My K9 coming together.
- Thread starter SMCT
- Start date
Hirter6Pack
Not Quite A Guru
Damn, looking good
Marky-Marc
Well-Known Member
Beautiful!
Chrome Looks good, bike too.
Carlos
Carlos
SMCT
Active Member
After Chrome Masters in TN shut down, I pretty much just about gave up on taking a chance with another chroming company. There are quite a bit of engine applications in my shop whereas the customer not only wants maximum performance, but looks as well. There are categories such as best engineered that they shoot for, and therefore items such as the dry sump tanks, custom brackets, valve covers, ect... go out for chrome. When I bought this K9 some months back, I didn't want to chase the aluminum, and didn't have the time, nor did I want to put the effort into continuously keeping up with that type of detail work. I just felt that to have one of these bikes, that you either continuously keep up with it, or chrome it.
So for me, the quest was on to find a reputable chromer that does quality work. To find one within driving distance would be nice, but it's not a must. Quality is my number one priority first and foremost, and second would be time frame and commitment to that time frame. Very tough to find both in this day and age, and if you want quality work, it is what it is. There are very, very few of these guys around. the guys that do quality work.
DGM out of Philadephia. Don.
So far I am very pleased with the work. I am going to have to say that the quality is actually better than chrome Masters, and I never thought I would ever find a company that could match there quality. I am sure there might be a few out there that have equal quality, although just because I haven't found them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
I would suggest this, that if you plan to send to DGM, then do not put any unrealistic time frames on turn around times. You will need to plan in advance. I have everything back that you see, with the exception of the rear wheel and pulley at this point. I am going into 9 weeks now, and I had a referral in from a customer who I build engines for, who knows Don and Dons wife well.
P.S. One more thing to add, I was very taken back by the knowledge that Don has of motorcycle parts. He knows exactly what it is and what it came off of, and he has done many of Big Dog applications in the past as well as other motorcycle manufactures parts. Don himself has been at it for 27 years, and his dad owned the company prior to that.
So for me, the quest was on to find a reputable chromer that does quality work. To find one within driving distance would be nice, but it's not a must. Quality is my number one priority first and foremost, and second would be time frame and commitment to that time frame. Very tough to find both in this day and age, and if you want quality work, it is what it is. There are very, very few of these guys around. the guys that do quality work.
DGM out of Philadephia. Don.
So far I am very pleased with the work. I am going to have to say that the quality is actually better than chrome Masters, and I never thought I would ever find a company that could match there quality. I am sure there might be a few out there that have equal quality, although just because I haven't found them, doesn't mean they don't exist.
I would suggest this, that if you plan to send to DGM, then do not put any unrealistic time frames on turn around times. You will need to plan in advance. I have everything back that you see, with the exception of the rear wheel and pulley at this point. I am going into 9 weeks now, and I had a referral in from a customer who I build engines for, who knows Don and Dons wife well.
P.S. One more thing to add, I was very taken back by the knowledge that Don has of motorcycle parts. He knows exactly what it is and what it came off of, and he has done many of Big Dog applications in the past as well as other motorcycle manufactures parts. Don himself has been at it for 27 years, and his dad owned the company prior to that.
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Great info! Thank you, in most cases chrome is a lengthy turnaround time.
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SMCT
Active Member
This was tonight's project. Anticipating the rear rim and pulley to come back shortly. Prior to sending the hubs and rims to chrome, I noticed with the bearings in place in the rear hub, that the bearings where binding and didn't feel well and at that moment I was glad that I had taken that rear rim apart for chrome because I found an issue, bad bearings to my belief. So I pressed them out and after I pressed them out, I had free spun them in my hands while out of the hubs. They spin fine. Well, out with my mics and dial bore gauge to determine how much
press fit these things had. I am familiar with bearings and I know what these type of bearings should have for an interference fit. After measuring the bearing o.d. (2.0470) which is 52 milimeters, and then measuring the i.d. of the hub (2.0435), that's .0035 of interference. Here is the issue, on these type of bearings in a structure that has this much mass and is made out of 6061 or 7075, you are not going to widen that hole that the factory bored. Something has to give, and those cheap chinese bearings are going to give, leaving it with a gritty feeling. So Here I am taking .0020 out of this thing, and I got myself some Fafnir bearings to replace those shit chinese bearings.
press fit these things had. I am familiar with bearings and I know what these type of bearings should have for an interference fit. After measuring the bearing o.d. (2.0470) which is 52 milimeters, and then measuring the i.d. of the hub (2.0435), that's .0035 of interference. Here is the issue, on these type of bearings in a structure that has this much mass and is made out of 6061 or 7075, you are not going to widen that hole that the factory bored. Something has to give, and those cheap chinese bearings are going to give, leaving it with a gritty feeling. So Here I am taking .0020 out of this thing, and I got myself some Fafnir bearings to replace those shit chinese bearings.
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Nice tools to have handy!This was tonight's project. Anticipating the rear rim and pulley to come back shortly. Prior to sending the hubs and rims to chrome, I noticed with the bearings in place in the rear hub, that the bearings where binding and didn't feel well and at that moment I was glad that I had taken that rear rim apart for chrome because I found an issue, bad bearings to my belief. So I pressed them out and after I pressed them out, I had free spun them in my hands while out of the hubs. They spin fine. Well, out with my mics and dial bore gauge to determine how much
press fit these things had. I am familiar with bearings and I know what these type of bearings should have for an interference fit. After measuring the bearing o.d. (2.0500) and then measuring the i.d. of the hub (2.0465), that's .0035 of interference. Here is the issue, on these type of bearings in a structure that has this much mass and is made out of 6061 or 7075, you are not going to widen that hole that the factory bored. Something has to give, and those cheap chinese bearings are going to give, leaving it with a gritty feeling. So Here I am taking .0020 out of this thing, and I got myself some Fafnir bearings to replace those shit chinese bearings.
We have a pretty long thread on bearings and there's lots of folks with issues on bearing wear. Got to the point I change mine every tire change. Under normal circumstances that's absurd, I could prob stretch them to two changes but why bother.
Also, I tend to think that the squish tube length is a bit too long on some bikes. Some other folks have similar experiences and have cut down their squish tube.
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Nice job and info Andy. Looking real good..
I actually did the same with my K9 but the chromer sucked. The chrome on my rims peeled (good thing I kept the old rims), the triple trees are now peeling and I'll have to get everything redone. Only thing is I didn't get any references before the work was done. I thought a local company was reputable since they sold Bid Dogs and serviced them but nope they were absolutely the worst company I've ever used. They are out of business now, thank goodness.
I actually did the same with my K9 but the chromer sucked. The chrome on my rims peeled (good thing I kept the old rims), the triple trees are now peeling and I'll have to get everything redone. Only thing is I didn't get any references before the work was done. I thought a local company was reputable since they sold Bid Dogs and serviced them but nope they were absolutely the worst company I've ever used. They are out of business now, thank goodness.
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