novice welding - possible?

hey all,

ive been lurkin these forums for a while, and gotta say, your bikes look pretty freakin rad.

i have a maxim xs400, (monoshock style), which i want to throw a solo seat on. I assume the best way to handle this, is by weilding a plate onto the frame? unless your able to find a seat with spring mounts that are the exact size of your frame hey?

even then, is it good to drill the center of the side frames to put seat bolts in? (if you catch what im trying to say)

anyway - point of the post. if i were to weild a mount or bracket under where the seat would go, i pretty much loose access to the mono shock, so i was thinking a bracket might be a better idea,


being that im not a weilder (computer tech by trade) and have little bike modding experience -(lowered my suzuki, and threw new bars on her) - but no weilding experience,

is this recommended, and or possible? a couple youtube vids for lessons?

thanks for all the replies

(here she is now with the front lowered (pushing forks down a bit) and the back lowered, drilled the frame to allow the center shock to mount higher up... just trying to get her low enough for the shortest girl youve ever seen)

 

There is no easy answer to that question. No two novice welders will be the same. Getting someone that can weld well already to show you the ropes helps, but a good rule is to do plenty of practice runs on scrap metal, and then try to break your welds.

 

+1, one of my friends learned that way, he's real good now. He welded suspension mounts on my friend's truck. The truck was crashed a couple months ago, the suspension mounts were one of the only things that held up.

 

darkfibre has some good advise. Also if you don't already have the welding equipment it's going to cost much more than having someone do it. Contact tech schools in your area one of them may be willing to use your bike as a demo.

Personally, I begin welding because I wouldn't pay someone else to fix a door hinge on my jeep and I had other plans for jeep related projects. Lots and lots of practice later I'm finially getting good looking and strong beads consistantly. I would still be hesitant to weld something my life may depend on.

 

all good replies, thanks guys,

i think theres a shop around my area, i could pay to get someone to help me out with, maybe ill get on down there and get a quote -

thanks again all

 

One thing to remember when doing any welding, unhook your battery. The last thing you want is to have a nice set of brackets welded on and then find that your electronics have been fried.

 

Making up a clamp/s is always an option, not permanent, won't damage the frame & won't fry the electrics.

 

Clamps

 

Before you let anybody strike an arc on that Bike, ... have the TCI and the Voltage Regulator on-the-bench!

As your cruising around ... look for a Mobile Welding Truck at a job site.
Tell the guy you have a small job he can do on the side, ... on his way home.

Talk it up. Get it done by a Pro.

 

Good link wizard, great idea Rick!!!

skillet

 

both deadly ideas !
with all the construction in town, ill take a look around for sure.
i apprecite all the replies guys, thanks again

 

THIS.

 

TCI and Voltage regulator -
gottcha.
Now, i googled it, cause i'm not too sure, but this is basically the fuse box then? I'll search this site for more infomation on it, sounds important tho if you guys are stressing it

 

See picture, red = TCI, blue = regulator.

 

Nice assist with the enhanced graphics Wiz!

 

ENHANCE !!!!!
http://warmingglow.uproxx.com/2009/12/enhance

hah. anyway, thank you, i dig the picture. ill print it off at work and keep that handy