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lower link protection
NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.
I have a Santa Cruz Tall Boy and was wondering if anyone could make one of these plates to protect the lower links
http://forums.mtbr.com/santa-cruz/aluminum-tallb...
Otherwise I will buy in one.
regards
MPN
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Whilst it wouldn't be difficult or expensive to make and I tend to try and make everything I can there are just some things where buying it make much more sense. When you have the mould or jig for something like this created running off another would only take seconds, however creating that mould would have taken ages - it generally isn't worth wasting that time. This guy has had a good idea and worked on it so I would be crediting that inventiveness (and potential copyright / patent issues) by buying from the inventor.
It is just a bit of 6mm ali plate cut to shape and a couple of holes, and a slight bend, not a big deal.
I have some spare plate I can chuck your way if you like, all you need is a hacksaw, drill and a vice.
A good little project that you could make yourself. To get someone else to make it would put the cost to value ratio way out.
When you are finished you could get it anodized virtually any colour you want. It would look pretty cool.
6mm alli plate??? The one pictured in the link is ABS (according to the thread). Much easier to work with and lighter to boot. Let alone quieter.
It's a fantastic idea!!! If you are on the northern Beaches, there is a plastics place behind Col Crawfords in Brookvale. Just ask to purchase a small enough off cut and get to work with a dremel and a heat gun.
Yeah you are right, ABS would be much better,
reading trumps guessing every time 
buy a giant..problem solved.
[quote]buy a giant..problem solved. [/quote]
Not if you bought a 2007 model with the stupid pierced down tube. At least they sent out the cover plate for free.
Martin, we can probably knock one up in carbon fibre if you like. I'll talk to Ash about it, but it shouldn't be too hard.
that can be easily made out of 5-6mm aluminium plate with single side foam tape where there protection is on the linckages & tap bolts too bolt onto the frame easy 1.5 hr job for me at work . You can get most of the stuff at any commercial window company . I would have enuff material for at least 10 bikes , see a aluminium wholesaler for aluminium & a window products company for the tape & a fastener store for bolts or take them of your bottle cage holder .
My concern with using Alu. would be that a hit would bend it and it wouldn't spring back, leaving it to rub on the lower pivot.
ABS, Kydex, or even humble PVC would be a better choice, IMO. All could be shaped (with care) with a paint stripper heat gun.
it would have to be a rock bigger than a cricket ball too bend 5mm thick piece of Aluminium, especially with only a short curve . I made a incense holder out of a piece & I needed a big ball pein hammer to bend it held by a vice .
So if you want it made out of Ali, I could whip it up for you for a carton of Guinness next week if you want 0417 120 931. Anodizing can get some pretty mean colours if that is the way you want to go.
I don't Anodize tho...
Let me know.
Add my 80kg to 11kg of bike landing on a rock on a roll-down or on a fallen tree and 5mm of alloy could easily bend, unless of course it is one of the more exotic high zinc aluminium aircraft alloys like 7075-T6.
But then your chances of successfully working a 5mm thick slab by hand to the correct shape are zero. You'd need a hydraulic press to bend it to shape.