| LocostUSA.com http://locostusa.com/forums/ |
|
| Tube benders again? http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=18470 |
Page 1 of 1 |
| Author: | lotus1car [ August 19, 2016, 5:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Tube benders again? |
Looking to make control arms and other parts. Considering a tube bender. Would be nice to not spend big money, as only used occasional and no one I know around has a tube bender. Looks like the Eastwood cannot do 4130 or make a 90 degree bend on the larger sizes? Affordable bender company, uses the Speedway Motors like dies, limited selection,down to 1 inch and up to 1 3/4 inch nothing larger? On Phoenix Craigslist a person is making bender frames, $150 "out the door". Uses the Speedway Motors dies, not sure the advantage in that one? Suggestions on a bender? Thank you for the time and information. Steve V. In Arizona |
|
| Author: | Bent Wrench [ August 20, 2016, 3:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
A JD2 has been recommended to me by multiple users. I am looking at the JD2 model 32 which is a beefed up version that will do up to 2.5" tube and solids to 1.5" |
|
| Author: | vintage [ August 20, 2016, 7:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
I had a Pro-Tools 105HD bender. It worked great, was using it with a 240* 1 3/4" die set and bending .090 and .120 DOM tubing. Wish I still had it. |
|
| Author: | TooBusy [ August 21, 2016, 8:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
I bought a 1 1/2 inch Speedway style die on ebay and built my own in less than a day using leftovers from the 7 build. I had a long stroke jack from the Horrible Fright pipe bender that now moves back and forth in about 3 minutes. Some things work pretty darn well on the HF with a little practice and making sure you have your tube TIGHTLY PACKED with wet sand. The pro tools is nice, but I won't spend $500 on something just to do a roll bar and control arms. With that investment I'd be doing custom roll bars for other people to get some payback. |
|
| Author: | rx7locost [ August 21, 2016, 8:50 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
Need I mention that tubes with bends are possibly not the strongest designs for control arms? Been discussed many times here. That being said, a bender would be fun, I admit. Probably not a cost effective path, but fun to try. |
|
| Author: | KB58 [ August 21, 2016, 10:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
For a one-time need, pay a shop $100 and have it done in a day? |
|
| Author: | TRX [ August 21, 2016, 9:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
Yeah, but that looong drive to California adds a bit to that price. |
|
| Author: | Off Road SHO [ August 21, 2016, 9:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
Steve, Where in AZ are you? Tom |
|
| Author: | wrightcomputing [ August 21, 2016, 10:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
I bought big red. I thought I got it for about $100. It is not great and a crush bender but I have done quite a few bends with it and as long as the die is the right size it does a good job. +1 on not bending the control arms. It should be two straight bars pointing at lower ball joint. https://www.amazon.com/Torin-T31202-TA1 ... B004PX8BCC |
|
| Author: | lotus1car [ August 23, 2016, 11:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
Thank you for the replies. It would be fun to have a bender, probably does not pencil out, but the entertainment and frustration value could be tremendous. No doubt would lend out and, never to be seen again or, when returned not the same as it was. I have looked at the common available pipe benders, from what I have been reading, lucky to get one size of tubing that will fit in dies. Perhaps small bends, nothing more than a couple of degrees without a crushed area? My plan is to adapt or make adjustable control arms for caster and camber adjustment. This is on an S4 Seven, with stamped sheet metal arms. Maybe.....120 horsepower on a good day. Car is driver, will not see a race course as long as I own it or abuse. Steve V. Southeastern Arizona |
|
| Author: | cs3tcr [ August 23, 2016, 12:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
Steve, A bit of a thread high jack.... How are you going to adjust caster? Are you going to switch to a spherical bearing instead of the trunnion at the bottom of the upright? Rod |
|
| Author: | lotus1car [ August 23, 2016, 8:32 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
As per Lotus Elan, and Europa, use washers to move the upper or lower control forward or backwards. I know the trunion cannot take much misalignment, but it works. Also thinking of making control arms that are wide outboard (turnion lower end and upper ball joint end). This would allow for spacers to move upper ball joint forward or rearwards for caster. Also the bottom outboard trunion end also to be wide to allow for moving forward or rearwards for caster adjust. In the past, I have filde longer holes in the upper arms for camber adjust, moving the upper ball joint. Would like to have something more elegant as the arms are visible on the S4 Seven. Hope the description makes sense? Steve V. |
|
| Author: | cs3tcr [ August 23, 2016, 10:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Tube benders again? |
The trunnion bushings won't last very long with what your describing. The plastic top hats are typically made of nylon and don't like being distorted. Also, the wider upper arm will only work if you reduce the width of the bushing for the rear portion of the arm. I'm sure you've seen the upper wishbones that Banks sells, they use straight second of tube and get things to work (same design as on the Lotus 47). You might also want to look into the Canley classics uprights and lower spherical joint retro fit. |
|
| Page 1 of 1 | All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ] |
| Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group https://www.phpbb.com/ |
|