Danny Graves' Gen-4 #1

[dannygraves]

thanks, ya, I already did that and have some pretty funny looking creations!
I think my problem right now is maintaining position and the right speed. I found when sitting in a chair welding some peices together on the bench, I could get some damn good looking welds, but when welding on the bike squatting down with poor visibility, I have a hard time keeping the gun it the right position and moving at a constant speed, I think that is something that will only get better with time and more practice.

[CRMOE500]

Do what ever you can Dan to get comfortable for each weld.Move the bike
around to suit your needs ie upside down or what ever it takes.When I build and weld the cab conversions on our garbage trucks{stand up right hand drive}I don't get the oppertunity really to move my work, although MIG welding is easier then aluminium welding.

[M.F.D.B.]

I have been getting some good penetration in general

She will love you for that...

[Balaclava]

Just wondering if notching out that extra space in the frame for the clutch cover bolt frees up enough space for your spark plug to not contact the gas tank? or do you have to do a gas tank mod for sure? I am pretty sure i'm going to have to do that same notch for my frame...even though all the other builds doesn't seem like they've done it...How clockwise is too clockwise as far as engine rotation goes?

[M.F.D.B.]

The more you clock it forward, the lower the CG.

[Balaclava]

so lower center of gravity is necessary?

[M.F.D.B.]

How "necessary" depends on the rider, but the lower CG helps the turning you loose by the huge recip. mass of the 500. Also, it increases the clearance on the front tire/pipe area, and better plug clearance (i think the main reason guys are doing it)...

[dannygraves]

I just hate seeing a crooked "Honda" on the clutch cover
plus, I wanted the lower CG and that tanks are enough of a PITA, might as well give them as much room as possible. TC510 did his build similar to mine with the notch.

Sara took the digi cam and put it somewhere, so I had to use my phone, will post in a little bit, but I got all the mounts in place, so its time for the headstay.

[dannygraves]

ok, got 1 cam phone shot for one of the lower mounts. I know its a butt fugly weld, but its a dirtbike damnit! I want to get it together and RIDE!

[HrcRacing]

It ain't gotta' be pretty bro, just has to stay together!

[AlisoBob]

I know its a butt fugly weld, but its a dirtbike damnit! I want to get it together and RIDE!

Not the right attitude Danny, your work should always reflect your best effort.

[M.F.D.B.]

Give him a break Wook, thats 178% better then the BEST weld RJunks ever pulled off!!! And he STILL owes me like $25...

[dezertryno]

Danny, I am assuming you set up a MIG machine based off the amount of filler. It's a dirtbike, I understand, but if your not the best welder, your better to pay for someone who does it everyday, especially with a dirtbike. What is a broken arm/ lost work worth, compared to $$$ spent to have a professional welder do the work?

[dannygraves]

I know its a butt fugly weld, but its a dirtbike damnit! I want to get it together and RIDE!

Not the right attitude Danny, your work should always reflect your best effort.

oh, trust me, that was my best effort!

Its really funny, I was only planning on tacking everything myself, but starting with the front mounts I just kept on going! HAHA and a second later I went "shit, I thought I was only tacking"
I have a little bit of cleanup to do with some of the welds, but I am very confident that strength is not an issue, only cosmetics. Most of the welds I laid down look better than almost all the mig welds I have ever seen, and for that I have to admit I'm a little proud. Attention to detail hasn't been sacrificed anywhere on this conversion, and I can truly say I built this one %100 on my own!
Now I have to go refill my argon tank, damn that stuff goes fast, I'm about %50 of the way through my wire too But most of that stuff was used up with my practice welds. I got a nasty boogery looking weld on the Y when a molten peice of AL burned a hole in my pants and into my calf! My hand wasn't so steady when that happened

[dannygraves]

this is one of those things like porting work... everyone told me I couldn't do it on my own..blah blah and I ended up with a wicked fast bike and learned a ton in the process. I made a couple mistakes on that jug, so the next will be ever better!
Like a guy on the other site said on the topic of porting "you never learn anything by paying someone else to do it". Maybe when I'm older with more money to spare, I can pay others, but for right now I like taking pride in having the balls to go all the way with a project and give it my all and learn something from it.
Marshalls bike will probably get tacked, then sent off to Brian at united machine to get tig welded, since that isn't my bike, that is his bike.

[dannygraves]

Give him a break Wook, thats 178% better then the BEST weld RJunks ever pulled off!!! And he STILL owes me like $25...

thanks man
and I didn't notch like an inch out of the frame without any additional support either!! HAHAHA

[M.F.D.B.]

Hey the worse that can happen is the motor falls out, at least you can still use the brakes/steer...

[dannygraves]

[nmdesertrider]

I'm with you there Danny. I admire 'getting it done' under adversity much more than guys bragging about all the fancy tools they have at their disposal.

My grandpa was a millwright back in the day at a ball-bearing factory and raised seven kids. You would be amazed at what he could do to wood or metal with a few simple hand tools.

[dannygraves]

yeah, everyone in my dads side of the family say I'm just like my grandpa, he died when I was 2, but I hear all sorts of stories about him rebuilding motors on the kitchen table because they lived in an appartment. haha

[hoofarted]

Yo, looks good, Danny.

Just dont "digger-rig" it too bad!

[dannygraves]

hey! who are you callin' digger??? Its been 5 years since I was the "digger" around your house!

[hoofarted]

hey! who are you callin' digger??? Its been 5 years since I was the "digger" around your house!

You will always be Danny the digger...because of your digger-rigring tendancies!


Hey - so we need more pics of your progress, yo. BTW, I got your airboot so it'll be on its way shortly.

[dannygraves]

ya, started on the gas tank yesterday. killed digi cam batteries snapping shots for UPS
found out while I was heating the tank that my uncle Rick had a golf ball sized tumor in his intestin between his liver and gal bladder. he turned yellow and my aunt rushed him to the hospital for emergency surgery. The surgery went well, but now he has double phnemonia... They don't think he is gonna make it. so needless to say no more progress was made

[dannygraves]

forgot about all the phone shots I took... so here they are by popular demand...
test fit on the exhaust mount

exhaust mockup (you can see my little helper who refuses to wear pants )

sexy shot

another sexy shot!

this no workie

kicker clearance

tank clearance I'm glad I worked so hard on angling it forward

Marshall's bike

my bike's temporary home...sssshhhhh don't let the wife see!!

OOOHHHH YEAH!



and..... special delivery this AM


Marshalls Y is all tacked in place (forgot to snap a shot, I will tonight) and I'm back to working on mine, Mashall wants to see how my engine angle works out before we get his that far.