Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Gettin' the Blues

I'm still in the process of designing the lower battery tray. So far, I've gone through dozens of revisions in the solid modeling program, a tedius and frustrating process. Against all the recommendations of my fabrication advisors, I'm leaning toward a single piece of 3/16" Aluminum plate with strategically placed bends. It's a Gixxer - it's got to be aluminum.

Patience is a virtue, but no hands-on activitities on the bike were gettin' me down. I decided to paint the tank. I was going to fix it up right and have it shot with automotive paint, but the tank has had more work done than Joan Rivers. Multiple layers of body filler and primer were evident in several areas, so I decided to go cheap on this revision and save my money for some AirTech pieces.
Rustoleum's finest Blue is fairly close to the color of the motor and just what the doctor ordered. Careful observers will note the lack of stupid looking vent cap and tubing on top of the tank. A friend of my sons recommended I turn the vent assembly into a beverage dispenser! While entertaining, I thought some form of ventilation would be a good idea. A small mag-lev fan will do the trick, I hope.








3 comments:

  1. I agree with the drink dispenser that would be SSOOOO COOOOLLL! I've been thinking of how to get rid of it on mine but after the drink idea maybe I'll go the other way...

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  2. It's going to take your whole lifetime to finish your bike! Are you an electrical engineer or something? They say on teh EV forums that EE's can't make Electric Vehicles because each desion is impossible for them.

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  3. LOL! Maybe an Anal Retentive Mechanical Engineer is just as bad. I guess in my mind, the Electrical stuff is no big deal, because I'm just copying what others have done. The mechanical components are the unique part and thus the challenge and fun.

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