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Hot Rods Front Cycle Fender Brackets?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by louder50, Aug 19, 2021.

  1. louder50
    Joined: Oct 21, 2005
    Posts: 217

    louder50
    Member
    from Michigan

    I have read through days of posts about cycle fenders and it appears the use of round bracket material seems to be the least prone to cracking and breaking. My question is what is stronger.....solid round steel or DOM steel tubing? And should the tubing be cut and welded at the bends to strengthen them? Im copying the style shown here....or trying to. 06122013e.jpg
     
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  2. Gearhead Graphics
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 3,890

    Gearhead Graphics
    Member
    from Denver Co

    Solid would be stronger. If tubing, yes for sure weld the ends shut.
     
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  3. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,148

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Connecticut HAMB'ers

    Having broken mine a few times, I encourage you to build them stronger than you think. Why? These fenders feel every bump along the way. Unlike "regular" fenders mounted to a chassis, these move with every move of the front wheels and feel every jolt along the way. The picture below was the first edition:
    IMG_0928.JPG

    Needless to say, they broke on me a few times.

    The photo below shows the third or present version. Note the gussets and addition of the circular brace (like your example).
    Something you can't see is the steel under the fender that the supports are welded to. Yes, this connection broke once too on me. My suggestion in your build would be to mount the braces on the fender end to something more substantial than the fender itself.

    IMG_6231.JPG

    Once more--it's tough out there for these fenders. IMHO the right side has it worse.
     
  4. louder50
    Joined: Oct 21, 2005
    Posts: 217

    louder50
    Member
    from Michigan

    AVater your post was one I studied a lot. Did you use solid or DOM tubing? I was thinking 5/8" diameter and fabbing some internal brackets inside the fenders to attach them to.
     
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  5. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,345

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    I hope this thread goes for 10 pages. So much to learn, not much ever published on the topic.
     
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  6. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    5/8ths DOM works and offers 3/16" plate mount flanges (3), a place to weld both sides. Never had a failure. Make one continous tube bracket that begins at outer edge (inside) of lower rear of fender (4 or 8 o'clock) then stand off the tire sidewall as you bend it. Weld to rear lower plate. Pickup the rear hole, then forward and Up, around lower front hole, capture top hole plate, then standoff tire sidewall, pass over top of tread (clear it), fasten fender to the tread tube-extended portions.
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2021
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  7. AngleDrive
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 1,145

    AngleDrive
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Florida

    4130 aircraft tubing, if you have to weld do it with a tig. Flatten area that mounts to fender and backing plate. Make a template first out of mild steel. I would bolt it to fender and baking plate. 5/8ths outside diameter. Then have it chromed. :)
     
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  8. xlr8
    Joined: Jun 26, 2006
    Posts: 700

    xlr8
    Member
    from Idaho

    It seems like solid rod would be stronger but actually tubing seems to be able to withstand the vibration better. As others have already mentioned, flatten the end of the tubing in a vise or press instead of trying to weld an end on, a welded end will never stay.
     
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  9. louder50
    Joined: Oct 21, 2005
    Posts: 217

    louder50
    Member
    from Michigan

    Any chance you have a picture of this?
     
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  10. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    I read about using old rifle barrels, finding a matching pair may be a problem. Bob
     
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  11. pitman
    Joined: May 14, 2006
    Posts: 5,148

    pitman

    If you look to drivers side, along the front axle, from the ctr spring perch. The Ford spindle bolt holes you want to use, are at 8, 4 and 2 o'clock. Rear of fender mounts off the horizontal tube from 8 o'clock.
    The top of fender mounts from the ~ vertical end of tube, which passes by the 2 o'clock bolt/flange. Wish I had a detail pic, car was sold 6 years ago.
     
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  12. buford36
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 222

    buford36
    Member
    from Maine

    Stainless steel , still vibrate but I doubt they will break bracket.jpeg
     
  13. ratrodrodder
    Joined: Feb 19, 2008
    Posts: 380

    ratrodrodder
    Member
    from Boston

    Following along as I've had this same question myself. I've looked at nearly ever car with cycle fenders at hot rod shows that I could find and none of them seemed to do it exactly the same. These photos and explanations are great!

    Keep 'em coming!
     
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  14. Rickybop
    Joined: May 23, 2008
    Posts: 9,606

    Rickybop
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I like bobbed rear fenders and cycle type front fenders.

