girder or leafer?

4858 Views 25 Replies 13 Participants Last post by VonWegener, Nov 11, 2011

B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · Nov 9, 2011

I am going to build a front end. I have not decided what type yet but it will be some sort of girder or leafer. Keeping in mind that the shop next to me has a waterjet and cuts me anything I ask for a 6 pack of beer; what would be the easiest style to fabricate?
It seems to me that the solid sided girders would be the easiest type of girder to make because I have access to the waterjet.

Heres some pictures of different designs I like. If you have any other suggestions please tell or post pics!

A few other questions:
1. What type/thickness of metal should be used for triple trees, brackets, tubing, etc? Should tubing be solid?

2. If I go with a leaf spring design, where can I get the leaf spring? Can I just hack up a small car leaf spring?

Any other info or tips are much appreciated!!!

(more pictures coming in next post)

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1 - 20 of 26 Posts

B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · #2 · Nov 9, 2011

heres some pictures of solid side girders. The only thing I dont like about these is how modern they can look. These 2 look pretty good though...

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J_F_Byrd

· #3 · Nov 9, 2011

Girder hands down.

I think leafer fronts ends are absolutely hideous and ruin the looks of any bike they're installed on. They have all the appeal of a book rack on a bicycle.

Why not also consider a nice springer?

wild04goat

· #4 · Nov 9, 2011

I think the leafer leaning against the tool box is sweet. Do you know who built it?

Okie Pete

· #5 · Nov 10, 2011

My guess is Kiwi Indian.

hd74

· #6 · Nov 10, 2011

From a design and style point of view, a girder gives you far more design possiblities.

Jtw79

· #7 · Nov 10, 2011

I would vote for a springer first then a girder. The one Spartan frame works made above is gorgeous.

steel horse rider

· #8 · Nov 10, 2011

I would go with a girder because of the design possibilites as well as the simplicity of construction plus with you having access to a waterjet opens up more possibilites for a girder.

B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · #9 · Nov 10, 2011

wild04goat said:
I think the leafer leaning against the tool box is sweet. Do you know who built it?

sorry, I do not.
I prefer the single pack leafer in the first photo of the bike without a rear fender; but yes the other one looks pretty awesome.

Jtw79 said:
I would vote for a springer first then a girder. The one Spartan frame works made above is gorgeous.

which one was made by spartan frame works?

yesterday, By complete chance, I came across an m20 girder for sale locally. I am considering buying it but not sure how it will fit on my frame.

billyfly

· #10 · Nov 10, 2011

i'm building a leafer 1.25 x .120wall and 1.00 x .120wall dom

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B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 10, 2011

billyfly said:
i'm building a leafer 1.25 x .120wall and 1.00 x .120wall dom

I was hoping you would chime in. I saw that photo in another thread and saved it to my computer. It looks great, are you using the stock triple trees and stem? What is your plan for the leaf spring itself? Im having trouble sourcing that part

inkmunky

· #12 · Nov 10, 2011

Leaf springs can be sourced from a trailer supply company, come in a thinner width than most car springs and lengths are a lot shorter too so you can spec out which will work/look best if you go that route and they list the spring rates and you can always remove springs to adjust. Just chop off the other half after the aligning hole/bolt.

check out welders series for leaf spring plates too (to bolt it to the main plate). Typically old model a leaf springs were 1.75" wide a good width for a bike.

billyfly

· #13 · Nov 10, 2011

B-Nasty said:
I was hoping you would chime in. I saw that photo in another thread and saved it to my computer. It looks great, are you using the stock triple trees and stem? What is your plan for the leaf spring itself? Im having trouble sourcing that part

yep.. stock tree .. a day at the junk yard will find my springs...

Lowpunk

· #14 · Nov 10, 2011

I've got a bunch of A springs, let me know if you go that route instead of the trailer spring.

B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 10, 2011

would this be the type of model A spring yall are talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-19...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item19ca691dc1

lowpunk, how much do you want for one of those springs?

Lowpunk

· #16 · Nov 10, 2011

B-Nasty said:
would this be the type of model A spring yall are talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-19...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item19ca691dc1

lowpunk, how much do you want for one of those springs?

Well i have a few dissassembled so if you want, i can cut it at the bolt hole and cut a few loose ones at the bolt holes too so shipping would be cheaper. I believe they are 9 leaves in a pack which would be really pricy to ship and you probably don't need that many for this. I could send out half a main+however many halves at whatever length you'd like. I have about 20 loose leaves of various lengths so i should have what you need.

Lowpunk

· #17 · Nov 10, 2011

B-Nasty said:
would this be the type of model A spring yall are talking about?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-19...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item19ca691dc1

lowpunk, how much do you want for one of those springs?

Actually thats a rear. I'm guessing you'll want a front one. the arch is not so drastic as the rear. Kind of looks similar to the fork spring in the first pic at the top. I believe(but am not sure) that the rears are wider.

B-Nasty

Discussion Starter · #18 · Nov 10, 2011

ok cool. I was thinking 4-5 leaves at the most for my front end. how much would it cost me if you just cut it in half and sent all 9 leaf halves? that way I have room to play with it

Lowpunk

· #19 · Nov 10, 2011

so nine half leaves? Give me about a day, i gotta weigh it and check. Its either 7 or 9, i just can't remember off the top of my head. Whatever it is i'll check.

inkmunky

· #20 · Nov 10, 2011

with the model a springs you'll need to cut them down and drill a new alignment hole, make sure you have some good drill bits the spring steel can eat them up. A cutoff wheel cuts through them quickly. I sourced the trailer springs because i could get the right length off the bat and the springrate was about spot on, never finished it sold the project for another.

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