Anyone interested in fabricating ammo can brackets?

I have a 1982 XJ750 Maxim I've been trying to find hard bags for and the best ones I've seen are the ammo can boxes people have put on their bikes. Unfortunately, I like most of the tools needed to built the brackets necessary (a welder for one...) and more important, I think I lack the skills. I'm sure many people on this site would be interested in ordering a set of ammo can brackets if you're interested in making a few sets up. Or does anyone have step-by-step instructions for making some using basic shop tools? Thanks a lot!

 

What if you scoot down to home depot/home hardware/some store that has screws and metal.....

Grab a piece of flat aluminium, maybe 2-3 inches wide and maybe 1/8 inch thick. length to fit under grab bar. drill holes and slide it under. then grab some 1 - 1-1/2 inch bolt's with wing nuts. grab some rubber spacers. mark and drill holes to match on flat stock aluminium and match the ammo case...

place rubber spacer on bolt, place case in place and wing nut down tight. rubber will cause a seal on the back side and 2 - 3 bolts should hold them in place with out any issues. Ooo maybe toss a lockwasher and washer on the wing nut side. if you need to take them off, zip zip zip wingnuts loose and go =)

Not as nice as the pop and go, but at least they won't bounce off. =)

 

Thats a pretty good idea actually. But if the plate was behind the grab bar you'd have to get pretty long bolts to reach from the box, over the grab bar, and into the plate. Not to mention the ends of the bolts scraping your rear fender.. hmmm.. I've got an ammo box here at home I'm trying to make work... hmmm agian
-SLK

 

Well if you have a fairly long bolt, you could lock the bolt in place with a nut,

Basically this configuration---v



bolt, lock washer, washer, Flat Stock, washer. lock washer, nut, Spacer cut to size, rubber washer/grommet, Ammo Box, washer, washer,lock washer, wingnut.


A little crude, but would work.

 

I've definitely been pondering my own ammo can saddle bags, because I don't like the look of leather bags and because I can't find a backrest/luggage rack...

I've got several ideas based on http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=9461 but I've got only a sissy bar.

I've been thinking U bolts around the grab bar with rubber gaskets on both sides, lock washered and acorn nutted (to prevent drag on case contents) to the cans.

The bottom support for the cans yet eludes me. I tried searching for the thread I read where a guy used brake cable to support the bottom of his saddle bags but couldn't find it just now. That seemed a bit out of my league anyway. I had more thought of having something welded on the left side to the drive shaft casing (proper name?) and on the right to the part of the frame that extends to the rear brake that could the be bolted and unbolted to the lower part of the cans (similar to the grab bar mounts with a nut welded in and you just put in a bolt to install).

My idea only provides for 3 anchor points for the cans, and I'm not sure what kind of load that would hold, or how pretty it would be.

Hopefully someone will create an XJ modular ammo can mount and market it. I'd buy it.

When we work together we can move mountains.

 

If you weld something to either of the lower points you suggest, you will have bouncing bags or some other issue. The final drive and other side of the wheel tend to get closer to the seat whenever you hit a bumb.

The problem is not only weight, but twist. Be better off building a "cage" to put them in and then the would be removable...

gotta ride...

 

http://www.maxim-x.com/saddlebag_retainer.html

This is what I'm using when my Leather bags come in. Its the Brake lines post you're refering to. See, we can use the retainer to help mount it I guess, or give it lower support.
Maybe secure a plate to the brake line retainer Via U bolts and wing nuts? then bolt the can to the plate?? Get what I mean??

 

Actually It hink I just came up with an even BETTER solution guys. I'ma build a couple, and if it works well, I'll sell em out. Stoked
-SLkid

 

well then hurry up! ;-P

now i gotta get me some ammo cans so I am ready when you get whatever your figured out built! ;-)

 

There might be a little bit of drilling required from you guys, if i dont sell the brakcets with the cases. Maybe I can strike a deal with a navy dude for cases.. hmmm.. I'll be pricing the build soon. I'll let ya'll know.
-StreetLegalKid

 

Got the metal I need at home depot. Fabricating tomorrow morning. I think this is gonna be pretty good.
Maybe I can get a hold of some more ammo crates and I can sell mounting brakcets and cases as a set!

 

Just found this:

http://www.fatiguesarmynavy.com/store/s ... Ammo_Boxes

I'm sure local surplus stores will have different selections but I'm surprised at the prices of the cans.

