Drill, Baby, Drill!

[sgwilly]

Rotors, that is.

Turned out pretty nice too.


I posted a How-To thread in case you're tempted.
http://www.ngwclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13976

[zane]

Thanks Steve.

I'm tempted to do the rotors on my '78. (A winter project.) I've stumpled on a second set of wheels. The rotors on them are in pretty good shape and I could drill them, and then put my next set of tires on them.

The single rotor on my 400F works a lot better in the rain, since I drilled it. The pattern I used had a lot more holes though - about 86, I think. But that rotor is almost twice the thickness of the '78 rotors.

I'm lucky to have access to a high quality rotory table. It's pretty handy because you don't need a template and you don't need to punch the rotor either. You do need a plan though. With the table you just do the arithmetic, dial in the numbers and then hope there's not an earthquake.

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to share your experience, I appreciate it.

Zane

[tomward]

Nice job willy.
I read somewhere that drilling the rotors increases the surface area.
Sounds backwards to me but hey I thought O.J. was innocent too so what do I know.

[sgwilly]

With the table you just do the arithmetic, dial in the numbers

Hell, you don't even get to take a sledgehammer to your bike! That just takes all the romance out of it.

Actually, I'd have put a lot more holes in it if I had a machine to drill it all out.

[spokenipple]

It would be sweet if some one with dilled rotors could make a template of of theirs and post it on the sight. Then everyone could have access to it. Just print it out and trace it onto your rotor. I would personally like to go with the staggered pattern. I know someones got a set they could make a template off of? It looks like their would be to much math involved in the staggered pattern. (for me anyway )

[Sprdtyf350]

It would be sweet if some one with dilled rotors could make a template of of theirs and post it on the sight. Then everyone could have access to it. Just print it out and trace it onto your rotor. I would personally like to go with the staggered pattern. I know someones got a set they could make a template off of? It looks like their would be to much math involved in the staggered pattern. (for me anyway )

Something like this??

[spokenipple]

I like the first one. Do you know if the overall diameter is right? I measured the width of the contact area of my rotor and it looks close.

[Sprdtyf350]

I like the first one. Do you know if the overall diameter is right? I measured the width of the contact area of my rotor and it looks close.

No idea if they will size for a Goldwing rotor.. I haven't used them to drill anything yet. Will need to resize them with a drawing program until they are the right size.

[zane]

Hey Steve - I like the look of the rotors the way you did them.

Here's some links I used before, when I did the 400F rotor:

http://eindiancompanies.com/howto/howtorotor.htm

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=13995.0

http://www.vintagebrake.com/tips.htm

The sohc topic is a long one, but there are some pretty good thoughts in it, as well as a few patterns. (I'm not sure if the link works if you're not a member of the sohc forums, but if it doesn't, just go to the index page first, and then search the topic number....)

With a rotory table ya still gotta do a lotta work. Like drilling the thing.....
What it does do well is place the holes precisely and hold the rotor firmly. I still drilled pilot holes though - even with the table.

I kinda like the pattern(s) on Randakk's RC-003 bike. It's not over the top, but looks like it would do the job....

Cheers,

Zane

[sgwilly]

Here are some of the links I read through to get an idea of how to progress.

This guy used a different process to draw his template and drill (both of which seemed to work fine) and he did a nicer job of documenting it.
http://home.comcast.net/~fzmax/XS/01_Br ... Rotor.html

This is the thread I got the link above from. Some good info in in.
http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/ind ... 286.0.html

The XS1100 forum was down when I put this together - I'll try to edit it in later.

I'll scan my template and post them but I need to get to a larger scanner to get that done - Monday. Honestly, I'm not sure if it would be quicker to download, print, tape together, and transfer to a heavier stock would be any quicker than generating it yourself.

Drawing your own template is not that hard - the only math I did was dividing fractions by two. I guess I also did addition. Hell, even that crazy mofo Frank could do this! Even the staggered design is relatively simple to create. I used my phone-camera to take these crappy pictures of the process of creating a template. You should be able to get the essence of the task. Keep in mind, these are not to scale (I used a sauce pot as the outline).

1) Trace your rotor onto a thick piece of paper.


2) Find the exact center. Use a ruler to find the diameter, divide by 2 and then mark a line in the center. Then mark another line at right angle in the center. That should give you the center. Check by measuring from that cross mark to the edge at several points around the circle.


3) Draw two lines at right angles across the center of the circle. That will create quarters.


4) Measure the distance from where two bisecting lines (ones that are closest to each other) intercept the circle.

Divide that number by two and mark that distance along the ruler.


Then draw a line from the circle center through that mark. That will bisect one of the quarters into eights.


Repeat for all four quarters. Then repeat the process to get sixteenths.


5) Then mark the inner edge of the rotor. This isn't that critical to get exact - it's only used to cut the thing out later.


6) Then mark the center holes along each axis for where you're going to drill. What I did was the following.
1/4" drill - 7/32", 3/4", and 1 1/4" (from outside edge)
3/8" drill - 15/32" and 1 1/32" (from outside edge)


7) When you cut it out, cut it just INSIDE the line you traced around the rotor - and make it even. Something like a millimeter or so. That will make it easier when you tape it to the rotor. When you cut the center out, do a quick hack job. You just have to be able to place it flat on the rotor and not have it ride up on the center hub anywhere.

8) Get your sledge and center punch out. It's time to get ugly with it.

As far as a staggered pattern. I mocked something up but you're probably going to need a big protractor for this one. I'm not going to put it up here as such.

Actually, in the time it took my to type this thing up (and watch a movie) there's been a number of good links and images posted which demonstrate the swirl pattern.

Holy crap, did you see how many holes are in that RD template?!? That would wear my ass out.

[spokenipple]

Thanks guys looks like I should be able to get one of these ideas to work. It looks like I am going to have to add it to my winter to do list. Way too nice out right now to tear the bike down.

[sumblink]

awesome job,i did my fronts last winter,but your job is fantastic.......... makes mine look like s@#t.

WELL DONE