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Post by markusmaximus on May 12, 2016 14:02:31 GMT
I've read loads of really helpful material on using prefabricated floors to replace a rusted floor on a smallframe, but haven't been able to find anything about replacing it with a custom made floor (e.g. some 1.5mm mild steel sheet and 19mm square tube as reinforcement bars). On my particular project it's pretty much just flat bit of the floor that needs replacing, so I was thinking that making my own replacement floor may be a structurally stronger (and probably marginally cheaper) way of doing things. Has anyone tried that? Appreciate any words of wisdom/caution/encouragement  P.S. I can weld reasonably well, by no means an expert but probably well enough to do something like this. |
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Post by henri on May 13, 2016 6:18:42 GMT
look in stickies section of "vespasmallframe forum" ,welding tips ,an theres a few floor jobs on the mig welding forums too . one problem ,without the rolled edge on a home build floor the vibration an flexing from engine n suspension will soon cause cracking/splits .its why the edges are rolled .H
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Post by markusmaximus on May 13, 2016 6:34:13 GMT
Super, thanks, that's a great tip re the rolled edges... I thought they were just cosmetic, thanks for the input!
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me
High Number
Posts: 105
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Post by me on May 13, 2016 7:51:57 GMT
For the pice of the remade floors - get one - it'll save you hours of faffing around and bodging. Ive done loads over the years and they are easy. Spot welding is the way to go - if youve not got one than the local body shop should be able to help weld it one - sometimes for the cost of a pint.....
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Post by markusmaximus on May 13, 2016 7:58:19 GMT
Thanks... I guess I'm just concerned about the quality and was thinking that I could make a more durable one myself. All the ones I've seen for sale look really flimsy! I'm sure they're not as so many people have used them!
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Post by doulsy on May 13, 2016 12:17:19 GMT
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Post by markusmaximus on May 13, 2016 13:47:40 GMT
Thanks doulsy, your post is actually one of the ones I've bookmarked as a reference, great post and pics!
Apart from ease of a drop-in replacement, any reason you chose a prefabricated floor replacement instead of a steel sheet and reinforcing bars?
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Post by doulsy on May 13, 2016 15:18:57 GMT
Thanks doulsy, your post is actually one of the ones I've bookmarked as a reference, great post and pics! Apart from ease of a drop-in replacement, any reason you chose a prefabricated floor replacement instead of a steel sheet and reinforcing bars? I was gonna plate it but the panel was only £30 and i think it was the best option, your gonna need to cut the old one out anyway so might as well put a full one in, as henry says, you need the grooves round the edge as it makes the flat metal more rigid. |
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Post by vespasco on May 13, 2016 19:42:48 GMT
Thanks doulsy, your post is actually one of the ones I've bookmarked as a reference, great post and pics! Apart from ease of a drop-in replacement, any reason you chose a prefabricated floor replacement instead of a steel sheet and reinforcing bars? yeh, so it doesn't look like you made it from sheet steel and re bar ! |
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Post by markusmaximus on May 16, 2016 12:59:41 GMT
Haha, thanks for the feedback, looks like a floor replacement is the way forward then |
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Post by doulsy on May 16, 2016 18:49:18 GMT
Haha, thanks for the feedback, looks like a floor replacement is the way forward then Got mine from beedspeed, came bare metal and covered in some sort of oil, looked and felt good quality but time will tell. |
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Post by bryno on May 17, 2016 13:21:35 GMT
I looked at the available panels recently, SIP seemed cheapest and if you need the floor and a bit of the leggies as well that's only £86
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Post by doulsy on May 17, 2016 20:46:40 GMT
I looked at the available panels recently, SIP seemed cheapest and if you need the floor and a bit of the leggies as well that's only £86 next time, if there is a next time, im gonna buy one of these instead click mewill be a neater job as it will be just spot welds |
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Post by markusmaximus on May 18, 2016 10:03:46 GMT
Maybe I'm just tight, but that seems like quite a lot of money compared to the £15 I'd pay for the sheet/bars if I bought the metal and patched it?
I appreciate that there is a lot more work involved in bending the metal for the legshield, but the floor only seems to have the ends rolled and paying £70 extra for that doesn't seem like good value?
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Post by henri on May 18, 2016 10:48:34 GMT
bryno's one is with the curve of leggys too .a floor only panels about 40 quid . worth it for the time spent making not only the floor supports but also the "k" re-inforcing bits at floors rear corners . H
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Post by doulsy on May 18, 2016 16:46:28 GMT
The floor i bought for £30 had the suport struts on it as well so it was more than just a bit of sheet metal, its your scooter you can do what you want, if its just for an mot then just plate it, i was looking at it in a restoration way,
Get some pictures up
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Post by markusmaximus on May 19, 2016 10:15:18 GMT
Just tried to upload some pics, but it says the forum has exceeded it's space allocation (or something along those lines)?
I'm pretty keen to keep it close to the original... so many dilemmas and that's only one small part of all the work that needs to be done!
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Post by mushroom on May 19, 2016 12:12:52 GMT
Upload to photobucket and link to the pics from there
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Post by markusmaximus on May 19, 2016 12:56:44 GMT
Here's my scoot, named Toby:  This is the floor rust at the back on the left hand side:  And this is the rust around the brake pedal (bad but not quite as bad):  |
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Post by doulsy on May 19, 2016 17:46:55 GMT
Nice scooter, your floor was much the same as mine when i started, good luck with and keep posting pictures.
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