ProjectVF: Extending the Main Frame

 

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There was a 19" gap in need of some bridging. I used rectangular tubing, MIG welded, and suitably triangulated and reinforced. I'll accept a little weight penalty in the form of overdesign because I'd hate to have the frame come apart beneath me.

 

 

 

 

This is the frame mockup I originally made from 1x2 poplar scraps and some hot glue. It was pretty crude but helped give me ideas of what I really wanted.

 

Here's how the extension turned out. I used 1" x 1-1/2" mild steel tubing for the main rails, 1" x 1" square tubing for the braces, and 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" angles for the seat supports. Everything was checked for level, plumb, and parallelism, then tack-welded into place. It might not be as pretty as the Honda-designed frame, but it's strong as hell and ought to work fine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The original frame has a detachable section for engine removal. so I created this little connection for the extension. The holes thru the tubes were sleeved and welded, and the bolts and nuts are grade-8. It took some time to make, but was well worth the effort.