Slide diaphragm replacement, oh what fun!

[Greg B]

I got the diaphragms from e-bay seller "nikau"
I have no intention of doing any type of slide repair. It takes too long, and from a cost standpoint, it ain't worth it. But I really didn't feel like giving Suzuki $116 per slide for new ones.
I just thought some folks might be interested in seeing how I did it, and maybe enjoy it, too.

[posplayr]

I got the diaphragms from e-bay seller "nikau"
I have no intention of doing any type of slide repair. It takes too long, and from a cost standpoint, it ain't worth it. But I really didn't feel like giving Suzuki $116 per slide for new ones.
I just thought some folks might be interested in seeing how I did it, and maybe enjoy it, too.

yea this thread is only going to serve to embarrass me when I put up my stuff I machined on a table saw







Just kidding very nice work. It is kinda like when I go to the grocery store and I can't find anything to eat because I don't cook . I can cook peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and slided package meats

[chef1366]

yea this thread is only going to serve to embarrass me when I put up my stuff I machined on a table saw







Just kidding very nice work. It is kinda like when I go to the grocery store and I can't find anything to eat because I don't cook . I can cook peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and slided package meats

If it wasn't for guys like me some guys would starve.

[Dave8338]

LUV IT!!!!!!!!!!! Very nice work!

Do you take requests for other one-off parts?

[salty_monk]

Very nice Greg. Not something you'd want to do in mass production I guess.... You must have a bunch of hours into it.

http://myworld.ebay.com/nikau/

Assuming they were listed under Honda?

http://cgi.ebay.com/HONDA-CB350-68-THRU-73-SL350-CL350-SLIDE-DIAPHRAGM-NEW-/350366605626?pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories#ht_500wt_1154

Wonder if that Honda slide has a replaceable diaphragm out of the box & if so is it an identical slide in size etc to the one on our bikes.... could be a direct swap??

[Greg B]

No, they were actually listed as Suzuki Diaphragms. Not really cheap at about $35 a pop, but better than the alternative I guess...
Actual machining and assembly was only a couple hours for all four. But I spent a fair bit of time thinking about exactly how I wanted to put them back together.
Truthfully, threading the parts was probably not necessary. I could have just made a press-in sleeve, bonded with the RC680. It would have worked just as well. 680 is SUPER strong. But I just liked the idea of a mechanical interface as opposed to just a chemical bond.

[bwringer]

I agree -- it's very, very nice work!

So does this mean there is no way to install new diaphragms without some sort of machining? I've removed them from old slides simply by pulling carefully, but it takes a lot of force, and I haven't tried reinstalling. The new ones appear to be a bit thicker, too, so that definitely wouldn't work if this is the case.

Just trying to think of a simpler way to do this... it could do a lot of good for a lot of bikes.

[salty_monk]

If a push in sleeve could be manufactured then replacement should be in the grasp of most people I would think...

You would want to make it so that you could be a little more brutal with the plastic bit that holds the diaphragm (so your average joe could dremel it off) so maybe it would need to replace that part at the same time.....

[Dave8338]

680 is SUPER strong. But I just liked the idea of a mechanical interface as opposed to just a chemical bond.

Which is why you do what you do.

[Greg B]

Yeah, these new diaphragms are thicker than the original ones. So there is no way you could install them on the slides without taking them apart.
The little instruction sheet that came with the parts made it seem like you could re-swedge the top of the slide to secure it, but there just wasn't enough material to do that, in my opinion.

[rapidray]

It is because of Greg's abilities to do things like this that makes me hang out with him & help HIM in any way I can!! NICE job Greg! You have impressed me again! Ray.

[themess]

Amazing work here Greg. I'd be afraid to even ask how many hours have been involved with sorting though this mod or how much you would have to bill to do another set. Suffice it to say I applaud your skills.

I read an article in Mother Jones on how to make a farm tractor for only $200 worth of junkyard parts. If the man who actually did it had used his considerable skills as a machinist, welder, mechanic and engineer for money, he could have easily bought a new John Deere.

[posplayr]

I read an article in Mother Jones on how to make a farm tractor for only $200 worth of junkyard parts. If the man who actually did it had used his considerable skills as a machinist, welder, mechanic and engineer for money, he could have easily bought a new John Deere.

Then you can pay sales tax on whole amount after which he continues to pay the income and SS Taxes on the monthly payments

And if he needs to get out from underneath it he cant as he is "under water" for life

[tejasmud]

I got the diaphragms from e-bay seller "nikau"
I have no intention of doing any type of slide repair. It takes too long, and from a cost standpoint, it ain't worth it. But I really didn't feel like giving Suzuki $116 per slide for new ones.
I just thought some folks might be interested in seeing how I did it, and maybe enjoy it, too.

I know exactly what you mean on doing stuff like this. It is time consuming, and not a way to make it rich that's for sure.

Instead of giving Suzuki $116 each, take the diaphragms at $35 each, put in the labor and material cost, and now you have slides that cost $216 each. lol

I do the same thing, often because no one in the World makes what I need at times.

Thanks for sharing.


E

[Greg B]

and now you have slides that cost $216 each. lol

Oh absolutely! But my time is cheap. (If I calculated the time I spent making my Top End Oiler kits, I would certainly be deep in the red, & I wouldn't have sold them so cheap)
And I enjoy doing it. At the very least, maybe someone will see what I've done & think of a better way, & be inspired to DO it. Maybe not just slide repair, but anything to make their ride better & more enjoyable.