KX Riders
Maintenance & Technical => KX500 Original => Topic started by: KXcam22 on June 17, 2006, 05:41:37 PM
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I can't resist building things. I was doing some fiberglassing so It seemed a good idea to buiild a guard to protect my new Gnarly from getting mashed. I had some of the materials and traded a 6-pack for the kevlar scraps. I complete one step each night after work to give the resin time to fully cure. This was actually very easy to build. Total weight with clamps is 1lb-4oz. The final product is so strong I can't even flex it. I posted more photos in my gallery. Cam.
Materials:
1 Liter polyester resin
scraps of fiberglass mat or cloth
fiberglass or kevlar Roving (heavy weave cloth)
plastic kitchen wrap
Paint
2 large hose clamps
Step1:
Wrap the area of your pipe to be glassed in kitchen wrap. Cover the remainder with plastic bags. The narrow stuff they use at home depot to strap wood trim would work better than the stuff I used. With a black marker, mark on the pipe aprox where the guard edges will be. You will glass a larger area then trim it smaller.
Step2:
Using 1.5" wide strips of fiberglass mat, build a 1-layer shell over the pipe and let it cure. Before it is fully cured, pop the shell off the pipe and pull any kitchen wrap out of the inner part of the shell. Let it cure for a day, rough sand it then carefully trim it close to it's final size (but not too close, that comes later).
Step3: The fiberglass or Kevlar roving (you can use either) fits nicely over the curve without cutting darts or slits. Put 2 layers on and work it with your hands until it the roving takes the shape. Glass this in place and let cure a day.
Step4: Trim to final shape with a saber saw. Apply a coat of resin inside, outside and the cut edges (for sanding) and let cure a day. Sand with 60gr. Drill/file mounting holes and drain holes, paint and install heat sheild (tinfoil).
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Honda lawnmower eh? :roll: Well done Cam! Just remember to remove occasionally and clean the pipe suface. I have a guard also and its surprising how much crap gets in there. The Gnarly can lose its nice coating fairly quickly if left too long. I use a 3M scouring pad for the job, like the one that mum uses for that roasting pan in the sink.
Nice job! They work well.
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Very Cool Kxcam22. My dad is a fiberglass expert and now I have a project for us. Thanks.
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On a slightly different track, you might find these pages interesting...
http://www.mci.i12.com/carbon/index.htm (http://www.mci.i12.com/carbon/index.htm)
The section on making petrol tanks is very interesting indeed.
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Cam, What paint did you use on your pipe guard?
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Timbowe said: Well done Cam! Just remember to remove occasionally and clean the pipe suface. I have a guard also and its surprising how much crap gets in there. The Gnarly can lose its nice coating fairly quickly if left too long. I use a 3M scouring pad for the job, like the one that mum uses for that roasting pan in the sink.
Timbowe's right. I clean after each ride. I have an E-line carbon fiber protector. They have slots cut to weave the hose clamp through. I just put mine around the pipe and the protector that way I don't have to take the clamp all the way off. I just loosen and slide the clamp up the pipe. Makes it real easy to clean. In the picture you can see how I just slide the clamp out of the way.
Danger
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Cam, that looks cool as heck. Very nice job! I love building things as well and am a little handy with tools, and I must say very well done. Luckily for me sand does not tear up the pipes as bad as rocks and trees :wink:
FuriouSly
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In one word, "Bulletproof"!! I tried to wheelie over a 3' high pile of crossed logs, then caught a stump with the rear wheel and came down hard; slammed the pipe full tilt on top of a big log. Would have completely crushed a non-protected pipe, but it came through unscratched. Last word: for anyone making one, use the high temperature resin. Mine hasn't melted that I can tell but it smells like a new sailboat when it gets hot. Seems to be getting better with each ride so hopefully the smell will go with time. A very successful and easy project. Cam.
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i have a funny story about pipe gaurds. when i was wrenching at a KTM dealer we would see a number of bikes come in with the cil. cracked from the stress on the gaurd beeing struck. so if you do build one dont make it too bullet proof :-)
but then again kawai's are a little stronger than a KTM
~steve
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I like that. :-D I never thought a fiberglass pipe protector would hold up. I guess I was wrong. :|
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Cam, thought of making these to sell?