welding

[LoHo]

So, is that modern art or a tank trap? Expecting an amphibious landing?

Kudos on your welding experiments. I'll have to take the plung pretty soon, as several projects have ended when I came to a place that required welding. And I'm only thirty years older than you are, so it should be a snap, right? Or a snap, crack, spit, pop...ouch!

[HobbyMan]

I am using new E6011 rods. it is OK for what I have been doing. Yeah, that is kinda both modern art and a tank trap. More like a pile of ugly junk. I cut it apart today to do some more useful projects. Besides the obvious design flaw, what do you think of today's endeavors?




When we magaged to balance it out with me sitting on the front edge of the seat and my friend peddaling while leaning on the handle bars, this is what happened:

TJe welds held fine but the rear wheel did not

[HobbyMan]

Forgot to add that the guys who build choppers down the street thought it was funny as hell when we rode past them.

[HobbyMan]

Well, maby my welding teacher will let my class in the shop tomorrow. Maby if he knows I have been welding on my own, he will let me use the equipment. I am also looking at picking up a new generator that can handle 50A 240v. We've needed one for a while. Just got to save a little money. After that, we are looking at getting a 2nd welder. Rather than getting another stick welder, we are going to need a MiG so we are looking into that. Who makes the best 240v MiG welder for the price? Do you normally rent the gas tanks or do you buy and swap them out when empty? How expensive is the gas. These need to be LONG TERM investments so we are going to need good quality equipment. That is the only way to justify getting another welder. After I learn enough and acquire some skill, my Dad and I are going to build a serious steel shed to hold the boat and RV. I consider my motorcycle trailer as good practice as soon as I can attempt to build it. If anyone has bought a good mig welder recently, let me know how it turns out and what kind of material it will handle. Thanks

[XMRGWX]

I can't say enough good things about the Millermatic 210 I got a year ago. It's not cheep, maybe 1300.00 now but it's really built. Full specs can be seen on Miller's web site. I bought my tank locally, a 120cf. was 160.00 with gas and I believe the refills are 35.00. The gas last's a long time, I'm still on my first tank.

Millermatic 210 1 Phase 240V

-Mike

http://millerwelds.com/

[HobbyMan]

AHHH! Gotta get a millermatic 210!!! WE have many of them at shcool. My teacher asked me today if I could use one. I replied yes because he wouldn't let me touch it for a week until he had time to show me. I knew I could figure it out anyway. Very easy machine to operate. It take most of the difficulty out of welding. Its like a computer, point and click. I was teaching others to use it by the end of the period. WE have a deaf student in the class and I taught the (old lady) interpreter how to use it.wow

[TopCatGr58]

Ah, yes,

The simplicity of the wire feed welder!!! However, that model is a bit pricey!!

I got a Lincoln Pro-mig 135 from LOWES for around $450.00, can handle solid core, flux core, MIG with gas gauges, just need bottle. I was welding 1/4" thick stuff, just did two passes, one from one side, and then one from the other to get enough penetration for the heavy angle iron pieces I was using to make my trailer!! But, yes using a wire feeder is very easy vs. a stick welder!
T.C.

[HobbyMan]

I am going to keep using the stick welder too. It seems to have a little more penetration into the metals at low amperages/voltages. Whatever works best when I finally get to working on the trailer is the one I will use. We have all the tools to weld aluminum at school. What do you think about an aluminum motorcycle trailer? I wanted it light.

[TopCatGr58]

Well,

Aluminum is light, strong, doesn't rust. But I think it's a bit more difficult or costly to find in the shape/sizes you'll need for a sturdy frame and loading rails. The Axle will still probably need to be steel, so you'll have to U-bolt it to the frame vs. being able to weld it, but if you use leaf springs then that's not a problem since that's how they are usually attached to the frame.

I think angle and tubular/square or round Steel/iron is easier to find and cut. Aluminum requires some fancy blades, otherwise it gets soft when it gets warm and can gum up certain cutting and sanding/grinding tools vs. steel!

