Metal Bending

**Top Cat** · 01-01-2011, 03:41 PM

Not sure if this is where this goes Jeff. Feel free to move it if it belongs somewhere else.
I bought an Ultimate seat on Ebay. It has a slot for a backrest but no backrest came with it. The Ultimate rest costs $200. Not doing that ::)
I have a rest that I cut down the metal on to make it fit in the slot.
Now I need to bend the steel to make it conform to the angles of the seat.
Do I just heat it with a bernz-a-matic torch till it is orange and beat it with a hammer. If that works , do I need to immediately drop it into water to make the metal resistant to bending again?

**Cajunrider** · 01-01-2011, 04:01 PM

How thick and wide is the metal Tim? If it's no wider than 1 1/2" and isn't thicker than 3/16" you may be able to clamp it down in a vise and cold bend it with the help of a 3# mall or ball peen hammer. Heating it would make bending it much easier if it is thicker or wider.

**Top Cat** · 01-01-2011, 04:11 PM

Hey Mitch,
It's approx. 1/4" thick and 1 1/2" wide.
My work bench isn't the solidest I have seen :-[
Don't think hammering is a good idea ;)
If I heat it will it take the temper out? If I drop it in water will while hot, will it keep the temper in?

**Cajunrider** · 01-01-2011, 04:15 PM

Yeah, you would have to heat it being it's 1/4" thick. And it shouldn't lose any temper being regular carbon steel. If it was an alloy that would be a different story.

**Top Cat** · 01-01-2011, 04:33 PM

Thanks Mitch.
I'll give it a shot. Hope it works, dont want to spend $200 on a new rest but this back of mine needs one for any ride I take longer than 1 1/2 miles

**ringadingh** · 01-01-2011, 05:43 PM

Just heating it and bending will be fine for that bracket as Mitch said, it would be good to give it a shot of paint when your done to keep it from rusting on you.

**minst7877** · 01-01-2011, 07:46 PM

If it is carbon steel heating it will pull some carbon to the surface. Make sure you do a good sand (or wire brush) prime and paint or it will rust where it was heated.

DC

hammer · 01-01-2011, 09:51 PM

I have made and alterted several seat posts. Most were made from 3/16" strap steel. While you can bend it with a vise, heat and hammer you may not get the best results. The last ones I did, I traced out the bend lines on card stock and took the metal to a local metal shop who bent them on a break for a couple of bucks. It took all of 10 minutes using the break.

egetaseb · 01-03-2011, 10:30 AM

My kids and I watch Avatar, the last air bender all the time. I chuckled when I first saw this topic because either Aang (Avatar) or Toph (earthbender) would be able to bend the metal for you easily.

**Top Cat** · 01-03-2011, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egetaseb

My kids and I watch Avatar, the last air bender all the time. I chuckled when I first saw this topic because either Aang (Avatar) or Toph (earthbender) would be able to bend the metal for you easily.

Do you have an address for their shop.

;)

chucks1911 · 01-03-2011, 12:41 PM

I got the Ultimate driver's seat, with the high $$$ driver's backrest for Christmas. So far, I've only been able to ride a single day (250 miles) since installing it. Let me know if I can be of help with any specifics on the seat or backrest.

ETA- The backrest is adjustable, in that it can be moved forward or backward with the adjustment of a single bolt.

**Top Cat** · 01-03-2011, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chucks1911

I got the Ultimate driver's seat, with the high $$$ driver's backrest for Christmas. So far, I've only been able to ride a single day (250 miles) since installing it. Let me know if I can be of help with any specifics on the seat or backrest.

ETA- The backrest is adjustable, in that it can be moved forward or backward with the adjustment of a single bolt.

Thanks , I have a Back-up backrest. It is adjustable the same way yours is I think. I did get it bent to fit. Can't ride here as we have a foot and a half of snow. Won't be able to ride till probably April. :(
I got the seat on and the rest installed. I had to cut some of the stock passenger seat back so the Ultimate seat would fit. I think I am going to like it.
Still have to wire brush the metal and paint but I have lots of time to do that before riding season.

