hp in a older frame
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
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From: Bedford UK
That's done by a very competent welder, by the look of it! On my own bike, a 1990 Glide, I swapped for a later s/a, which is much stiffer and doesn't have the weakness that the original had. I haven't suffered any fracture, just wanted improved wheel control, when heavily loaded. I also use a later wheel and rear brake.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
That's done by a very competent welder, by the look of it! On my own bike, a 1990 Glide, I swapped for a later s/a, which is much stiffer and doesn't have the weakness that the original had. I haven't suffered any fracture, just wanted improved wheel control, when heavily loaded. I also use a later wheel and rear brake.
Not my best work but they're plenty strong. I'm self taught anyway so it saves me plenty of money being able to join metal pieces in my garage.I used a little 85A TIG for them. It's called a Dragster 85, Thermal Arc used to make a few inverter TIG welders, back when Inverter technology was still in its infancy. Now they're a dime a dozen and a hell of a lot cheaper. I still got it, and it's great for light work, less than 1/8" material and exhaust tubing. Nice clean beads. The only problem is there's no high frequency start so you gotta touch the tip to the work to initiate the bead.
I knew about the later swingarm upgrade but I wasn't interested in the whole wheel/axle swap along with it. That and I'd already bought the swingarm bushing upgrade for my model year.
Last edited by Mattbastard; Sep 14, 2019 at 09:15 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,893
Likes: 8,001
From: poway
This stuff is 1018-1020 cold rolled and probably seemed tubing. Should weld just fine. I would not quench in water after welding tho.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 4,315
Likes: 1,663
From: Tampa
Yea, I probably had the amperage a little high for those beads, and maybe been a bit more generous with the filler. Good thing I don't get paid to weld. 
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