Page 7 - Bike Torque January 2022

Got any projects on the go?
You would be surprised at what other people are interested in. If you are working on any bike-related
projects (restoration, customisation, major repair, body work, engine overhaul etc) why not send us a photo
or two and a few words and we’ll share it with the Branch. I know some of you have interesting work going
on in your shed – how about a bit of show and tell? Here’s one.

DELUSIONAL COMPETENCE: Episode 3 (Robbie Neighour)
We are now making real progress.

We reviewed the sidecar body and had only the shadow of the previous chassis to go by and measured it
and cut steel. Then we realised that the body is tapered and the chassis will need to also be slightly tapered
to fit.

Without the previous suspension we had to ascertain where the wheel would end up to align with the bike.
Phil recommends that the sidecar wheel to be positioned at 70% of the bike’s wheelbase, this puts the
sidecar axle approximately level with the front of the bikes rear wheel. This now lets us see where the
sidecar chassis will sit on our subframe. This, in turn, lets us place the front vertical support to connect the
front upper to the subframe rail.

Back at the bike: We used thick-walled round tube and needed to put a bend in it to clear the l/h exhaust
pipe. Not having a pipe bender is a problem to be overcome. We didn’t want to buy one for only one job and
no one close by has one, so a solution was needed. This was done by using three pieces of hardwood
sanded to have a rebate to sit the pipe and a 6 ton press. We made a plywood template of the bend
required and slowly pressed the pipe until we reached the exact angle. The pipe was too long on both ends
of the bend to allow for cutting to suit the final fit.

Because the support tube follows the same angle as the bike’s down tubes, where it meets the subframe,
the horizontal rail is also at an angle. By bolting the re-made front upper mount into position and laying a
straight edge along it down to where it meets the horizontal frame this allowed us to mark the offset between
the top and bottom surface of the horizontal frame. Drilling 25mm holes, separately, in the surfaces and final
sizing of the holes by hand got the angle required with the support tube going completely through the
horizontal tube for added rigidity. We now have to make some small brackets for attachment points at the
engine mounts.

At this point we need the sidecar chassis to start estimating where the attachment points between the chair
and the new subframe will be. This has its own dilemmas because if the chair is too far forward or backward
it affects how the bike will handle, so although the subframe is not finished the chair chassis and its
suspension will need to be made next.
TBC

Robbie Neighbour

(Editor: I understood everything up to the end of “We are now making real progress.”)

EVENT CALENDAR
Covid restrictions in place at the time must be adhered to when engaged in Branch activities:
• Social distancing must be practiced at all times – at the servo, on the ride, at the ride stops, etc.
• Maximum group size limits MAY affect Branch rides; if numbers exceed the maximum allowable
number at the time then the overall group will split into separate smaller groups; where these groups
ride is up to them.
• Smaller food venues MAY be limited as to numbers, members are asked to respect limits when
ordering and consuming food; eating outdoors is preferable.
• Face masks MAY be required when ordering food at a café but not when outside. Bring a mask.
For updates please check the Branch facebook page and State restrictions.

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