Making Tail Loops for Custom Motorcycles
We’ve been making frame loops up for quite a few years now for custom applications on Cafe Racer frames, subframes etc. In this time we’ve made several dies to make this job easier.
Here’s a vid of how we make the dies.
When an order for a loop comes through we are able to make them same day like this:
Making lugs to fit inside the frame and loop
Unfortunately for us Australia doesn’t have the same access to imperial sized tubing that America does. We have struggled to find tubing that we can use for lugs when welding loops to frames. Not only is it impossible to source the snug fit needed for the loop in just about every case the frame inner tube diameter is different to the loop inner diameter.
Here’s what can be done with the enough time and energy.
- Find a suitable solid round bar and cut 2 pieces 60mm long
- Using a metal lathe bring the entire outer diameter down so it fits the larger of the inner diameters of the loop of frame
- Now make a step in the stock by using the lathe to turn down approx 30mm of the stock to the smaller of the inner diameters.
That’s the best way but there is another way which is a lot less time consuming and will do the job.
- Cut 2 sections 40mm long off an existing loop. (equal amounts each side rather than both off one side for obvious reasons)
- along the length of the offcuts use a cutting disc to take out approx 5mm of the long edge
- Now you can use a vice/hammer/clamp etc to shrink the diameter of the tube so it can fit inside the frame loop
- Further modifications may be needed to make it fit inside the frame but you get the idea
Get Cutting!!!!
p.s. Here’s the page on our site if you want to order one of our loops..
