Stash Bag Bracket Cracks: How to make a new one

[chacha]

OK, so I'm noticing my left stash bag is feeling loose. So I feel up in there (it's as tight as a twelve-year-old between the bag and the frame), and sure enough, there's a nice old crack along the second bend.

Here's a couple shots of the crack. There was rust in the cracks, so it had been there for a while.

Pretty flimsy build, so I break out the 16 GA steel and start to work.

First I made a template of the bracket and transfered it over to the steel.

Then jig out the template and mark your holes.

Then put some temp bends in and rough fit it to the frame. Your basically putting a big flat washer between the strut and the frame, so you want it to be as flat as you can get before clamping it down.

Slap on some paint (I like flat black Rustoleum for these kind of things)

And mount her up;

I garrentee there ain't gonna be no cracks in that bracket no matter how much she shakes! If you got one of these, it may be worth taking a look at your bracket. I had around 6,000 miles on that bracket before I noticed the problem...

 

[Gas Man]

Good work Chacha... that is awesome man!!

 

[Tim]

Great job, love seeing guys build their own parts.

 

[chacha]

Thanks guys. I like a good challenge ... I'm working now on building a drain plug to mount to the frame like on a HD softail. The 2004 models just have a drain hose hanging off the tank.

Gas Man is the reason I take pictures of everything
I figure if it happens to me, then it may happen to someone else....

 

[alhall88]

chacha you mean like this. I've been looking at this he has come dow on his original price of $75
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BILL...2QQihZ005QQcategoryZ35572QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Tim]

chacha you mean like this. I've been looking at this he has come dow on his original price of $75
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BILL...2QQihZ005QQcategoryZ35572QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

That looks pretty easy to make it you have some simple tools at home, like a tap and die set and maybe a belt sander. I bet you could make one of those for less then $20 and then paint it the same color as the frame.

 

[BIKERDAD61]

looks like you could make one from a 3/8" steel pipe coupling, 3/8" pipe plug, 3/8" pipe to hose barb fitting and a small piece of bar stock. All this should be available at Lows or any hardware store.:up:

 

[chacha]

Yep, thats the idea. Drag make something similar to the ebay deal. I'm thinking if plumbing somthing up and welding it to the frame behind the shocks someplace....just an idea right now :loony:

 

[Tim]

But you have an idea of what needs to be done.