Ultima Frame Chop Build-Final Update

[ramcr913]

Last April I picked up an Ultima 250-series 38 degree single-downtube softail frame, and started collecting parts.

Frame is mocked up at 6 1/8" high, same as my HD softail and a softail bobber I have. (Yes I could lower it but I like my suspension at stock height, with travel clearance.) Frame is level in the mockup; that is, the tranny mounting plate is level relative to the floor.

Added an Ultima 6 speed tranny:

Its coming along slowly, I am in no real hurry. I ordered an inverted front end from Jeri's Springer, as soon as it comes in I will get it installed, take a pic or two and update progress on the mockup.
Thanks for looking.

[Ohio HD]

Cool project, should make a nice scoot!

I have so much trouble doing things like this. I get impatient, and everything else suffers until I get it done....   

[ramcr913]

Ohio-
Fortunately I generally have patience with build projects. I live in Texas, it has been brutally hot in the shop so I have not been especially motivated to get this done. Right now I am collecting parts and will get little more serious about working on the build this fall.
Yeah hopefully it will be a rideable chop.

[N-gin]

Looks like its going to be fun. enjoy.

Is the frmae going to be strong enough with only one down tube in the front? I hear stories of the single down tube frames are prone to crack or flex too much.  Like I said stories No personal experiences.

[ramcr913]

N-Gin
Yeah its been a while since I put one together, this one should be a fun project.
Regarding the single downtube- I don't know if there is any more of a tendency to flex or crack than a dual downtube frame. Plenty of singles out there, made by the "name" frame builders (Santee, Paughco, Kraftech, etc) as well as a lot of low-production custom builders. I am not going to worry about it.
Thanks for the response.

[prodrag1320]

built alot of bikes with ULTIMA rollers (when you actully turn a profit),nice stuff.fit was alot better than the big name "chopper" stuff,(borgett is the BIGGEST pieces of junk)

[ramcr913]

ProDrag-
Thanks for the headsup. I wasn't after any particular frame, just happened to be in the right place and got a decent deal on the Ultima frame. The Ultima rear fender didn't fit too well, I had trouble getting suspension clearance. With the struts running flush with the bottom edge of the fender, the wheel would contact the fender before hitting the frame bumpers. I had to raise the fender up a bit, and if you look close at the pic you can see where I trimmed the end of the struts off because the tips protruded below the edge of the fender.
Friend of mine used the Ultima strutless fender on his and it was a perfect fit.
We will see how the rest of this goes.

[ramcr913]

Well I have made a little progress since August. I used a cheap Harbor Freight bender to make the rear hanger bracket for the fuel tank from a piece of flat bar:

Front brackets are pieces of angle I diced off a long piece. Located the brackets and welded them to them to the frame (BTW- I AIN'T NO WELDER!!! So please don't bust me up too bad over the bad-lookin welds. I tested them with a BFH, they ain't pretty but they're holding):

Used 5/16" HD shock mounts on the tank:

Underside view of the tank mounted on the frame:

In the next pictures, I have the tank installed, a set of Chubby T-bars on, and a front end mocked up. The front end is an inverted springer, built by Jeri (Jeri's Springer in Clearwater, Fl.):



Oh, for you sharp-eyed springer guys- yes the rockers are upside down. Long story, they have since been replaced with a different set with the correct angle that levels the chassis and are now positioned correctly. I have an engine ordered; when it comes in I will integrate the driveline and size it for a rear belt. I will post some more updates later.

[ramcr913]

Well the motor and tranny didn't want to line up when I started mocking up the driveline. When I set the motor and transmission in place I never tightened down the mounting bolts, just snugged them up so I could line them up with the motor plate (or inner primary if running a closed primary drive). Then I noticed that the motor rocked a bit on the rear mount- here's the problem. Look close at the weld that holds the rear motor mount to the seat post. The weld kind of spills over on the motor mount flat:

So I had to pull the engine. Here's a shot of the hi-lift with the motor lift-arms in place:

And here is a picture of the chassis on a lift, you can see how the motor lift and rolling jack under the chassis work to make engine removal/installation a easy one-man operation:

I will now grind that weld down a bit, reinstall the engine and see where things are at.

[Bigs]

Looks good so far. 
    Bigs

[Admiral Akbar]

It's a common problem with after market frames.. Looks like they didn't provide a coil mount on the frame either.. or do they use the oil tank bracket??

