Shafty Stretch

Anyone here know what it would take to stretch a shaft drive XJ? I'd like to stretch my 700 but not if I need a manufacturing plant and a team of engineers. Thanks.

 

A good machine shop should be able to either make you a new longer shaft or cut and weld two together then balance them. Someone on here has done it to an 1100 I think it was.

 

Thanks, I'll have to look into that this week. I think about a 6" stretch would look nice if it doesn't cost too much.

 

The shaft wouldn't be as much as a problem as the swing arm.

 

I did it on my 79 XS11, added 6 inches. I did require some creative engineering. Long story short here is what I did.
Make a jig to to hold the old swingarm square,( jig is movable so once the cut is made I can lengthen it) cut welds on driveshaft side and other side. Slide the halves 6" apart and bolt it securily down.
Get another swingarm and drive shaft. Use the parts from it to lengthen the swingarm. A machins shop made me a new pipe to lengthen the driveshaft tunnel,
Use the two drive shafts to make one 6" longer, splice them together with a coupling(made at a machine shop).
Get longer brake lines or lengthen the drum brake rod.
I am a experienced welder and fabricator and have lots of tools to do these projects. If you don't have much experence in these areas think twice about trying it. I did take me several weeks to fab all the parts and I spent about 200$ on the machine work and extra parts.
I have riden the bike a few times and the drive shaft has held up well, the 1100 can put lots of stress on these parts. There are some pics in my gallery of the before and after, check them out. Some day I'll get to finish the project.

 

pathebert did it on here -

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2 ... tched.html

 

I stretched the original swingarm to keep the rear shocks and suspension. My back could not take a hardtail. I did have to find and modify longer shocks to fit.

 

WAIT... who said that its easy... it took 4 months to do.... no instructions nothing.. and ALOT of debate about this...

the person who did it on there 1100 used a shaft off a car... and splined it from my knowledge...

I stretched mine... see in modifications somewhere.

you have to heat the thing up.... cut it weld it.. heat it... its a pain in the a55 this shaft!!!! DONT do it yourself... you need to get it done by a professional or it WILL go bang!!!!

the swing arm was nothing.. and it was basic to do... see my photos.. I will put more up later for you.. i just got back from the garage after doing loads of small annoying jobs..

 

I used two XS1100 drive shafts and spliced them together. You are right jonrms, it is a pain. No intructions, no guidlines, lots of questions to local race car guys to get the process right. They make custom length axles all the time, I just followed their instructions.

 

any driveshaft shop will do it perfectly and cheaply. we have custom driveshafts made all the time at work.

i agree with whoever said it previously, the swingarm is more of a concern (getting it straight and keeping the strength in it).

 

+1 for zookie.
I 've been a machinist a time or two in my past,
and a ca. cert welder.
But I will deff use a good machine shop or tranny
shop for the shaft. The rest, just about anyone with
a little care and some shop training should be able to
fab on their own.
My main reason, and it may sound selfish, or crude but..
If the shaft fails and you crash the bike,the shop that made the
part will be responcible for any repairs.
Anyone putting hundreds of hours into these bikes should have
that in mind when changing original power train designs.

 

Thanks guys! Good info. Sounds a little too involved for my project. I think I'll stick to the stock shaft length for now. I'll wait till I get a chain driven bike to think about a stretch. Thanks for all the responses!!

 

I am uploading photos now of my bike for you ...

and for other members

I have to confess I did start off thinking the shaft and swing arm was going to be easyish... but it was a balls ache... so in the end I had it done professionally... you can see the work... the shaft is now sealed by the swing arm... totally.. and its one piece... ALOT of work just in that.. the rest seems to be going smoothly.

 

I admit stretching the shaft is a pain but it is worth the look and the extra room it gives you for the seat.

 

here you go... my latest work done on mine... you can see the shaft plus more.. alot of the frame is missing and more will be soon...but we are fabricating the whole thing really.. EEEK

By jonrms at 2010-05-25

By jonrms at 2010-05-25

By jonrms at 2010-05-25