    But I know the cycle type fenders can be a problem. And the main problem seems to be that the brackets are only on one side. It would change the clean look, but I wonder if anybody has maybe attached outboard brackets to the spindle. Is that feasible?
     
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  15. COCONUTS
    Joined: May 5, 2015
    Posts: 1,163

    COCONUTS

    I never had any luck with these brackets or with welding side pipes.
     
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  16. AVater
    Joined: Dec 9, 2008
    Posts: 3,148

    AVater
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    1. Connecticut HAMB'ers

    I used solid rod. Looks to be 7/16” but with paint etc could be 3/8”. Frankly the rod was something I had in the garage. If I did it again, would use thicker or perhaps DOM as suggested. Here’s another thought: old Ford bumper jack handles are 1/2” may be hardened?
     
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  17. jaracer
    Joined: Oct 4, 2008
    Posts: 2,419

    jaracer
    Member

    Ever seen a race car chassis built out of solid rod? Tubing is always stronger if you are comparing apples to apples.
     
    Stogy likes this.
  18. I used bicycle forks on the basis that they can support a 200lb man over rough ground they can support my mudguards.

    Bolted at four points and gusseted. Rubber between the support and the guard to reduce vibration.

    IMG_20210820_165656201_HDR.jpg
     
  19. ClarkH
    Joined: Jul 21, 2010
    Posts: 1,412

    ClarkH
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Somebody apparently did it with my old speedster, back in the day. Here are the cycle fenders that came with it, front (left) and rear. Outer supports connect to a spindle nut.
    IMG_3056.JPG

    Thing is, the castle nut spins freely inside the support, but there's no provision for a bearing. So apparently it just rode metal-on-metal? Seems crazy. Perhaps they were bolted on for show and removed for extended driving?

    IMG_3057.jpg

    Anyway, not sure this helps the converstation. I'm just saying, it's been done.
     
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  20. japchris
    Joined: Apr 21, 2001
    Posts: 362

    japchris
    Member
    from England

  21. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 2,598

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    Now this is interesting. And maybe to take it further down the bicycle parts path, maybe a proper silver bronze braze joint for any fabricated joints. After all steel tube bicycles are brazed and they take tremendous loads and beatings when ridden.
     
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  22. Blake 27
    Joined: Apr 10, 2016
    Posts: 1,504

    Blake 27

    Alternative method. Yes, I posted this before. DSC07191.JPG
     
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  23. The37Kid
    Joined: Apr 30, 2004
    Posts: 30,629

    The37Kid
    Member

    Like that idea a lot, I can see in & out brake cooling louvers punched in that. Bob

    [​IMG]
     
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  24. Dave G in Gansevoort
    Joined: Mar 28, 2019
    Posts: 2,598

    Dave G in Gansevoort
    Member
    from Upstate NY

    What gage is the support steel? This looks really strong.
     
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  25. bowie
    Joined: Jul 27, 2011
    Posts: 3,098

    bowie
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Back about 1990 , after running fenderless for about 10 years ; I was thinking of building a pair from a ‘36 tire cover. In talking about them with big Pete at Carlisle , he said he had just the thing for me. He said this pair ran on a Lehigh valley’32 thru the ‘50’s and ‘60’s and had never cracked. I have run them for about 30 years, still no problems…never did get around to painting them . Edit:they are made from tubing : AF53A386-339E-4655-8C3D-9109C14B250B.jpeg EF4688AA-2B4F-4AE6-9746-6ECFF6AD2C1E.jpeg 8F0D2FEE-60B4-45C0-8F32-BF4B1A2525E8.jpeg
     
    Last edited: Aug 23, 2021
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  26. fiftyv8
    Joined: Mar 11, 2007
    Posts: 5,394

    fiftyv8
    Member
    from CO & WA

    I must be a whimp as I used much heavier material and had most of it laser cut out as to minimise bends.
    Sorry that pic's are not really taken to focus acurately on the brackets but I figure you will get the idea after you stop laughing.
    I just did not want to be dropping a fender on the highway or worse...
     

    Attached Files:

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  27. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,345

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    Old school sporty car. The mounts are not so pretty, but the fenders don't add any weight to the suspension. Sorry I don't know the make or year of this cool little racer. Could be a special, just don't know. The fender style reminds me of an Allard or Kurtis from the 1950s.