Max

[Deye76]

Prolly use a motor mount/coil bracket ala FXR

[Ajayrk]

Very clever idea with the engine lift.

[ramcr913]

Yep, no coil mount. As Deye76 said, I am using a FXR-type top motor mount and coil bracket. Also, because of the single downtube there is no crossbar-type regulator bracket either. Will either need one that mounts under the front motor mount, or fab something up. Also, no seat bracket- the little thingy on top of the frame that the seat tongue slides in. And since the top motor mount is going to also be the place for the coil, I have to come up with a horn bracket too.... and on and on...None of these things are a surprise though, I knew the frame would need some brackets added.
Thanks for the comments all.

[88b]

Very clever idea with the engine lift.

looks like your doing a very nice job 

[Deye76]

Horn under the oil bag/behind trans.........ala FXR kinda 

[ramcr913]

Deye76- Are you referring to a horn braket that attaches to the transmission side cover?

[Admiral Akbar]

Prolly use a motor mount/coil bracket ala FXR

I was thinking about that.. Good thing is that it probably won't shake apart like it would on and FXR..

BTW if you havent gotten the coil / bracket.. I may have an FXR single fire setup around here that I'll let go for a decent price.. I need to look to see if I still have it..

Max

[ramcr913]

Max-
Thanks, I have the motor mount and coil hardware, including a cover. The Ultima motor came with a single fire ignition as well. I appreciate the offer though.

[Big Cahuna]

How hard is it to get a title for a homemade bike?.,,

[Deye76]

Deye76- Are you referring to a horn braket that attaches to the transmission side cover?

Looks like you have plenty of room under the tank and behind the tranny, something could be fabbed pretty easy. Check how the stock FXR horn is mounted.
Good looking project, glad your posting pics. 

[ramcr913]

Thanks Deye, I will check out the FXR horn mounts.
Cahuna- Can't speak to your state, but in Texas you can get a home-built bike titled after a little torture. First you take it to the inspection station and they provide you a "green card", which is some sort of preliminary inspection. Then you take the green card to the DPS/DMV office, along with all the reciepts and MSOs from the parts you used. Using the reciepts they determine how much tax to hit you for. If you bought parts retail and have a reciept showing sales tax, you don't pay tax again on those parts. After that session is over, you take the bike back to the inspection station for the final inspection sticker. The level of difficulty really resides with the individual you get at the DPS/DMV office. Sometimes they look at your receipts, and take your word on the final figure for taxing, but you may get one who decides to torment you. That happened to a friend of mine, so he took the paperwork to another office and walked it through in a few minutes.

[Mark222]

Just helped a young guy build and title a bike in NC last year.  Process here is that you start at the DMV, request an application for title.  Then take bike and receipts to the State Police inspector to view, and then run a background check for stolen parts.  In this case he had an MSO for the Frame, and the Evo engine and trans was used, without MSO.  MSO for the engine had never been signed over to him (notary required) and the HD dealership that made the sale had since gone out of business.  Therefore the state did not recognize the MSO as valid and required him to obtain a surety bond to cover the entire value of the bike.  So then he needed multiple appraisals to determine the value.  Then he had to obtain insurance, and then go back to the State Police to show all the details and ask for the case to be closed.  Once the A$$hole cop decided to move on the process it was then just a matter of going back to the DMV and submitting the paperwork (all approved) to have the state issue a new title for special construction.  3 - 4 weeks later he received the title, but was able to register and ride the bike before the title was officially granted.

Bike had quite a few trailer miles on it before he ever got to ride the thing for the first time.  But being his first it was a great experience for him to learn how the BS system works, and how important details can be.  In his case all ended well, but the idiot cop kept telling him that he alone could rule against the approval and if he did all he would have is a pile of parts, yada, yada.  At one point I suggested to the cop that he give the kid a break since he is a real good, trouble free guy.  Cop just seemed to really like being in control, and wanted everybody to know it.  Worked out in the end and we did not have to move the process to another county to get the approval.

Today he will tell you it was all worth the hassle, when it was all going on, not so much!

Mark 

[ThumperDeuce]

Is it correct that you are allowed a once in a life time title on a custom built scoot that is not required to be epa compliant?

[Clayster]

Is it correct that you are allowed a once in a life time title on a custom built scoot that is not required to be epa compliant?

Wasn't that just a California thing?