Bend a Roll Bar in Houston?

Who can bend a 1 3/4" dia. x .120" wl. roll bar in a 180 deg bend with a tight (maybe 5") inside bend radius? Located in Houston.

Thanks for any ideas. Don

 

If this is for sanctioned racing, check the rules with the sanctioning body to see if there are bend radius specifications.

It would suck pretty hard to find this out the hard way.

 

Most shoes for bending tubing of this dia. are larger than this aprox 7"

 

Can you get a helmet in a 10" opening? Some padding would be nice too.

 

Try Boccard 713-643-0681.

 

5" is very tight... and mine only runs 90deg.

 

Call Bruces Rod Shop

 

I sorta make my living manufacturing tube benders and dies. The bend radius is usually specified on the tube centerline. Common CLR's for 1 3/4 tube are 5.5", 6", and 6.5". 7" radius dies are available but not too common because of their cost. A 6" CLR die would give you a 5 1/8 theoretical inside radius on 1 3/4 tube, but the springback will likely give you a radius closer to 5 1/4". Any of the above radii will make a nice smooth bend on your tubing, so its a matter of finding a shop that has a die set that'll give you what you need. If you need to maintain some specific amount of space between the tubes, two successive 90* bends can be made with a short straight area between them to give the desired spacing.

 

Maybe try and build your own bender.

http://www.thefont.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bikes/tube_bender.htm

Makes a nice tight 4" radius. Maybe find a bigger drum for a bigger radius. Then you can be the guy in Huston that bends roll bars.

 

Brilliant link EWMN..thanks.

 

My bender's radius for 1.75" is 6.25", but I cant bend 180's, I wouldnt be able to get the "U" off the shoe.

 

I can bend 1 3/4" at 180 degs, but my dies have an 8" CL radius.

Let me know if I can help.

 

check the industrial fabricators that serve the petrochem industry here. Houston Blowpipe comes to mind.

 

If you can't find it in Houston, forget it. Houston probably has more welding and fabrication shops than anyone in the US! Good luck and keep us posted OK?

 

Hi and thanks to all who answered with some ideas. I have been out of town and just back. So far no luck but I'm still looking. I will advise if/when I find someone (anywhere) who has a tight 1 3/4" dia. die.

Regards, Don