01-01-2011, 03:41 PM	#1
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Metal Bending Not sure if this is where this goes Jeff. Feel free to move it if it belongs somewhere else. I bought an Ultimate seat on Ebay. It has a slot for a backrest but no backrest came with it. The Ultimate rest costs $200. Not doing that ::) I have a rest that I cut down the metal on to make it fit in the slot. Now I need to bend the steel to make it conform to the angles of the seat. Do I just heat it with a bernz-a-matic torch till it is orange and beat it with a hammer. If that works , do I need to immediately drop it into water to make the metal resistant to bending again? __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Login or Register to Remove Ads
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01-01-2011, 04:01 PM	#2
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Metal Bending How thick and wide is the metal Tim? If it's no wider than 1 1/2" and isn't thicker than 3/16" you may be able to clamp it down in a vise and cold bend it with the help of a 3# mall or ball peen hammer. Heating it would make bending it much easier if it is thicker or wider. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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01-01-2011, 04:11 PM	#3
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Metal Bending Hey Mitch, It's approx. 1/4" thick and 1 1/2" wide. My work bench isn't the solidest I have seen :-[ Don't think hammering is a good idea ;) If I heat it will it take the temper out? If I drop it in water will while hot, will it keep the temper in? __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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01-01-2011, 04:15 PM	#4
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	Metal Bending Yeah, you would have to heat it being it's 1/4" thick. And it shouldn't lose any temper being regular carbon steel. If it was an alloy that would be a different story. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482
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01-01-2011, 04:33 PM	#5
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Metal Bending Thanks Mitch. I'll give it a shot. Hope it works, dont want to spend $200 on a new rest but this back of mine needs one for any ride I take longer than 1 1/2 miles __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4] Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

01-01-2011, 05:43 PM	#6
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Metal Bending Just heating it and bending will be fine for that bracket as Mitch said, it would be good to give it a shot of paint when your done to keep it from rusting on you. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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01-01-2011, 07:46 PM	#7
minst7877 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,286	Metal Bending If it is carbon steel heating it will pull some carbon to the surface. Make sure you do a good sand (or wire brush) prime and paint or it will rust where it was heated. DC __________________ Me and my 99 G1 Nomad on US 2 by the Lake Michigan Shoreline. Judge's Oil Gear failed and engine overhauled @ 35563 miles VBA/KawaNOW #01625 Christian Motorcyclists Assoc. Wheels Of Destiny Chapter #735 PA Wilds NE/Eastern Canada regional rally July 2012 Eureka Springs National 2015 Rolling Thunder Washington DC 2016 NE US / E Canada Rally - Mont Tremblant, QC 2016 VRA Eastern National at Maggie Valley 2017 99 Nomad G1 gone but never forgotten traded 4/8/17 for a 2017 Indian Roadmaster
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01-01-2011, 09:51 PM	#8
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Metal Bending I have made and alterted several seat posts. Most were made from 3/16" strap steel. While you can bend it with a vise, heat and hammer you may not get the best results. The last ones I did, I traced out the bend lines on card stock and took the metal to a local metal shop who bent them on a break for a couple of bucks. It took all of 10 minutes using the break. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
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01-03-2011, 10:30 AM	#9
egetaseb Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 238	Metal Bending My kids and I watch Avatar, the last air bender all the time. I chuckled when I first saw this topic because either Aang (Avatar) or Toph (earthbender) would be able to bend the metal for you easily. __________________ Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it. KawaNOW #00755
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01-03-2011, 12:41 PM	#11
chucks1911 Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sterling, Oklahoma Posts: 361	Metal Bending I got the Ultimate driver's seat, with the high $$$ driver's backrest for Christmas. So far, I've only been able to ride a single day (250 miles) since installing it. Let me know if I can be of help with any specifics on the seat or backrest. ETA- The backrest is adjustable, in that it can be moved forward or backward with the adjustment of a single bolt. __________________ Chuck Stephens 12 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic 07 Nomad (Traded) 86 Kawasaki 454 LTD VBA member #1578 HOG Member #4541840 AMA Member # 2700186
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