Author Topic: getting the front end off without a lift? (Read 2979 times)

Short Round · « **on:** August 16, 2006, 09:53:36 PM »

Hey guys/gals,
I need to get the forks off my CB550 to replace the boots and headlight ears but don't have axcess to a lift. Was wondering if anyone had built anything that worked well or if there is something I can use to get the front up off the ground enough to change out the things mentioned above. I looked at some lifts and none will work with my 4 into 4 exhaust, two of the pipes are in the way. Any help with some pics would be wonderful. Let me know. thanks - chris

angeldeville · « **Reply #1 on:** August 16, 2006, 10:29:52 PM »

I just put mine on the center stand and put a bottle jack under the front part of the frame.

then remove the wheel, and then your tubes...

STLrocker · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2006, 12:32:04 AM »

i usualy use a jack under the front of the bike as well.

you could also have someone sit on the back of the seat, while it is on the center stand, to raise the front. then put a block or something under it to hold it up.

another way i have done is to suspend it from above with a ratchet tie down. if you have a suitable beam overhead, you can hook the tiedown over it. then go through the frame of the bike and ratchet it off the gound. have it on the centerstand of course.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2006, 12:55:37 AM »

Exactly!!...And there are people on this site that were so proud of taking the center stand off! I personally think it was a great thing to put on a bike and wouldn't think of removing it.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2006, 01:50:02 AM »

mine's rigged to come on and off pretty easy in the shop - god forbid i ever need it on the fly - it hits my aftermarket pipes and doesn't retract all the way...

mrbreeze · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2006, 01:55:36 AM »

Ya' gotta make a bracket to keep it off the chain Junkie!!!!

cben750f0 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2006, 05:37:26 AM »

yep centre stand and a trolly jack....piece of cake....

peace

DammitDan · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2006, 05:46:59 AM »

I had the same problem junkie... I went and bought one of these (only with a thick threaded bent metal loop instead of a wire) and attached it to my drum brake brace. Brings the centerstand up higher than it originally sat but still doesn't rub the chain!

Anyways, I just use the jack from my truck. It's a small bottle jack, and I put it just behind the oil filter on the case.

cbjunkie · « **Reply #8 on:** August 17, 2006, 07:54:08 AM »

right and then i have no ground clearance...

not worth it.

ProTeal55 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 17, 2006, 11:45:55 AM »

I'm one of those guys who removed my center stand , and haven't looked back !

I bought a pretty Heavy duty motorcycle/ATV lift from Sears which does the job nicely, but you have to remove the exhaust in order to have it sit properly.

And remember, if your bike is suspended from a lift, and then you remove the front-end, the bike WILL fall backwards due to the change in weight.
Thats all I have to say about that

BobbyR · « **Reply #10 on:** August 19, 2006, 06:21:38 PM »

If you use the lift proteal and I both use. Be sure to to tie the front end down. I promise you it will flip over. If you use the center stand, just put some weights on the rear to tip the bike back and hold it in place while you work on it.

keiths · « **Reply #11 on:** August 19, 2006, 07:33:10 PM »

Here is my solution to using a standard jack with my 4 into 4 exhaust. http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=1006.msg6534#msg6534

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #12 on:** August 19, 2006, 07:38:51 PM »

I have no suitable jack or lift, I use the center stand, then put some lumber under the front wheel, use two canoe tie-downs around the front of the steering head and under rear of the bars, throw them over a garage rafter. Cinch them up good and tight then remove the lumber from under the front wheel. Used this for my tire change and rebuild of the front brakes and it sat that way for several days actually. I'm a slow worker.

mrbreeze · « **Reply #13 on:** August 19, 2006, 07:42:56 PM »

You the man Bob!!!! Done that exact thing many times.A man has gotta use his resources!!!

jaknight · « **Reply #14 on:** August 20, 2006, 01:03:20 AM »

I haven't found a lift that I have wanted to put the effort into modifying for my bike because of very limited living space (sardine can..... Ala Mode).

I live in an apartment complex; makes it rather restrictive about what I can do about overhead supports for my bike.

I have reworked the front end of my '74 750 K. I use the center stand........ made a 2x4 brace that is approx. 25 inches long. Cut a V notch in the top of the 2x4. I nailed a 9 inch by 18 inch by 3/4 of an inch thick piece of plywood on the bottom of the 2x4. Then, I attached with screws two metal "L" shaped braces reinforcing the 2x4 to the plywood (along with the nails through the bottom of the plywood into the 2x4).

With an ordinary bottle shaped hydraulic jack, I place it under the front engine brace just below the oil filter. Lift it enough for my 2x4 brace to catch the tube cross member just below the horn. My V notch at the top of the 2x4 engages at a height to clear the removal of the front wheel and tubes, yet the bike is touching ground with the center stand and has always remained stable for me.

Not the most technically advanced system, but it has worked fine for me in this apartment complex, which has me pretty limited about what I can do here.........

~ ~ ~ jaknight ~ ~ ~

RSV12K · « **Reply #15 on:** August 20, 2006, 05:39:56 AM »

I take the center stand off all my bikes. I have a lift, and use that when I can.

Depending on the bike, I'm not adverse to rigging up my high-tech alternative, which is one of those industrial-strength, telescoping alumiinum ladders. With the ladder in the inverted V position, I roll the bike under putting the front wheel on a couple of boards and then use well-placed, ratching tie downs to hold the front. Remove the boards, et voila, front wheel is off the ground high enough for the wheel to drop down. I've used this set-up with my CB750 at least twice and will do it a third time when I go to dual disks up front.

Peterbylt · « **Reply #16 on:** August 21, 2006, 06:25:05 PM »

I use the centerstand and a floor jack. The jack is a 3 ton floorjack from Sears $39.00.

If I did not have the floor jack I would get this motorcycle jack from harborfieght.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93033

Short Round · « **Reply #17 on:** August 21, 2006, 08:28:36 PM »

hey guys I got it done with only spending $20. I went to Tractor Supply and bought a 5000 lb. tow strap. threw it over a huge limb on a dogwood in my front yard, put my bike on the cengerstan under the limb and ran it under the trees. jacked her up and she wasn't going anywhere. I had to do some serious wrenching to get the forks free from the trees and she still didn't budge. The upper forks were so rusted from the PO that they had swelled to the point that I ahd to hammer them out. Thankfully I did so and replaced them with some newer forks. I am going to hold on to the lowers and springs and what not but the upper tuber are going to the junk yard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ElCheapo · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2006, 11:11:48 PM »

center stand and a floor jack under the filter housing. If that does not work a grenade flips her over nicely

Makes mess though

cbjunkie · « **Reply #19 on:** August 22, 2006, 05:52:59 AM »

Heepo - you strike me as the type to kill a fly with a howitzer...

ElCheapo · « **Reply #20 on:** August 22, 2006, 06:19:41 AM »

Quote from: cbjunkie on August 22, 2006, 05:52:59 AM

Heepo - you strike me as the type to kill a fly with a howitzer...

it does do the job

cmorgan47 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 22, 2006, 06:21:23 AM »

sorry for the late reply, but here's the procedure:

put bike in neutral and start
pull in clutch and put bike in first
sit as far back as possible
rev engine
dump clutch.

News:

Author Topic: getting the front end off without a lift? (Read 2979 times)

RSV12K

ElCheapo

ElCheapo