Mig welding on my motorbike

[chunkolini]

I have a Kawasaki W650, proper old skool bike

Loving it; not stupid fast or powerful but a joy to ride and it's got a kickstart.
Panniers? I have a pair of Givi sandwich boxes and no way are they going on there.~
Ive bought some heavy duty fabric paniers, made of waterproof tarp material.
So I'm going to fabricate a simple rack to mount them in stailness steel.
First up is make a lash up out of mild steel to see how it will look and work.
can I safely tack it together using Mig on the bike? I think it's just remove the battery connections but I'm not sure and dont want to fry my electrics.
ive picked up lots of contradicting info from around the place.
Any thougths anybody?

 

[ajlelectronics]

ive picked up lots of contradicting info from around the place.

You will do, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. However if you want peace of mind, say three Hail Marys, drink some cold coffee from a saucer, then remove the 'bike battery and connect the bike's positive and negative cables together. It'll not make any difference to the outcome, but it will appease the armchair mechanics.

 

[More Amps]

For the sake of a couple of minutes, I always disconnect the battery. It's one less thing to worry about regardless of whether it's necessary. (I can guarantee that it leaves one less excuse for poor welding. though...)

 

[chunkolini]

cheers guys doing it in situ is so much easier than measuring everything

 

[Old Dog]

As it's been said remove the battery and then connect the two battery leads together, it does work and saves the electrics and the electronics.

 

[ajlelectronics]

As it's been said remove the battery and then connect the two battery leads together, it does work and saves the electrics and the electronics.

So does the cold coffee and the Hail Marys.

 

[redlig]

I have a Kawasaki W650, proper old skool bike
View attachment 461710
Loving it; not stupid fast or powerful but a joy to ride and it's got a kickstart.
Panniers? I have a pair of Givi sandwich boxes and no way are they going on there.~
Ive bought some heavy duty fabric paniers, made of waterproof tarp material.
So I'm going to fabricate a simple rack to mount them in stailness steel.
First up is make a lash up out of mild steel to see how it will look and work.
can I safely tack it together using Mig on the bike? I think it's just remove the battery connections but I'm not sure and dont want to fry my electrics.
ive picked up lots of contradicting info from around the place.
Any thougths anybody?

You have just caused me to have a recall moment . 60 years ago today I was lashing together a luggage rack on my super rocket using Dexion racking to mount my ex w/d haversack canvas panniers and tent to set off on Friday to catch the midnight ferry to the IOM to watch the MGP The image would be complete if you had fitted clip ons and a 5 gallon fibreglass tank to your kwaker.

 

[redlig]

For the sake of a couple of minutes, I always disconnect the battery. It's one less thing to worry about regardless of whether it's necessary. (I can guarantee that it leaves one less excuse for poor welding. though...)

Just be aware that a battery gives off hydrogen via that little plastic pipe . I witnessed a dealers mechanic weld a centerstand bracket and had the battery blow up .He was saved by the facemask he used to weld with.

 

[ukracer]

Surely it's easier doing it on a bench??

 

[chunkolini]

redlig thats a cracking photo.
Heres one of my Mum and Dad. They were 'Motorcyclists' not 'Bikers'. This was setting off from Birmingham to scotland. Hell my folks were cool.
White ankle socks and shiny shoes oh and a saucy grin. Note the modded screen the tiny spoiler thingy.

There are some great cafe racer versions of my bike,. Who knows maybe one day I might do a desert sled version I love that look
but in the meantime happy to potter about on it.
I bought it this year, not what I was looking for but just the ticket. A lovely ride and i can see why a 650 parallel twin was the headbangers bike of choice in the 50's and 60's.
This even has a long stroke engine, tootle about on the torque but give it some wellie and yeah it makes sense and sounds great. Like an old mini it feels fast.
Ukracer easier on a bench? not for me.
Bolt the lugs onto the bike frame then tack the pannier frame one to them and see how it lies. I'll do a quick what I call a 'slutty build' does it get in the way of feet? does it fit nicely? yes does it look good etc etc. First build out of offcuts then copy it using decent material.
Hopefully pics in a day or two

 

[Smallfry]

I would actually remove the battery, just to be on the safe side, and cover everything. Don't want to burn shot holes in the saddle (or is it seat ?) or get spatter on chrome and paintwork.

