The Water Buffalo-Seemingly never ending cafe project

[shinyribs]

Wowzers....OK, this particular piece is drilled 1-1 1/4" deep. I'm only planning on screwing the bolt in 5/8" so I don't really need a bottom tap. I can adjust my projects around to keep from bottoming out taps. Have for years. I didn't really want to drop $30+ on a tap to do a single job, I was hoping to buy a good, quality tap that I could use on multiple projects in the future.  I wouldn't mind investing in a serial tap set in this size since I've literally worm out two 1/4-20 taps in the past. Not broke, worn out. But I cannot find a set anywhere.

OK, y'all go back to figuring out what I need and just shoot me a bill when you're done. Lol :)

[shultz_1978]

Are you like in a rush here. I can make some thing happin in a few days.

O ya I was told your set up is not the best way to do this. I told them you know what you are doing.

I was told that if you are reversing it back out and it move out of line so to speak, Snap.  What do they know The tech guy that is.

But if you are not in to much of a rush to get this done. I can get you two taps to try out. For about 25.00 bucks They are prett much just standard taps for stainless.

[shinyribs]

I'm in no rush at all bud. Thanks man.

Not to be a smart @$$ here,but if I'm not supposed to back them out them how am I supposed to get the tap out? Again,not being smart,honestly asking.

Oh,and I only used the lathe to start them.I did the rest by hand.

[shultz_1978]

Oh that was what we did not know. If you was running them in with the lathe then reversing them back out.

[shinyribs]

Nah,this old belt driven machine doesn't have enough arse to drive a tap. It just slips. Sorry for leaving that bit out. I Hope this isn't too much trouble for you.

[shinyribs]

Got the taps today They look to be very nice quality,I hope to get time to try them out soon. It's gonna be a crazy week,though. Thanks for this Shultz! I really appreciate your help!

[shultz_1978]

You are very welcome, keep us posted on how they work

[shinyribs]

I used the tapered tap tonight. I think it did great! Very,very little effort needed and it cut a very smooth set of threads. It required such little effort that at first I though I musta drilled the hole too big. I double checked that I did indeed use a #7 bit and went ahead. It tapped all the way to the bottom of the hole with no problems at all. I was kinda nervous so I only proceeded 1/2 a turn at a time,but I really think it didn't need it. I'm extremely happy with this tap! Thanks again bud. I know what to get from now on.

[shultz_1978]

That is good to know. I think the bottom tap was not helping you at all. They are not the easies to get started and use more force to cut.

Most guys well use the taper or plug tap to start the hole then swicth to a bottom tap for the finish. The good thing is you got it done.

[shinyribs]

These things suck! Man,am I ever disappointed! I've been riding around for three days on these things. They aren't completely finished,but good enough to ride. I was working on dialing in the linkage lengths and toe stubs to get the controls perfectly comfortable,but I discovered something else: I'm all over the seat and tank with these things! For long distance rides they'd be super comfy,but for 'spirited riding' I can't stay in the seat. My tank is not super tall like modern sport bikes,and now my feet are too far back for me to push off the pegs like I did with stock pegs.

I was barreling through the mountains with Eric this past Sunday. I was heading into a downhill right hander with a pretty good head of steam.About 60-ish mph going into a turn that the stock pegs always rubbed the ground on.I've taken this turn at this speed probably....30-40 times before. I started clamping on the brakes and ended up on the tank I was completely off the seat and was putting waaaay too much pressure on the bars. It was a total pucker moment. They had felt strange from the get-go.With my feet behind me and all.I just figured it would take some getting used to. I was enjoying NOT sliding back on the seat everytime I was under hard accelleration as normal,but I noticed myself sliding forward a few times-but nothing major. But after sitting on the tank at 45-50 mph while trying to haul this heavy pig down into a turn......ugh,no thanks.

No offense to anyone anywhere,but screw the cafe racer image. The image,not the style,if that makes any sense. I'm going back to stock pegs so I can ride hard again. I'll admit that they are comfy,and rearsets in general look plum cool,but they aren't for me. I found out that superbike bars provide much better leverage for hard riding compared to clubmans(IMO). Stock airboxes rock the midrange power better than pods ever could (IMO). And cafe style seats just aren't 100% comfortable no matter where you put your feet.I guess the ol' UJM's just weren't that bad to begin with!

I love cafe's.I think they're gorgeous.I really do. But I want a bike I can ride hard with complete control. Seems clubmans and rearsets just don't deliver. For me at least.

Sorry for the rant,but I'm just a little disgusted right now. I really wanted these things to work out. If you built/own/are building a cafe don't take offense to anything I've said. By all means go build your dream bike! But I'm gonna stick with scraping pegs Besides,after only 3 days and about 300 miles I was beginning to really miss the sound of peg on pavement. Ssssscccrreeeeeeeesssshhhhhh.....oh boy,I love that sound....the most irritating part is I wrecked my powder coat for nothing!