    241352570_10221993079830886_1019919165394226082_n.jpg
     
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  28. gnichols
    Joined: Mar 6, 2008
    Posts: 11,345

    gnichols
    Member
    from Tampa, FL

    A car from down under, or England possibly? Pix from FB. I had an idea to mount rears for my truck like these on the axle ends, but never got around to them.
    241427138_6792778880748075_715184158100833630_n.jpg 241434849_6792779187414711_1131580944527820357_n.jpg
     
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  29. GordonC
    Joined: Mar 6, 2006
    Posts: 3,141

    GordonC
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I built a pair out of a spare tire ring I bought for $20! Welded nuts to the backing plate and made steel rod mounts to bolt them on. I also welded flat steel strap inside the fenders for the rod to weld to instead of just the thin sheet metal of the ring. Haven't run it a whole lot but did notice they do flop around some so am going to add some extra supports to them shortly.

    20191126_140942.jpg

    20191018_105857.jpg 20191018_105904.jpg
     
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  30. PhredH
    Joined: Feb 28, 2015
    Posts: 103

    PhredH

    In no particular order of fabrication. Used Ford steering shaft for tubing and 16 ga steel sides
    One more way to skin that cat. 14EEB268-0D00-4815-86E8-511C381E6405.jpeg AC2D21FA-21CD-40EB-A1A4-3E8E57E94328.jpeg 5C582BEF-6D5D-44FC-9E02-D32C667A48A8.jpeg 84D092BE-0823-4EA1-9912-29CF069312F7.jpeg D146E624-6618-4FC7-9FE9-FB29762B16DA.jpeg CA15AF0D-85D2-48F9-B4DD-7D03BC852292.jpeg D2FD0E03-0307-453F-A5BD-71D5AACDE106.jpeg 4A17C9E1-C42F-47D5-A134-2C04BD056981.jpeg 992839BE-72DD-46C6-8C0D-9C9B1F18135B.jpeg 6EA6F1D6-9112-4D77-96EA-9BC6CFDB6F69.jpeg B42DE1EF-86F7-4767-AEFF-69633B2CF10E.jpeg E349CFBD-7C8D-4434-938D-4BD358948C5B.jpeg 14EEB268-0D00-4815-86E8-511C381E6405.jpeg AC2D21FA-21CD-40EB-A1A4-3E8E57E94328.jpeg 5C582BEF-6D5D-44FC-9E02-D32C667A48A8.jpeg 84D092BE-0823-4EA1-9912-29CF069312F7.jpeg D146E624-6618-4FC7-9FE9-FB29762B16DA.jpeg CA15AF0D-85D2-48F9-B4DD-7D03BC852292.jpeg D2FD0E03-0307-453F-A5BD-71D5AACDE106.jpeg 4A17C9E1-C42F-47D5-A134-2C04BD056981.jpeg 992839BE-72DD-46C6-8C0D-9C9B1F18135B.jpeg 6EA6F1D6-9112-4D77-96EA-9BC6CFDB6F69.jpeg B42DE1EF-86F7-4767-AEFF-69633B2CF10E.jpeg E349CFBD-7C8D-4434-938D-4BD358948C5B.jpeg 14EEB268-0D00-4815-86E8-511C381E6405.jpeg AC2D21FA-21CD-40EB-A1A4-3E8E57E94328.jpeg AC2D21FA-21CD-40EB-A1A4-3E8E57E94328.jpeg 5C582BEF-6D5D-44FC-9E02-D32C667A48A8.jpeg 84D092BE-0823-4EA1-9912-29CF069312F7.jpeg D146E624-6618-4FC7-9FE9-FB29762B16DA.jpeg CA15AF0D-85D2-48F9-B4DD-7D03BC852292.jpeg D2FD0E03-0307-453F-A5BD-71D5AACDE106.jpeg 4A17C9E1-C42F-47D5-A134-2C04BD056981.jpeg 992839BE-72DD-46C6-8C0D-9C9B1F18135B.jpeg 6EA6F1D6-9112-4D77-96EA-9BC6CFDB6F69.jpeg B42DE1EF-86F7-4767-AEFF-69633B2CF10E.jpeg E349CFBD-7C8D-4434-938D-4BD358948C5B.jpeg 14EEB268-0D00-4815-86E8-511C381E6405.jpeg
     

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