DIY engine gaurd modifications

[tylers883]

Hi Everyone,

I've posted this in this general tech talk forum because it is probably a discussion that comes up even if you have a different year and model Goldwing than myself.

I'm planning on modifying my engine guards, then install some forward mounted highway pegs/or floorboards. ( 1981 gl1100 interstate)

Anyway, I've decided that hiring out the work is too rich for my paygrade, so I would like to attempt to do the work myself, and still end up with a good looking job.

So, here are some random thoughts, some are coherent and some are probably totally confused:

- I have a grinder, recipricating saw, mig welder, and know how to use them.
- the job I want to do, involves modifying the original shape of the engine guard, I want a more traditional non-goldwing highway bar that doesn't protect the cylinder covers, but I want to maintain the same 3 points of mounting. I think I can accomplish this by cutting half the bar away, then bending and welding a new bar in it's place. The end result would include visible welds that I would need to deal with appropriately.
- I have no idea where to find 1inch chromed pipe.
- I've looked into buying a home chrome kit, it sounds like a bad idea that will leave me with toxic waste that I'll be responsible for.
- chrome paint sometimes works well, but I think a large bar like this could be a bad project for it. agreed?
- can I get a chrome shop to charge less if all they have to do is add chrome plating to the joints, or if the price is the same, should I buy unchromed pipes?

Anyway, sorry for all the tangled thoughts, I must be looking at it as one big project, still not able to sort it out into separate topics.

Special thanks in advance

Tyler

[Old Fogey]

Hi Everyone,

I've posted this in this general tech talk forum because it is probably a discussion that comes up even if you have a different year and model Goldwing than myself.

I'm planning on modifying my engine guards, then install some forward mounted highway pegs/or floorboards. ( 1981 gl1100 interstate)

Anyway, I've decided that hiring out the work is too rich for my paygrade, so I would like to attempt to do the work myself, and still end up with a good looking job.

So, here are some random thoughts, some are coherent and some are probably totally confused:

- I have a grinder, recipricating saw, mig welder, and know how to use them. That's a good start point!

- the job I want to do, involves modifying the original shape of the engine guard, I want a more traditional non-goldwing highway bar that doesn't protect the cylinder covers,(I thought that was the whole point of the engine guards?) but I want to maintain the same 3 points of mounting. I think I can accomplish this by cutting half the bar away, then bending and welding a new bar in it's place. The end result would include visible welds that I would need to deal with appropriately.
- I have no idea where to find 1inch chromed pipe.
Use plain steel tubing, since you are going to the plating shop anyway.
- I've looked into buying a home chrome kit, it sounds like a bad idea that will leave me with toxic waste that I'll be responsible for.
Don't even think about it!!!
- chrome paint sometimes works well, but I think a large bar like this could be a bad project for it. agreed?
Chrome paint won't last long wth your feet constantly hitting it. Get it powder coated. Some powders can even look like chrome.
- can I get a chrome shop to charge less if all they have to do is add chrome plating to the joints, or if the price is the same, should I buy unchromed pipes?
The only way to get a decent job is for the plating shop to strip and rechrome. Indeed, I think that is the only way they would do it.

Anyway, sorry for all the tangled thoughts, I must be looking at it as one big project, still not able to sort it out into separate topics.

Special thanks in advance

Tyler

[deanjenn]

This, ^ "The only way to get a decent job is for the plating shop to strip and re-chrome. Indeed, I think that is the only way they would do it." ^ You have to chrome the entire piece. You can't really just do sections of a larger part.


DJ

[tylers883]

Thanks, guys. That helps me narrow it down. I'll be looking to get the entire piece chromed, or powder coated. I thought about using all chrome peices, and hiding the weld, but won't work out for what I'm trying to do.

[tylers883]

Here's a picture of what I'm trying to do. This is not my bike. My bike has floorboards.

I want to remove the yellow portion of the guard, the 3 mounting points will remain intact.

the green portion is the part of the bar that I want to leave behind, as well as the new bar that I want to add.

The blue is the footpeg or floor board that I'm planning on adding after the project is complete.

I feel that the end result will still protect the engine(some people completely remove the guard, correct?), and it deals with some of my pet peeves that I have with the OEM bar. The OEM bar is a bit of a toe trap for the floor boards that the bike has. The OEM bar is also in the way, if I want to mount highway pegs as drawn in the blue.

[tylers883]

Update: I got lucky and found a parts bike. This is my 81 goldwing with engine guards from an 83 aspen cade. I guess I will have to find another project before I start to worry about metal working skills

[FM-USA]

With the use of a hacksaw you can modify that engine guard and not have to sent it out for chroming or paint.
All you need to buy is pipe plugs from almost any hardware store.
I did this to mine and the lower bar is just lower than the foot rest.
.

Cut it where you want, maybe leave some bar for future lights or horns or pegs or "X?".