z1,, gonna restore this one
piglet, leggero harley davidson
SR, Ride captian, S.E.Texas Patriot Guard Riders.. AKA KawaBob
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- rpiian
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- Live to Ride, Ride to Live
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What are the frames really made out of, I would be more concerned about mixing metals.
I believe KZ frames are of mild steel.
Here's a review on a 1980 KZ750 (found frame type in the specs):
motorbikearchives.com/Bike-Tests/Road-an...KZ750-Four-1980.html
Pretty cool!
Mild steel is cheaper yet similar to chromoly (4130), only with a lower ultimate tensile strength. Fine for our applications (or mine, don't know about some guys here), but not for highly, constantly stressed racing bikes... Mild steel racing chassis's would require more metal (heavier) to have comparable strength to a 4130 spaceframe. That would make a vehicle cheaper, yet fat and uncompetitive.
2006 SV1000S
Carbon Yoshi RS3
ZGDB Smoke Windscreen
Sharealike Clutch Basket Mod
Switchable TRE
13300mi
1981 KZ650 CSR H1
Dual "Pro-Burner" Headlights
ZX-6R Taillight
Tapered Head Bearings
Dyna Wires
Rebel Gears 26T Rear Sprocket
V&H 4-1 Exhaust
20100mi
My little streetfighter...
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- polkat
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- polkat
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Thanks much for the welding advice!! How about using heat to bend tubes? I have two 14" long rear vertical frame tubes (1-1/4" .125 wall mild steel) that I want to cut at one end, bend down about 4" and reweld. I was thinking maybe heat the still welded end and just push it down. Here's a rough drawing of what I'm talking about....
There's no room to use a bender this way and I don't want to kink the tubes, but if I use heat, will it weaken the bend area? This is part of a partial "konging" I'm doing to my KZ750.
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- unomike
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- Biker for 40 years.
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Own: 1980 Kaw KZ1300,Stage 1 kit,K&N pods
1972 Harley Davidson XHL Sportster, 1972 Suzuki T500, 1974 Hodaka 125 Dirt Squirt, 1980 Honda 250 VTR, 1983 Yamaha 750 seca and a 1974 yamaha GT80 for my son.
Bristol, Tennessee. USA
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- les holt
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- Old Man Rock
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Just trying to save the guy from blowing a hole in his frame tubing.... That wire feeder he has is more than enough for the thin walled frame tubing...
It's actually thinner than 1/8th" so be careful....
Obtain some test material ~ the same thickness and test your welder current and speed settings first...
In my project, my little 110Vac Lincoln Wire-Feed welder was more than enough for that little baby can weld up to 5/16ths of an inch plating with no problems...
As can be reviewed in my project images, I welded up all my supports for the Mono shock mounts, rear sets, electrical components etc... and she's strong as ever...
Hell, If I got run over by an 18 wheeler, the welds would be the only thing that would survive.... :woohoo:
OMR
1976 KZ900-A4
MTC 1075cc.
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ZX636 suspension
MIKUNI, RS-34'S...
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Earls 10 row Oil Cooler
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- les holt
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Les
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