Run away Argo - I need to build a bumper!

[quiethorse]

I was messing with the Argo tonight. I was adjusting the throttle linkage. I carefully checked to make sure it was in neutral before I started it. I was standing next to it so I could adjust the linkage while it was running. Bad idea! Turns out that it wasn't "quite" in neutral. The engine started and took off like a bat out of hell. What a helpless feeling. It hit my 1969 coot and cracked the ABS lips where the two halves bolt together. The coot is built like a tank. They are all metal and HEAVY. The Coot barely moved forward but it's time to make some repairs to the Argo.

It's time to build a bumper. I've seen a few on here made out of angle iron. It looks like the builder cut small triangles then bent and welded. I would like to do the same. Will someone please give me some tips on how they got theirs to turn out so nice I would really appreciate it.

[Mike]

Ouch! I've had that happen when I was tightening the belt on my Max. I gave it a little throttle to see if it was fully engaging and ran over my foot. Not quite as bad as yours but embarrassing none-the-less.

As for the angle iron. I did just as you said, cut out pie shapes evenly around where the bend will be and then I actually just bent mine by hand. You can put it on the Argo to see how far to bend it. Then tack and weld it. This is a very time consuming process though.

Another option - McCoy mentioned that he had seen a bender for angle iron. You may want to look around your area for a place that can bend it for you. Make a template out of cardboard from your Argo and take that with you. Have them bend it and you will have a perfect bend.

I guess it really depends on how much time you want to invest. If you do decide to do it yourself, you need to get Rock Doctor to chime in on how he got his to look so nice. There is a thread on here somewhere that shows his bumper with the perfect bends...makes me sick

[Rock Doctor]

lol, Hey mike, you just beat me to it.

Straight cuts with a Chop Saw, untill you have enough to form the angle iron to the Argo. Then, once you have the shape you want, tack it to a work bench. This will keep the bumper in the shape you want, and prevent warping/twisting. It will also keep the bumper from "pulling" togeather when you weld up all the cuts.
I prefer to leave the finnished welds as is, after welding. Others like to grind them flush with the bumper. The choice is yours.

[argohunter]

Like Mike mentioned cut and weld will work and very time consuming. I built mine from one length of raw stock using a big hammer and even a bigger steel press so there was no cutting and welding involved. The most tedious and time consuming part was the frequent measuring to make sure it was going to come out looking nice and the way I wanted it. I was able to press drill the holes in the steel to match the the factory holes in the lip of the tub on my Max. I have a picture posted in the gallery. I used new steel because I did not have anything around that was the right size so it was more costly but because it was new, it had little blemishing and no rust pits to take away from it's appearance.

[argohunter]

Here it is. The marks on the steel that you can see are either dirt or road salt streaks

[quiethorse]

How do you make the cuts?

I'm sorry but I'm confused. Wouldn't you have to make pie shaped cuts out of the angle iron so that when you bend it, it will make the round shape?

"Straight cuts with a Chop Saw, untill you have enough to form the angle iron to the Argo. "

[ygmir]

I wonder if those straight cuts are lapped over eachother?
the photo kind of looks like it, or, my screen is screwy......
That would allow for bending and then re-welding the seams, unless, the seams are left just lapped.........

If I look closely, it looks like lines crossing the top and are going to the edge, both ways.....

[liflod]

The straight cuts are probably 1/8" wide , allowing a very gradual bend. The corners touch and the gap left is welded closed.

[Roger S]

That's done in woodworking too.

[LarryW]

Ok, I can handle the metal work. My problem is always the painting. Any tips on painting the bumper. I mean is there a spray paint that will work well or do I need to buy some expensive paint for the paint gun.
Larry

[jerrynuss]

I have had excellent results with Rustbullet. It can be sprayed or brushed. For the bumper on an AATV I'd brush it on. Put it on and forget it and you will never have rust come through.

I use it on frames when I do a rebuild. It really is great stuff. I buy it by the pint so I don't have it sitting around.

[quiethorse]

Paintin

Ok, I can handle the metal work. My problem is always the painting. Any tips on painting the bumper. I mean is there a spray paint that will work well or do I need to buy some expensive paint for the paint gun.
Larry

No need for fancy stuff. Clean it good with mineral spirits or something to make sure there isn't any grease. Then rattle can prime it, and rattle can paint it. They make some good rattle can paints these days.

I've used Rustbullet too. I painted the inside tub of a coot and you can get really good results with just a brush and it dries hard too.

[Rock Doctor]

liflod,
The straight cuts are probably 1/8" wide , allowing a very gradual bend. The corners touch and the gap left is welded closed.

This is how I did it, the cuts are not overlaped. The welds were intentionally left "raised", as I like the look.

This cut and weld method is not really all that time consuming, I had this bumper finished in about 4 hrs.