From left to right I calculated the volume of the 4 cases (in cu. in., sorry metric people), .30 cal - 294, .50 cal - 540, 20mm - 1785, 25mm - 1001.

I think I'd go with the 20mm case, 7 inches doesn't protrude all that much and it would hold a lot more than the next size down.

 

The 20mm is so long though! I wish one was made in the middle of the 50 and the 20. It'd be the perfect size for our bikes!

 

The .50s aren't too bad. They are acutally pretty roomy. Your not getting your breifcase in them, but you can pack a good amount of stuff in there. What are you planning on carrying in there?

 

Lol, work shoes, tools. Picinic lunches. Beach blankets. Stuff like that The 50 is a good size for that. But I like to make the most out of what I have, and what I have is about 5 cubic inches of useable space that I cant fill. I might be able to "extend" the cans a bit, with a welder

 

5 cubic inches? thats about enough room for a fart.... 8O

seriously, your wallet is bigger than 5 cubic inches... 8)

Unless you've been buying alot of parts recently. :cry:

 

Oops! I'm a liar. My math is AWFUL at 8am.
It can go another three inches down, which almost touches the exhaust, and that means it can go another 11 left to right. Which would make it 33 cu in.
Brilliant!
(Dont kill me math gurus!)

 

I just put a 50 that I have in the garage up against the bike. It would require something done for the turn signals to fit. Since the signals might be integrated in the box, then maybe a removable liner bag could be made for the box (I had them on the Goldwing).

I believe the taller box would be annoying (on the seca atleast) if you carried a passenger. The extra length of the next size up would be good though.

 

Your math is awful at 8am. You still need to multiply by the width...6in in a 50 which would get you to 198 CUs extra if you modded one three inches taller.

Now, if your adding 3 down and 11 in length then the number is even bigger! (909 CU adding 3 in debth and 11 in length to a 50cal)

Do you already have some on? if so can I see a pick?

 

As soon as my neighbor gets up I'm borrowing his drill and blowtorch and I'm making the brackets. Gonna mount them directly under the grab bar with the bolts that connect to the frame. I hopefully can get pics up before I work at 3:15.

 

So Galvenized Steel doesnt like to bend. Damn the Home Depot man for not knowing his stuff. Gonna get something.. softer.. that i can weld

 

My local ACE has a section of weldable steel. May not like to bend, but can be cut and welded...

 

Gonna check the local recycling/scrap place. We'll see. I dont have any places like ACE in VA beach. Got pep boys, advance, and Napa unfortunatly

 

Kempsville Ace Hardware
5168 Princess Anne Rd
Virginia Beach, VA 23462
(757) 499-7616

 

Thanks bandit??
Thats like an hour away from me though. I found a Welding co about 20 min from my house. I'ma see if they got some scrap metal when I get off work tomorrow. Pick up a few strips and see what happens

 

I dunno I just had nothing else to do and am interested in the making of these luggage cases...

Later I did notice that's a little awkward but I'm no weirdo I promise..

 

On my 650 I used 40mil cans. Used the passenger peg mount hole(removed the peg) for the lower of the two mounts, just drilled hole in the bag and bolted it through, and for the upper I drilled and tapped a hole into the grab-rail, drilled another hole in the can(cut a bit of access metal off the lid lip to clear) and bolted it right up. Could have gotten away with a drill and a hacksaw. Didn't need to weld anything. I did have to relocate the signals though.

 

Galvanized steel bends fine. It's no harder than ungalvanized steel. You need to heat it with the torch when making your bends. Be careful of the fumes. Burning galvanized can make you sick if you get too much of the fumes. Drink some good ol' white milk if you start feeling nauseated. If you do it in a well ventilated area (outside, garage door open with a fan blowing), you'll be fine.

 

My plan has no need for drilling into your bike. Just into the Can on on the steel bars. I think this idea will be pretty good for easy removal/installation. If it works on my bike I'll get dimensions for other bikes and make more!
lol, i was riding down on a joy ride onto the main road and wouldnt you know it?? A family owned welding co, right next to our local mechanic. Not 5 min from my house. Fantastic! Picked up 26 in of steel for 10 bucks. Got all my measurments made, lines drawn, now all I need is to bend or weld and then drill them and I'll have my first prototype brackets.
-StreetLegalKid

 

Thats awesome! Thanks SLKid!