I made mine out 1/4" thick angle iron, no springs, and I can lift it up on one end myself, so I estimate it to weigh around 200-300 lbs.

Hopefully someone with much more knowledge about the structural strengths and properties of aluminum for framing and support of a 600+ lbs will chime in?!
T.C.

[HobbyMan]

What would be the price difference between aluminum and steel? If it is much more, I will have to stick with steel. Since this is going to be a 3 rail trailer with a max of 2 bikes, I am going to have leaf springs. I was looking at your trailer for ideas. What about something like a steel box beam for the frame?

[oseaghdha]

Prices

Some price comparison

Aluminum needs to be thicker x-section than steel. It will cost more, and the weight difference may not justify the cost.

You can cut aluminum with a carbide circular saw and WD40.

[mro]

trailers, have made a few.....

1 - Straight trailer axle 2000 Lb. without brakes
2 - 5 on 4-1/2" Hubs with bearings, seals and lug nuts
1 - 1-3/4" u-bolt kit
2 - Double eye springs 25.25"x1.75"
1 - Single axle hanger kit
2 - 7"x28" 16 Ga. fenders with weld-on backs (12" or 13" wheels)
1 - Light kit with wiring harness
1 - Double hook safety chain 3/16"x4'
1 - Trailer coupler for a 2" trailer ball (2", 2-1/2" or 3" width)
2- Wheels/tires

Then will need steel, 3/16" would be pleanty strong enough.
Total cost <$500.00
______________________________

Could find a used boat or utility trailer ($50 to $200)
Has everything you need to make a bike trailer.

I made a 12' X 5' flat bed trailer out of a 17' used boat trailer. Cost me $100 plus couple sheets of plywood and 4 rattle cans of paint. (What I traded for my first XS)

mro

[HobbyMan]

Dad's got a utuiltity trailer that we have used before. We are now needing it for utuilities. It is too big/heavy and has a lot of wind resistance. I can do all the wiring for lights or whatever by myself. I am stuck on how to build the frame. I don't know what the best design to use would be. I am thinking ov a rectangle with two beams runnung across from the sides to support the bike rails. THe wheels would be centered underneath the middle two cross beams. I would make it so that It would barely be wide enough to fit tow bikes across from each other. As it turns out, I have a good set of springs already. Are 2500lb too much for two bikes? I have some air bags and an air compressor off a town car that would be really cool. (That would be a future modification) I also don't want the rails to be more than a ft off the ground. I came up with some good designs for ramps that would work well.

[TopCatGr58]

Instead of a rectangle, how about a rectangle with a triangle up front, allows for more turning angle? I would think those springs would be too strong=stiff, and cause it to bounce badly almost like it was a rigid frame!? I would think ones rated closer to 600 lbs would provide a softer smoother ride for 2 bikes IF they are both XS11's. You'll need to check to see if the weight ratings are for the pair, or each, you'll want a capacity of 1200 to 1500 lbs for the 2 bikes!

For the rails to be that low, you'll either need to get a fancy U shaped axle to allow the frame to sit lower and still provide enough room for the spring action.

If you use detachable ramps, then they won't be sticking up behind the bikes causing wind resistance, allow for laying them onto the trailer and clamping them down when not in use!

Highly suggest large wheels, 12-13" or so again for weight handling and also smoother rolling.

To allow a higher mounted frame and rails but still provide ease of loading, you could make the tongue on a hinge, to allow the trailer to tilt down in the back for loading, then back up when ready to pull!
Have fun...remember, get the design right FIRST!
T.C.

[nashville_bill]

I bought a new trailer to haul bikes on, among other things. It has a 2500 lb rating and only cost $630. I don't think I could have bought the metal, axle, wheels, tires, lights, etc. for the purchase price.

It's made so I can ride the bike up the tailgate easily. The floor of the trailer is sloped downward about 2' from the rear and that allows for a shorter tailgate (it doesn't stick up into the wind when it is in the up position) and makes it easy to load and unload the bike.