SuzukiSavage.com - calling all Engineers!

JohnBoy

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calling all Engineers!
09/21/10 at 22:41:42

I had a wild idea that I would like your feed back on.
I was considering building a small leaf spring out of fiberglass or carbon fiber that would sit under the seat pan between the frame rails. I don't think that it would have to flex more than an inch or so since I already got pretty good shocks on the bike. If I designed the seat pan to hinge at the front and mount the leaf spring over the air box it ought to sit directly under my fat a$$. If the seat's rear mounting tabs were cut with slots instead of holes, the seat mounting bolts would keep the seat centered while allowing it to ride up and down on the leaf spring.
Guys this is a very rough plan so tell me what you think and don't be afraid to rip it apart.
I also thought about a seat with a double seat pan and a small air bladder between them. If you ran an air valve out through a hole in the bottom seat pan you could adjust the air pressure to your road condition. Ten pounds of pressure ought to be plenty.
So...give me feedback!

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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28660 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #1 - 09/21/10 at 22:55:52 Well,... If I was thinking along those lines, I might be checkin' swap-meets and yard sales for a used compound bow... ...?....
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verslagen1

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Re: calling all Engineers!
Reply #2 - 09/21/10 at 23:21:32

I would be looking for a bar of spring wide enough to mount to the tank mount bolt and long enough to bolt to the frame for support. and of course long enough to put your butt on. Being that wide you won't need frame supports in the back. But you might wan't to tie it down so it isn't flying up in the air when your but isn't on it. put some soft rubber bumpers between the seat bottom and frame. You don't want to bottom out on a hard bump directly on the frame.

If you're looking for an air bladder, look at HD police seats, it's all there.

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youzguyz

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Re: calling all Engineers!
Reply #3 - 09/22/10 at 03:28:14

JohnBoy wrote on 09/21/10 at 22:41:42:

I also thought about a seat with a double seat pan and a small air bladder between them. If you ran an air valve out through a hole in the bottom seat pan you could adjust the air pressure to your road condition. Ten pounds of pressure ought to be plenty.
So...give me feedback!

I don't think an air bladder would work. Quite bouncy unless it had some sort of valving to act more like a shock absorber.
The Air Hawk seat pad is built that way. I made my own seat by putting one of those on top of the pan (along with a little foam and such) then recovering. Been working fine for many years and miles.

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2002 - Silver (Thumper)
2000 - Green (Mad Hamish)
Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut between the seat and the handlebars. Make sure yours isn't too tight or too loose.

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Routy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 2280 Winston Oregon Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #4 - 09/22/10 at 04:52:28 All I can tell you,....as you may already know, it is real hard to beat fiberglass for leaf spring material. It comes in all thicknesses, and can be cut w/ any type saw w/ a sharp blade, and drilled w/ any wood drill. I built a Quadracycle w/ fiberglass suspension all 4 wheels,....and also 2 wheel hiway trailers, using it too.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #5 - 09/22/10 at 07:09:44 Serowbot wrote on 09/21/10 at 22:55:52: Well,... If I was thinking along those lines, I might be checkin' swap-meets and yard sales for a used compound bow... ...?.... Find a local archery range or shop, probably could pick up one from a busted set for free.
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JohnBoy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 825 Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #6 - 09/23/10 at 18:26:48 Here is what I had in mind. It seems to me that the glass lay-up would be pretty straight forward. I think you could dial in the spring tension by the width you make the spring. My problem is that I am not an engineer, and I don't know much about the workings of a leaf spring. JB
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #7 - 09/23/10 at 19:10:35 1st, when you sit on it, the crown is going to get flatter and that will make the top part longer. This will work until the hooks are forced against the frame tubes. So you got to build in a lot of side to side play.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #8 - 09/23/10 at 19:13:10 Use Klotz gear on the frame and it will move smoother.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28660 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #9 - 09/23/10 at 19:20:10 bill67 wrote on 09/23/10 at 19:13:10: Use Klotz gear on the frame and it will move smoother. ... or,...just inject some Klotz into your butt cheeks and you'll have nice fluid cushion... ...and it's low in cholesterol too!... ...
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JohnBoy Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 825 Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #10 - 09/23/10 at 21:24:52 Serowbot wrote on 09/23/10 at 19:20:10: bill67 wrote on 09/23/10 at 19:13:10: Use Klotz gear on the frame and it will move smoother. ... or,...just inject some Klotz into your butt cheeks and you'll have nice fluid cushion... ...and it's low in cholesterol too!... ... HaHaHa...That might actually work!
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28886 L.A. California Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #11 - 09/23/10 at 21:53:51 Suggestion, make the curved top sheet as you've shown. On one side, clamp it to the frame as you've shown with the hook, but loose enough to pivot. On the other side, hook it from the outside and make the hook long enough that as the seat flattens it won't come unhooked.
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babyhog

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Re: calling all Engineers!
Reply #12 - 09/24/10 at 08:22:48

verslagen1 wrote on 09/23/10 at 21:53:51:

Suggestion, make the curved top sheet as you've shown.
On one side, clamp it to the frame as you've shown with the hook, but loose enough to pivot.
On the other side, hook it from the outside and make the hook long enough that as the seat flattens it won't come unhooked.

but then wouldn't your a$$ shift to one side as you bounce? A heavy a$$ would be off center.... Undecided

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~ 2006 Black, Big Crank battery, HD Softail muffler, engine guard/o-ring pegs, Spitfite windshield, custom mounted Saddlemen bags, Mustang seat! ~ oh, and Hairdo by Helmet! ~

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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #13 - 09/24/10 at 08:29:38 It sure would.
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bill67 Serious Thumper Offline old tired Posts: 8517 genoa city wisconsin Gender:	Re: calling all Engineers! Reply #14 - 09/24/10 at 08:31:46 Were it curves around your frame make those longer and it should work,More like a slot.
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