Great photos. I have got some somewhere of my uncle when he was a "Rocker" down at Brighton, and of mums friend with her husband on their Sunbeam S something combo, (green with a driveshaft) all packed up for a tour of France , Belgium, and Holland in about 1968 looking decidedly uncool by todays standards. He always wore a collar and tie, no matter what.

 

[waddycall]

I did mine bit by bit. Tried it on the bike. Marked or cut a bit to fit and took it off the bike to weld. Still not finished it as it’s not fully welded yet. Using it and deciding if I should add more hoops for straps to go through. It’s patina now matches the rest of the bike

 

[redlig]

I did mine bit by bit. Tried it on the bike. Marked or cut a bit to fit and took it off the bike to weld. Still not finished it as it’s not fully welded yet. Using it and deciding if I should add more hoops for straps to go through. It’s patina now matches the rest of the bike
View attachment 461731
View attachment 461732

View attachment 461733View attachment 461734

Looking good . A hell of a lot neater than my Dexion efforts all those years ago. Can I guess that your work top is an old drawing board ?

 

[redlig]

Surely it's easier doing it on a bench??

Allways easier doing it horizontally.

 

[chunkolini]

Thanks all for advice
I think as above bit by bit off the bike and run back and forth test fitting things.
A very nice assembly by Waddyacall
The thought of welding spatter marks on the shiny beast makes me feel ill.
The first time ive ever even thought of polishing a bike

 

[redlig]

redlig thats a cracking photo.
Heres one of my Mum and Dad. They were 'Motorcyclists' not 'Bikers'. This was setting off from Birmingham to scotland. Hell my folks were cool.
White ankle socks and shiny shoes oh and a saucy grin. Note the modded screen the tiny spoiler thingy.
View attachment 461727

There are some great cafe racer versions of my bike,. Who knows maybe one day I might do a desert sled version I love that look
but in the meantime happy to potter about on it.
I bought it this year, not what I was looking for but just the ticket. A lovely ride and i can see why a 650 parallel twin was the headbangers bike of choice in the 50's and 60's.
This even has a long stroke engine, tootle about on the torque but give it some wellie and yeah it makes sense and sounds great. Like an old mini it feels fast.
Ukracer easier on a bench? not for me.
Bolt the lugs onto the bike frame then tack the pannier frame one to them and see how it lies. I'll do a quick what I call a 'slutty build' does it get in the way of feet? does it fit nicely? yes does it look good etc etc. First build out of offcuts then copy it using decent material.
Hopefully pics in a day or two

HEADBANGERS !!! We were all potential word champion road racers . A few of the ones that survived actually were.

 

[Morrisman]

When I did similar on mine I didn’t bother disconnecting the battery, as I wasnt putting current or voltage through any wiring or any part of the bikes loom system. Just make sure your earth clamp is direct on the part you are welding.

I’ve seen the earth clipped on the footpeg while some clown in t shirt and sunglasses was trying to weld a bracket on the swing arm….

 

[ajlelectronics]

When I did similar on mine I didn’t bother disconnecting the battery, as I wasnt putting current or voltage through any wiring or any part of the bikes loom system. Just make sure your earth clamp is direct on the part you are welding.

That is good and fair comment, but the point about the battery potentially gassing Hydrogen is a valid one if it has just come off charge. I have never heard of such an incident but I accept that it is a possibility.

 

[Morrisman]

That is good and fair comment, but the point about the battery potentially gassing Hydrogen is a valid one if it has just come off charge. I have never heard of such an incident but I accept that it is a possibility.

Yes, I’ve seen the top blow off a large truck battery, that was on charge, on the deck of a sailing yacht, when someone was weld nearby.

My bike had been part stripped, and not run for a few days, so it was probably safe.

 

[redlig]

When I did similar on mine I didn’t bother disconnecting the battery, as I wasnt putting current or voltage through any wiring or any part of the bikes loom system. Just make sure your earth clamp is direct on the part you are welding.

I’ve seen the earth clipped on the footpeg while some clown in t shirt and sunglasses was trying to weld a bracket on the swing arm….

That sounds like a far east version of Hand S.