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View Full Version : Making an old Ironhead older

Gunfighter
29th June 2006, 02:10
Since when I bought my bike it was in the early stages of becoming a hardtail, I had to do something to put back my rear fender struts. The artist (ha, ha) in me never really liked the look of the curved fender struts, they didn't match the curve of the fender. I also was switching to a bobtail fender, so I decided to modify some early ironhead straight struts, below is how I did that.

the struts were bought off Ebay for the right price so if it didn't turn out no big deal. Step one was to trim them down to a decent size:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/fender002.jpg

Next I cut down 2 pieces of 3/8x1x ~3 inch weldable steel and ground them down to fit inside the struts, I smoothed out the rear of the frame and tacked them in tried a test fit, then welded them in solid:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/Picture066.jpg

Here's what it looks like with both of them in place

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/Picture067.jpg

and with the cutdown strut on

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/Picture068.jpg

I happened to have an old bobtail fender to use as a mock up, which was invaluable. Here's what it looks like with the fender in place

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/Picture069.jpg

and with the original seat to verify it's up tight and matches the curve of the fender:

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b71/aerobb/Picture070.jpg

All that's left now is to cutdown the real fender and paint it up!
IronMick
29th June 2006, 19:11
Nice work, eh. As someone else posted earlier today, "I love it when a plan comes together".
Gunfighter
29th June 2006, 20:03
Getting closer and closer Mick, thanks. Can't wait to get it on the road! Gotta buddy that's gonna help me paint it. but that's not for another week.
Mute
1st July 2006, 16:50
looks cool.

If ya wanted to get a bit of curve in them and are handy with a welder, you could make some straight saw cuts (prolly about 3/8 to 1/2 inch apart) about 2/3's the way through and bend em till they close. Course the chrome would be ruined...