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Chain Guard Replacement

25 posts Started 31 Aug 2005 Last recovered post 23 Dec 2005 Wayback Machine snapshot 21 Feb 2006

#1
[COLOR=blue] Always hated the stock chain guard. Big, ugly lump of plastic.
Not too impressed with aftermarket replacements either, so I made my own with a piece of 6"x2"x3' aluminum L-channel, 1/8" thick.
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Chain guard


All I did was trace out a design on cardboard and cut it down until it fit nicely. I laid that over the aluminum and traced a line to cut with my jigsaw. Polished the edges with a file, drilled some pretty holes (which I reamed at the outside edge with a large drill bit in reverse), carefully bent the rear curved portion in a vise with a rag to protect the alluminum, hit the whole length with medium-grit sandpaper to put the brushed look on it, and covered it with rattle-can clear coat (back side too).

To hold the brake lines, I riveted on a couple of generic rubber-covered hose straps, and I cut two small pieces of rubber inner tube and glued them to the back side of the mounting holes as spacers/dampeners.
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Clips


Put it on using only the outside two allen-head bolts with some medium Locktite so it won't go anywhere, and voila!
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stock guard


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On the bike

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from rear

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from front


I may end up with a tiny bit more dirt accumulatied on the chain because the backside is open, but otherwise, it does the job. It's damn light, too!
#2
Nice work. Looks great.
#3
Very nice work!
#4
Time to start selling them !
#5
Looks great. You did a great job. Mind if I borrow your idea for my bike only? Thanks for the inspiration.
#6
DonnyBallGame, Aug 31 2005, 04:29 PMLooks great.  You did a great job.  Mind if I borrow your idea for my bike only?  Thanks for the inspiration.



Not at all. That's why I put it out there! I'd sell them, but I work too slowly. I'd make $10 an hour!!
#7
magellan, Aug 31 2005, 02:02 PM
[COLOR=blue] Always hated the stock chain guard. Big, ugly lump of plastic. 
Not too impressed with aftermarket replacements either, so I made my own with a piece of 6"x2"x3' aluminum L-channel, 1/8" 




Nice piece of metal working... may I offer a suggestion???
#8
BusyLittleShop, Aug 31 2005, 05:08 PMNice piece of metal working... may I offer a suggestion???


Of course! I'm almost a squid.gif !
#9
Or you can get rid of the chain guard altogether. It's a chain guard-octomy!


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Bye bye chain guard.jpg
#10
mellow, Aug 31 2005, 06:55 PMOr you can get rid of the chain guard altogether.  It's a chain guard-octomy!


[image: user posted image]
Bye bye chain guard.jpg




Definitely thought about that, but didn't want anything to ever get caught in the chain. Probably not a realistic fear anyway...
#11
That's nice work with the aluminum though, magellan. A polishing wheel on that will give you extra bling!
#12
I masked the info stickers and sprayed my stock chain guard RED so the bike would be even faster with MORE RED !!! I like the metal work though, great job !

wheel.gif
#13
magellan, Aug 31 2005, 06:41 PM
Of course! I'm almost a  squid.gif !



See where I removed metal and added metal to the tail??? not only does this copy Honda's aesthetics but will also add strength to the tail and prevent it from vibrating off...

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#14
BusyLittleShop, Aug 31 2005, 09:05 PMSee where I removed metal and added metal to the tail??? not only does this copy Honda's aesthetics but will also add strength to the tail and prevent it from vibrating off...

[image: user posted image]



I like your design, but the more material I left on the front face, the more difficult it was to bend the tail end down. Funny that you knocked out the area by the rear bolt... I almost did that myself, but I figured I could always take more off. Hard to put back on!

I suppose at this point I'll see how well it works for a while, and if I have any trouble with vibration I'll post the problem.

Maybe I should have just bought that hugger/chain guard. Hmmm... comp13.gif
#15
magellan, Aug 31 2005, 10:32 PM
I like your design, but the more material I left on the front face, the more difficult it was to bend the tail end down. Funny that you knocked out the area by the rear bolt... I almost did that myself, but I figured I could always take more off. Hard to put back on!






To bend the aluminum around the tail perfectly employ a shrinking tool like the factories...
http://www.lowbucktools.com/shr_str.html
#16
Nice fab' job!
#17
Nice work,....speed holes rule beer.gif fing02.gif
#18
I want one....How much???? biggrin.gif
#19
joe603, Sep 3 2005, 01:23 PMI want one....How much????  biggrin.gif



I'm flattered, but I don't think I'm ready to go into business just yet! And I'm not sure I could copy mine and have it fit on a 6th gen. ohmy.gif
#20
I'd be willing to shell out some cash for one of those also... How much would you sell one for?
#21
Drumjack2112, Sep 4 2005, 06:50 PMI'd be willing to shell out some cash for one of those also... How much would you sell one for?




Dunno, but I'm gonna guess his answer might be...

I'm flattered, but I don't think I'm ready to go into business just yet! And I'm not sure I could copy mine and have it fit on a 6th gen.


wink.gif
#22
kwb377, Sep 4 2005, 06:08 PMDunno, but I'm gonna guess his answer might be...
wink.gif



Uh, yeah. What he said...

I'm truly so busy (I'm a mechanic) that I can't switch gears to building these right now, but it would be cool if I had the time to do it right. I know one of the guys around here has a laser cutter at work. Now he would be the one to make these in bulk. comp13.gif

Oh, yeah... You're completely welcome to copy the design in part or in full. We scratch each other's backs around here biggrin.gif
#23
nice mad Max style beer.gif
#24
Nice job on the guard beer.gif
#25
Nice work on the chain guard! fing02.gif
End of thread · 25 posts recovered Wayback Machine snapshot 21 Feb 2006