I would like to solicit suggestions for jacking the whole rig in the air for full tire removal, or whatever. I have a HD Softail, a Cal Lift and a number of car jacks and jack stands at this point.
One of you must have came up with a great idea.
KC
If I'm in my shop, I use my floor jack or a bottle jack. When I'm on the road, I have a scissors jack that is stored on the sidecar shock mount.
At present, I have two of those "motorcycle jacks" sold by various vendors. I put one under the bike and the other under the car. By myself, I give a few pumps to one then a few to the other till the rig is all the way up.
Future plans are for the table lift sold by Harbor Freight ($300 when on sale) and an electric hoist (about $90 on sale at HF). Run the bike up on the table lift. Attach the hoist using a nylon web strap to the sidecar frame by the wheel. Pump the table lift up while raising the hoist to keep the car level. When at max height, slide a "jackstand" made from 2x4's under the car. Ready to go at a perfect height.
Sarge
Speaking of scissors jacks, don't go out and buy a new one. Hit the junkyards and look for one from a Riceburner. Some years back I had one from, I think, a Toyota that I carried in my VW Bug. I got caught one time with no handle and I was still able to lift the car using only my fingers to turn the knob! Now THAT is a darned good jack!!
Sarge
Sarge,
I used a MG-TD jack for decades till someone got off with it.
It was a short little two stage screw jack that worked great.
Lonnie
I have a Handy Lift table ( http://www.handy-lift.com/Motorcycle-Lifts.htm#MLIFT ). When I can afford a bigger garage, I'll purchase a second one and run them together off a single valve.
I use a Handy table for solo work but they're not all that handy for combos. You still can't get between the bike and the hack to work easily. For that it's either over the top or underneath.
"For full tire removal". I'm thinking the question was about removing all three wheels at once although I don't know why that would be necessary.
Jacking and blocking one corner at a time works fine.
Lonnie
Originally written by Hack'n on 10/19/2006 1:30 AM
I use a Handy table for solo work but they're not all that handy for combos. You still can't get between the bike and the hack to work easily. For that it's either over the top or underneath.
"For full tire removal". I'm thinking the question was about removing all three wheels at once although I don't know why that would be necessary.
Jacking and blocking one corner at a time works fine.Lonnie
You're right, but I had planned on tieing them together with rods through the holes that are there for the side extensions. If I use eight foot pipes I would have about a four foot gap between them. I agree that it's usually a lot more convenient to spend the 5 or 10 minutes to simply drop the sidecar and raise the bike. And then I don't have two tables to trip over when I'm not using them. Instead of wishing for another one I should be thankful I have one.
Lonnie,
I use a 4 castor dolly with cribing so I can remove(4 bolts) the sidecar and roll it out of the way. I suppose I could put the whole rig on the dolly to remove all 3 wheels.
this is what I built and use to get the rig off the floor. just slide the ramps out and drive it up.I can work under the rig very easily. also has side extensions for tool or a car/scissors jack to raise one or more whhla off the surface.
the ramps store inside each workstand and they stack up on top of each other for storage.
Impressive, Bob! Well done. I've considered building an extension for the sidecar wheel on my Handy lift but haven't done it yet. I've got a jack from a Mazda or Courier pickup I modified to lift the bike since the floor jack almost but won't quite fit under it. I can lift the bike with the modified jack and the sidecar with the floor jack. Other than when I want to remove wheels/tires, I just work on it on the floor. Or take it to the local H-D shop and pay them.
Originally written by Bob in Wis on 10/19/2006 8:49 AM
this is what I built and use to get the rig off the floor. just slide the ramps out and drive it up.I can work under the rig very easily. also has side extensions for tool or a car/scissors jack to raise one or more whhla off the surface.
the ramps store inside each workstand and they stack up on top of each other for storage.
I really like what you did, but I also like the ability to raise and lower it depending on what I'm doing. Between fused vertabrae in my back and knees that no longer like to bend, sometimes I wish I could get it higher than even the Handy allows.
If I ever get my dream garage, I may have you build me a set.
a good thing is one stand can be used by itself for a solo bike.has the extensions for both sides. I didnt install the inside ones because I need to get under , between the bike and SC.
one bad thing is you need room for them to ride the bike up. the stand is 8" long, the ramps are 8' long, plus you need the room in front of the ramp to line the rig up. 16' plus the bike.
I have no problem just opening the garage door and pull the bike in front of the ramps, then ride up. or push with help..not for me tho .
the wood strips on the floor are just spacers. cut to size of your rig WB. they are moved out of the way after the rig is up there.
the left ramp is painted with a sand textured paint for great traction for the bike...no slippy!!!
I knew there was some creative minds out there. Looks like you did a great job laying it out. How bout some more details?
Originally written by Bluecedar on 10/19/2006 9:02 PM
I knew there was some creative minds out there. Looks like you did a great job laying it out. How bout some more details?
should have mentioned.....I didnt design them. I got the plans and layout on line at this site. then spent a month building 2 of them for my rig.
at the e-drawing link you can view a moving 3d drawing of it.
also can print out the cutout drawings and the assembly instructions.
http://www.midnightfantasy.com/cyber/shop/workstand.html
