Author Topic: Lifting front wheel (Read 7071 times)

Vertigo · « **on:** April 13, 2015, 05:23:08 AM »

Hi,

I have a very basic question bubt I'd rather ask it now before doing stupid things. I need to remove the front wheel but I can't get it off the ground. With the bike on the center stand, I used a jack and tried to lift the front but the rear is still lifting.
Anyone knows a simple and safe way to do this without the use of a stand.
(Having someone sitting on the bike doesn't sound like the solution

Thanks,

70CB750 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 13, 2015, 05:25:30 AM »

On my CB750 I lift the front wheel by the cross pipe under the steering.

I have a piece of wood that fits between this pipe and bottle jack, works well.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #2 on:** April 13, 2015, 05:33:49 AM »

You could disconnect the shocks, this would let the front raise when jacked.

Steve_K · « **Reply #3 on:** April 13, 2015, 05:36:04 AM »

I use a front stand, the kind that goes into the steering stem. I use a rear stand with it, because if you use only a front stand it will fall over. Sometimes a front stand work with the center stand, but I would be careful about that.
There are many ways to do it, just be safe and don't let her fall over.
Steve

grcamna2 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 13, 2015, 05:51:55 AM »

Find a way to hold the back wheel down to the ground will work w/o causing the front to be unsupported and precarious,if it was me put a 100lb. bag of grain on the back seat,etc. while up on the mainstand will work.

mystic_1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 13, 2015, 06:04:32 AM »

For years I did it like this:

Bike on centerstand.
Unbolt the front wheel axle caps.
Grab forks by the uppers just above the lowers.
Pick up front end of bike
Kick front wheel out of the way
Kick milk crate with a 2x4 on top of it, under the forks
Lower bike.

I don't necessarily recommend this, of course haha. But, two people, a pair of jackstands, and a 1/2" pipe would work too.

mystic_1

Bodi · « **Reply #6 on:** April 13, 2015, 06:09:13 AM »

If you have a garage with exposed trusses or a good sized tree branch available, just tie a rope to the bar between the clamps and lift the front wheel. A come-along is best but if you're handy with knots a plain rope works. A good weight on the back of the seat works well if you can't lift the front. A person is enough weight but won't stay there for long. This assumes someone hasn't used a combination of tires, shocks, and forks that leaves both wheels grounded when on the centre stand. I've seen bikes with this situation. At least it's easy to get them on the stand?

Wobbly · « **Reply #7 on:** April 13, 2015, 06:50:02 AM »

An upside-down turned plastic bucket will do. Push it under the oil-filter case towards the oil pan, while someone pushes the back of the bike down and you lift the front fork some. Not very professional, but no harm and works surprisingly well if none of the other methods are available and you need a quick fix. Make sure to loosen/take off the nuts, speedo cable, before doing this. Don't touch the brake lever once the wheel is out (but you know that).

evanphi · « **Reply #8 on:** April 13, 2015, 06:56:44 AM »

My front end lifts just fine. Put a short 2x4 just behind the engine mount points up front (exhaust off, probably). Then use a small car jack on the wood to raise the front enough. All you need is about an inch or two of clearance.

Airborne 82nd · « **Reply #9 on:** April 13, 2015, 08:09:22 AM »

12v ATV winch hung from the trusses wit several different type straps. Use it for a lot of thing good for lawn tractor too. Nothing like just pushing a button.

Once you do it like this you will wonder why you didn't do it a long time ago.

Garage_guy_chris · « **Reply #10 on:** April 13, 2015, 08:59:21 AM »

you could just put a scrap of 2x4 or 2x6 under the center stand then jack up under the front of the frame or consider a motorcycle jack something like this

which is on sale at harbour frieght for $89
http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capacity-atvmotorcycle-lift-61632.html

I have a similar one and it works great, only issue can be exhausts under the frame, in my case i made a plywood cradle that goes on top to lift around the exhaust

JimJamerino · « **Reply #11 on:** April 13, 2015, 09:33:08 AM »

And remember, to get the wheel out/off, you don't have to lift the front by much. Having the front wheel off the ground by an inch or two will be enough.

Vertigo · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2015, 11:20:43 AM »

Thanks for all the advices,
I see diversity lies in the simplest things. Good!
I'll consider the different options and let you know

PeWe · « **Reply #13 on:** April 13, 2015, 12:06:13 PM »

Simple jack, wooden plank and jack stand under each foot peg. Bike on side stand when starting. No centerstand on bike.

Moffman · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2015, 08:48:08 PM »

Like the other's have said, jack and wood worked for me.

70CB750 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 14, 2015, 03:17:59 AM »

Quote from: Moffman on April 13, 2015, 08:48:08 PM

Like the other's have said, jack and wood worked for me.

Yes, that's how I do it too. Your setup is more stable, with bottle jack you always have to watch for the right angle of the plank.

Scott S · « **Reply #16 on:** April 14, 2015, 03:44:21 AM »

Best money I ever spent.

Airborne 82nd · « **Reply #17 on:** April 14, 2015, 05:02:34 AM »

Quote from: Scott S on April 14, 2015, 03:44:21 AM

Best money I ever spent.

I like that one. Brand name is? Got a link?
Thanks

MoMo · « **Reply #18 on:** April 14, 2015, 07:32:55 AM »

never saw that set up, looks like the cats pajamas for bikes with not center stand...Larry

Scott S · « **Reply #19 on:** April 14, 2015, 11:22:45 AM »

I either got mine from eBay or Harbor Freight.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1100-LB-Motorcycle-Dirt-Bike-ATV-Scissor-Mini-Jack-Lift-Stand-Center-Floor-New-/171753962343?hash=item27fd557b67&item=171753962343&vxp=mtr

You can use the little leg things to fit on the frame...usually with just about any exhaust...and if you position it far enough forward, you can let the rear wheel rest on the ground, center stand down, and remove the whole front end. Lots of options with that one and stores easily.

Airborne 82nd · « **Reply #20 on:** April 14, 2015, 01:53:49 PM »

I have 4 into 2 the black part to get away from the pipes and on the frame is what I like.

NebraskaMechanicDynamite · « **Reply #21 on:** April 14, 2015, 03:14:33 PM »

I had someone sit on the back of the bike whilst on centerstand an then kicked a log underneath it. Worked great! Still bought a jack afterwards though

Deflating both tires gives more play, which helped me a lot back then.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2015, 03:27:32 AM »

^^ That handle sure rolls off the tongue. :p

grcamna2 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 15, 2015, 05:20:14 AM »

I repair cycles & when I had my little shop I would replace fork seals on sport bikes up on my Western M/C lift by rolling the bike up the ramp onto the lift(back wheel first)and then tightly clamping the back wheel down.I would then jack underneath the center of the 4 into 1 exh. w/ a piece of wood as mentioned earlier or find the center point on the underside of the lower crankcase and use a small piece of wood on the top of the bottle(i have a wider Nissan truck mechanical screw jack that looks like a hydraulic bottle jack & has a wider center shaft & contact point )jack and hold up the front end while the back wheel is securely clamped down.The exh. header worked the best most of the time & especially the oem,strong headers and the bike was steady because the Western Handy lift has an excellent clamping mechanism to hold the entire bike secure while I was working/loosening & tightening up the front end.

Scott S · « **Reply #24 on:** April 16, 2015, 02:48:06 AM »

I used mine on my XS650 project yesterday.

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Author Topic: Lifting front wheel (Read 7071 times)

Wobbly