I am about to pull the trigger on a half sheet of black UHMW and try to make my own skid plate for the YZ. It is a big sheet at 2'x10' but it is a drop in the warehouse so they have offered it to me at a fair price.
Would anyone else be interested in making their own skid/slide plates? I have heard good reviews of the companies that are using UHMW for plates!
We will see how it goes!
SX Slide Plate is a top of the line option!
(http://www.sxslideplate.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/FullPlates_ChrisSexton.jpg)
yes. I just want a skid plate with wings(to slide and cover the water pump), around 10"*12" should do it. it might be a good idea to warm a piece up and conform it to your clutch/stator covers also.
I'd you have enough left over, a trick swing arm cover would be cool. and of course fork guards
haha I will have plenty left over! I do plan to use a good bit of heat to form the skid plate. I will ask the guys at Interstate Plastics if they have any 1/16" thick drops for the other guard stuff. I am planning to use 1/4" for the skid!
I'd be interested too
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Let the prototyping begin!!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/2d5be77371bde33bb2e566b6e5ecdd78.jpg)
Quote from: Fencejumper09 on December 17, 2017, 12:17:07 PM
Let the prototyping begin!!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/2d5be77371bde33bb2e566b6e5ecdd78.jpg)
Dang! that aughta make a side plate or two! ???
I've got two of those! It was a drop piece! 2'x10' for muich cheaper than internet prices!
Taking shape with a little heat and some clamps!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/b910fa1cf8c34a808a3847636e095948.jpg)
Good first Day! Need to get some mounting hardware and see how it does on the bike!(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/b44756a96b8e27740e3595637ea0ea40.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20171217/a011bb7b98d42c0f2bf964f52e64d871.jpg)
How are you planning to mount it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
make sure to put a big radius in the corners, it'll last a lot longer...
it looks great!
Quote from: DonJuan on December 17, 2017, 09:03:34 PM
How are you planning to mount it?
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Planning to buy or fab up some z-shaped brackets
Quote from: kylepeterson on December 17, 2017, 09:41:35 PM
make sure to put a big radius in the corners, it'll last a lot longer...
it looks great!
right now the inside corners have 1.5" diameter. We will see how it holds up. The flap that protects the water pump I don't expect to lat long! It is more of just a deflector
Quick Update and First Rides Review!
The plate is complete and fits well! It slides between the frame and pipe at the front and I bent some flat aluminum bar stock to mount the rear. I used some concave washers and countersunk them 1/16" into the UHMW. They only protrude slightly but with the shape, they shouldn't catch on too many things.
View from the front
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-NzVmDbW/0/ea0ed529/L/i-NzVmDbW-L.jpg)
Right side
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-WNr278V/0/72013ef7/L/i-WNr278V-L.jpg)
Left Side
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-jh2SrGn/0/13d32f99/L/i-jh2SrGn-L.jpg)
Rear mount from above (with some debris)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-fHjwpL3/0/773dbbaf/L/i-fHjwpL3-L.jpg)
Rear mount from the bottom
(https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-kFvRLJB/0/69facee9/L/i-kFvRLJB-L.jpg)
Impressions;
I have only banged it off of a few rocks but the plate shows no signs of impact! This stuff is tuff! I am not sure how the aluminum will hold up for the rear mounts as I had to put a pretty sharp bend in them. To mount the rear bracket I threaded the 1/8" thick aluminum. So I foresee those threads being an issue.
The only thing I need to do is drill some holes for air flow in the front and oil draining in the bottom!!
Plenty of UHMW left over if anyone wants to try it out too!
Man that looks great! I've got a bunch of that material in 3/8" that I've used for some projects around the shop. It was left at the house by the previous owner.
I need to make a slider for the GasGas since it doesn't have a skid plate. You've inspired me.
DO IT! That 3/8" may be a little difficult to bend and keep bent! One pointer is to keep it in the "over bent" position until it cools. It will spring back slightly when the clamp or weight is removed!
Very nice. I love watching you folks make stuff for your bikes.
I mostly do it to save money but I ended up spending what a SX Slide plate would have costed had I just bought one. But they don't make them for my year YZ and I have enough material to help a couple buddies make one for their clapped out dirty bikes! I also ended up with a custom fit and shape to protect bit I felt needed it!
It really was a fun little quick project. I will probably do another iteration with some slightly modified coverage but I am happy for now!
That turned out really nice. I've never been one for making my own parts. It looks like all of your wood working tools came in handy for this. I have none of those tools.
Is there a way to heat the material and press a recessed area for the bolts instead of cutting away some of the material? It seems like that leaves a weak point where the material is thinner.
How hot are you getting it so that it will bend easily?
You did a Very Nice Job on Fab'n up that Skid Plate!
Apparently You are Afflicted With some Serious Craftsmanship!
I bet we could heat up some washers and press them in. That honestly never crossed my mind but sound like a good use of some of the spare pieces laying around!
Thank you Rubyrider!
How did you heat it? I'm assuming a heat gun maybe? I use a thermo plastic at work, but nothing this stout. I have to heat the entire sheet to get it evenly heated to cut and work with it. It has a pretty low heat point for workability, 140 degrees. I use a large heat pan(like an industrial electric skillet) that I fill with water. Using the heat gun doesn't give me enough working even heat and I end up with a wad of bubblegum that looks like it's been left on the dash of my car in August.
I have a sheet of aeronautics grade lexan that I want to play with for a windscreen. I'm planning to try heating it in my oven to get an even heat for molding.
I used my Harbor Freight heat gun and a propane torch. I used them in conjunction on both sides of the bend, switching every so often.
The oven would work well if you can build a mold! The oven was off limits for me! My wife is already not too happy with the dirtbike! I think a piece of plastic in the oven would push her over the edge. I would come home to a bonfire of motorcycles one day!
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180111/9fe7c29b63677b067813bcdb2582d6a6.jpg)
Just sayin' 8)
Beer fridge and pizza/parts oven in the garage!
super cool!
Quote from: Chitza on January 11, 2018, 08:31:53 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180111/9fe7c29b63677b067813bcdb2582d6a6.jpg)
Just sayin' 8)
Beer fridge and pizza/parts oven in the garage!
I actually have an oven and fridge next to my garage. The downstairs area was built as a mother-in-law suite. I just have to share it with my 8 year old daughter. Luckily she doesn't drink much beer yet.
I wish I had room for that!
I've had mine on for a few rides now. Very happy with how slippery this plastic is. It's survived at least one Axe shaped rock and several case-outs on trees/rocks. Much easier to slide over than aluminum !
Two hose clamps up front and a section notched 45° at the back (like the ktm plates slide into place) into the frame.
Thanks David !
Finally installed my front mounts on my. I just bent some aluminum bar for now around the frame.
The next iteration will have a more refined and easier to mount system!