Making an expansion chamber

[EgliHonda]

Ok, have found some online software for developing a chamber for the bucket, a mighty '74 TC100, (I know, I know)...

Anyway, I now have plans, CAD access, a mig welder and steel, but am wondering if anyone has had a go at this and has any advice. Would like to avoid any stupid mistakes before spending hours cutting, welding (and grinding cos I'm a crap welder)... :doh:

Apologies if this sort of thing has been posted before. Am finally making some progress on the old girl and keen to get it going. Aiming to have bucket and leathers etc sorted for less than $1000...

[bogan]

could you post a link to that software, sounds interesting!

never tried anything like that, sounds well complicated with all the shaping etc, are you using pipe or sheet?

[EgliHonda]

could you post a link to that software, sounds interesting!

never tried anything like that, sounds well complicated with all the shaping etc, are you using pipe or sheet?


http://www.iwt.com.au/MOTA.HTM

Free download here, uses basic principles you can find online, but does calc's etc for you after putting in req'd info.

Using light gauge sheet I have lying around, and is a bit complicated, will try to find pic of what I am aiming for...

[EgliHonda]

Pic here of sort of thing I am aiming for...

[EgliHonda]

And this is the sort of plan I will have. Ignore the figures/dimensions, these were pulled out of my arse so have no meaning till I have a bit of a measure up...

[jasonu]

Get yourself a copy of 'Two Stroke Tuners Guide' by A. Graham Bell. It is an older book but it really suits bucket stuff as they are generally older motors with older technology. Good luck

[EgliHonda]

Yep, have heard references to that one (great name btw, not only did he invent the telephone, he also tinkered with buckets).
Will keep an eye out, cheers...

[Motu]

You can segment it,or make it two dimensional and blow it out with a water blaster.Either way,by the end you will be a better welder....or give up completley.

[EgliHonda]

Have heard of that method too. Sounds fun.
All just practice for working on the expensive projects really, nice to upskill...

[bogan]

ahh, i was thinking of the ones like on my dirtbike, start up at the cylinder and sweep round with a changing diameter. You way seems far more doable!!

One thing with miging thin stuff, practise till you are sure you wont blow holes, cos once you blow a hole the wire feeds in, touches the side of hole and you are left with bits of wire poking out all on the inside of your work (or is it just me :confused:)

[TZ350]

.

Team ESE have used the front section of an RG250 pipe, saves a lot of cut and weld then made up the rest of the pipe using heavier 1.25mm sheet to with stand the inevitable crash, easier to weld too.

.

[F5 Dave]

Google "building expansion chambers" or something & there will be untold info. Forget water forming for the average tinkerer.

Kevin Cameron had a good article on it, haven't got it in soft copy though.

[EgliHonda]

.

Team ESE have used the front section of an RG250 pipe, saves a lot of cut and weld then made up the rest of the pipe using heavier 1.25mm sheet to with stand the inevitable crash, easier to weld too.

.

Yeah that was the other option I had in mind. Good advice re crash repairs, hadn't thought of that...

[speedpro]

Or you can make it fit in such a way that it doesn't get hurt in a crash.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Or you can make it fit in such a way that it doesn't get hurt in a crash.

Yes I like this approach, and I openly admit I stole your idea with the muffler under the bike thing.

[EgliHonda]

Will try some offcuts this weekend to see how the welding looks. That'll determine how I proceed really. Have obtained copy of AG Bells info, great stuff in there - will see how the web design looks compared to some of his designs. Just have to arrange quality time in the shed now... :whistle:

[koba]

Will try some offcuts this weekend to see how the welding looks.


If you have a MIG spend a bit of time setting it up on bits of scrap, if you weld the whole thing together in small tacks it takes ages but is a piece of piss to do with hardly and experience.

EDIT: Do a bit of reading on basic welding theory RE good penetration etc...