Yet again,FUNCTION>form.

[TOOLS1]

These things suck! Man,am I ever disappointed! I've been riding around for three days on these things. They aren't completely finished,but good enough to ride. I was working on dialing in the linkage lengths and toe stubs to get the controls perfectly comfortable,but I discovered something else: I'm all over the seat and tank with these things! For long distance rides they'd be super comfy,but for 'spirited riding' I can't stay in the seat. My tank is not super tall like modern sport bikes,and now my feet are too far back for me to push off the pegs like I did with stock pegs.

I was barreling through the mountains with Eric this past Sunday. I was heading into a downhill right hander with a pretty good head of steam.About 60-ish mph going into a turn that the stock pegs always rubbed the ground on.I've taken this turn at this speed probably....30-40 times before. I started clamping on the brakes and ended up on the tank I was completely off the seat and was putting waaaay too much pressure on the bars. It was a total pucker moment. They had felt strange from the get-go.With my feet behind me and all.I just figured it would take some getting used to. I was enjoying NOT sliding back on the seat everytime I was under hard accelleration as normal,but I noticed myself sliding forward a few times-but nothing major. But after sitting on the tank at 45-50 mph while trying to haul this heavy pig down into a turn......ugh,no thanks.

No offense to anyone anywhere,but screw the cafe racer image. The image,not the style,if that makes any sense. I'm going back to stock pegs so I can ride hard again. I'll admit that they are comfy,and rearsets in general look plum cool,but they aren't for me. I found out that superbike bars provide much better leverage for hard riding compared to clubmans(IMO). Stock airboxes rock the midrange power better than pods ever could (IMO). And cafe style seats just aren't 100% comfortable no matter where you put your feet.I guess the ol' UJM's just weren't that bad to begin with!

I love cafe's.I think they're gorgeous.I really do. But I want a bike I can ride hard with complete control. Seems clubmans and rearsets just don't deliver. For me at least.

Sorry for the rant,but I'm just a little disgusted right now. I really wanted these things to work out. If you built/own/are building a cafe don't take offense to anything I've said. By all means go build your dream bike! But I'm gonna stick with scraping pegs Besides,after only 3 days and about 300 miles I was beginning to really miss the sound of peg on pavement. Ssssscccrreeeeeeeesssshhhhhh.....oh boy,I love that sound....the most irritating part is I wrecked my powder coat for nothing!

Yet again,FUNCTION>form.


I just had to re-post this before you settled down, and edited it.
TOOLS

[seestheday]

Well said brother.

I was just reading this: http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=39814.0 which has a similar theme.

I also just spent a whole winter getting my engine back to stock performance (hopefully), and zero time on cosmetics (unless you count the new shocks as cosmetic, but I am expecting a performance improvement there).

[shinyribs]

Tools,you're a nut. And I'm not gonna edit it,just posting my experience. Others may have a totally different point of view.

Sees',thanks for the link. I just kinda skimmed over it but plan to read it all later. Looks like some good info in there.

[Hoosier Daddy]

If you guys are on DTT look me up, Hoosier Daddy there as well. One of the first forums for bikes I joined.

Username: Hoosier Daddy
Posts: 2895 (2.476 per day)
Date Registered: Feb 05, 2010
Last Active: Today at 05:05:32

[Hoosier Daddy]

Hey Shiney, I got a question on rear-sets.... On the brake side, how are you going to keep the pedal preloaded "down"? On the stock set up the brake pedal retun spring holds it against the foot peg mount. On my rear sets it seems it would "unwind" to the point that I would have excessive travel before the brake applies. Or is the plan to loose the return spring and let it have a very slight drag all the time?

[shinyribs]

I never did away with the stock setup,I just attached to it. That way the brake light switch tab,pedal up-travel stop,and the spring that you mention all stayed in place. I just welded a little tab right where the retaining bolt for the pedal was. It was all part of the being able to ride while making the conversion idea. When it was all done and sorted I was just gonna cut the pedal down to just a stub. Sorry,nothing glamorous here to share lol

[shinyribs]

Work blew up this week so I know I won't see the bike one bit til this weekend. So I decided to take the downtime to drill my rotors. Mark did me a huge solid and let me borrow his rotor to make a pattern.Thanks again dude,much appreciated.

Template bolts to the hub mounting bolts.

Turned down the tip of my punch to get a nice,tight fit in the template.Dead center baby.

8 down. 312 to go.  Then to start in on the 640 chamfers neededlol

[shinyribs]

Got one done! I'm pretty happy with the finished product. Hope to have them both done by the weekend. I'm itching to see them on the bike.

[Butcherblock]

That , my friend, is a piece of art. Well done, it is going to look amazing on the bike!!

[Hoosier Daddy]

OUTSTANDING!!... and here I thought 40 per rotor was a bunch!