Forward front Controls?

Hmmm I finally found some past posts and will try it, but does anyone know if this will be hard on a xj550?

 

It should be similar Find your peg placement and go from there.

 

Being most of the front engine mount bolts are the same on these bikes, I don't see any problem in making ones that will work. The measurements could be (more than likely) different, but basically the same setup. It's making the rods that run from the forward controls for the brakes and shifter that takes time to get it right.
I used 1/4" rods for the shifter and just threaded both ends to screw into the ends, so I could make adjustments if needed (and it was needed!) And I used 3/8" rod for the brake side, which is more suseptible to bending when applying the brakes hard. Threading the ends of the rods is easy to do with the right die a little oil to cut the threads. Using pre-threaded rods wasn't an option as it looks tacky to me, but you may want to go that route?

 

Just built some for my 550. It's doable.

 

got some pics, Bud?

 

hey all just built a set of forward controls for my xj1100, turned out really well, made them to bolt onto the front engine mount, i will take pics of them tomorrow and post them, they are not 100% finished, still have to go out for powder coating..but they fit really well. and are adjustable..

 

where do you find the material to make the controls? ie the rods and such?

 

You can buy round stock and thread the ends if you have a tap/die set to do it (not very hard to do) I used 1/4 clevis (s) for hooking them to the foot controls and levers on each end. If you rlucky enough to find rods that are already threaded on each end, your in luck if they are the correct length and just make small adjustments.
For my brake pedal and shifter peg, I used foot controls off of other bikes from a salvage yard. But if your into fabricating your own, the ideas are endless.
I found that if you have access to a bike with forward controls (Harley or metric cruisers) already on it, it makes it alot easier to copy how the pedals and linkeage so yours will work properly.
I would first mount the brake and shifter pedals, to get the placement just right so your feet are comforttable with them. Then measure for the control rods your going to need. I used 1/4" rod for the shifter and 3/8" for the brake rod (needs to be strong enough so it won't bend when pushed hard)
You will want to make sure the mounts are solidly mounted and strong enough so they won't bend when you apply the brakes hard (which you will do eventually) The shifter side isn't as suseptible to bending, so that's no issue.

 

I bought my linkage from the local race shop. They sell stuff for dirt cars and just recently got into the drag racing side of things. I just bought a throttle linkage rod. It was 24 inches long and had the ball joint ends on it already. Think some people call the Heim's joints. I had to cut it a little shorter and thread the cut end. Harbor Freight sells a cheap tap/die set. I needed a 1/4-28, which is quarter inch fine thread. If you go this route, be careful some linkages have left hand threads on one end. You definitley don't want to cut that end. Finding a left hand threaded die may be difficult and/or expensive.

 

TCBroschoppers sells a kit.

 

can someone tell me how i can upload pics so i can put some pics of my forward controls up here..

 

ok all, i figured out how to get thepics in so here goes..this is my 1982 xj1100 project for this year with forward controls, hope to be riding it by next week..

 

Click on my account under member options.

Then click on my gallery under personal, Then on upload picture, it's pretty self explanatory from there.

Than use [ img ](with url here) [ /img ] to put it up. I'm sure there's other places on this site to learn to do this, but I figured to do it here because I really want to see these pictures.

 

ok all i don't know how to put the pics in, but i have them in my gallery here so you can still see them...\

 

Posted the pictures up here for you. The purple frame is crazy cool. Did you get to sit on the bike and get a good feel for the forward controls?

 

yes i did, the reason for the design is that i am in a cast boot for probably the whole summer, torn tendon in my ankle, so i made the control to fit the boot, and it seems to work perfectly, as i said i am hoping to be riding it in 7 days, will post a pic of the finished product.

 

My uncle was in a cast boot when he was a kid. He broke his ankle from a dirtbike accident. so he duct taped a piece of scrap metal on his foot so he could hit the shifter up and down and hopped back on his bike.

 

I work in a machine shop, so the taps, dies, and most of the hardware won't be a problem. I just don't know where to go to find the 1/4 and 3/8 rods.

 

Mack, you should be able to get them at an Ace Hardware or some such outlet. Also, they sell lengths at Grainger and McMaster-Carr. I prefer stainless, but you can go other and paint or powder coat as you wish.

Also, TC Bros Choppers has a 'universal' linkage kit that they advertise on their site.

Just a few ideas.

Greg

 

i used stainless for the control rods, 1/4 for the shifter and 3/8 for the brake, i wanted a little more beef to the brake rod.i have the template from the base plate i can scan it and send it to anyone who wants it, on my controls i made them adjustable, i can slip one of them apart and take pictures of that as well if anyone wants them, also the lip around the running board is stainless, and the base plate is 1/4 steel with an aluminum checkerplater insert..

 

mack if you work in a machine shop, then i would recomend using 3/8 stainless and machining down the ends to accept the rod ends

 

thanks mav2 I appreciate that. wonderful idea.