Topic: Lifting a 750 4 (jacking up)

[Wayne Grauel]

i'VE GOT A SEARS MOTORCYCLE JACK WITH THE TWO RAILS...

GETTING READY TO START THE BIKE PROJECT.

ANY RECOMMENDATIONS ON LIFTING THIS THING.  iT'S DEFINITELY NOT going to be as easy as lifting me son's dirt bike

(sorry caps lock)   I assume that some care should be taken about the pipes (stock exhaust)... I'm the bike with the trattle in lower lefr)..

since no one has any ideas on that, I'm not sure what to do about the rattle.

Do you guys use 2X4's or blocks to prevent crushing the exhaust tubes?

I can't imagine pushing this thing up a ramp to tale height  it's in good shape and I'd like to keep it that way!!!

Thanks
Wayne

[medic09]

I have the Craftsman jack.  Only used it twice so far.  Definately use tie-down straps to stabilize the bike.

Me:  "And this, dear, is how easy it use this jack.  You could do it yourself."
Wife:  "Uh, the bike is really leaning over on this side!   Ahhhhhh!"

Well, it didn't fall in the end, but lesson learned.

[okie]

I have the Sears jack.  Sure wish I had spent more and gotten the aluminum one.  Yes, I use 2x4's and/or 1x4's to prevent lifting on the pipes.  As said before, tie-downs are a MUST.

[Sweep]

Take off the exhaust with the bike on the kickstand then use the jack.  The sidestand bung got in the way of my jack working well but with the wheels on it worked well enough.  When I went to dismantle the front end and rear it got a little interesting but still worked.

[KB02]

I say take the pipes off before lifting it.

[Bob Wessner]

I say take the pipes off before lifting it.

I second that.

[bgfootball67]

Each time I have done maintenance or put the bike up for the winter, I have taken the pipes off.  I tried the wood thing and was not successful (I should have screwed the pieces together) as it slipped and dented one of the pipes and almost through my back out.  Now that I am tearing into her, it does not make that big of difference, at the time it made me sick to my stomach though.

[Wayne Grauel]

Message Received!!! LOUD and CLEAR!

The more I think of it, the more I'm thinking of securing a wood platform large enough to hold the bike and have room around it to work... 

 I'll make a slot for the tires, at a couple of inches off the floor, I'll just run it up on the platform and put it on the center stand and then winch it down with a stop for the front wheel...

Then I can lift it with forks on my tractor and set it back down on a "Table" a couple of feet tall with wheels to move it...  Logic says I'll bolt the platform to the table!! and have it wide enough to maintain stability

then it would make a workbench around the bike with room to lay tools, etc.


If I use my sears jack I'll take note of getting pipes out of the way.. be best for cleaning and getting to it anyway!

Thanks for the advice and I'll make sure my wife doesn't watch!

If I do the bench idea I'll document it and post it later.

Thanks!
Wayne

[bill440cars]

        I can't seem to find it now but, Sam's Club used to have an adapter that you could attach to the top of the jack. This attachment had 4 adjustable legs that cupped pieces at the top of each leg (like a piece of tubing sliced horizonaly to fit up on the lower side of the lower frame tubing. I wish I had a picture. The base of the adapter was square) where it attached to the jack) Not sure how well it worked, looked good though.

                                                  Later on, Bill

[BobbyR]

If it is stock exhaust in decent shape, jut put it underneath as close to center as you can and lift. I have left mine on there all winter and no ill effects tp the pipes. IF you are going to remove a wheel put a jack stand under it on the opposite side. Tieing down is dicey in that case.

[medic09]

If it is stock exhaust in decent shape, jut put it underneath as close to center as you can and lift. I have left mine on there all winter and no ill effects tp the pipes. IF you are going to remove a wheel put a jack stand under it on the opposite side. Tieing down is dicey in that case.

Good point about the balance if you remove a wheel.  I second that.

I have 4 into 2 exhausts, but haven't had much problem.  Haven't left the bike up for long, though.

[eurban]

Can't imagine jacking up the motorcyle and using the pipes as a point of contact! . . . .  I made an adapter for my 750 with stock 4-4 pipes out of a rectangle of 3/4 ply, 2 chunks of 2x4s, 1 chunk of 4x4, 3 half slices of 1 1/2 PVC pipe and some thick rubber.  The 2x4 chunks are mounted (screwed down standing tall ways 3.5 inches) at the front of the adapter running parallel to  and directly underneath the frame rails.  The PVC cradles are screwed to the 2x4s and lined with rubber to protect my powdercoated frame.  The 4x4 sits directly underneath the cross rail near the center stand.  It also has a PVC cradle and rubber lining it.  If I remember correctly, the front 2x4s had to be trimmed a bit in height to have the bike be level with lifted.  I work with wood for a living so this little project only took about a half hour and allows me to lift my bike safely without damaging pipes or frame paint.  I took off my centerstand so having a good method of lifting is a must for me.

[medic09]

Can't imagine jacking up the motorcyle and using the pipes as a point of contact! . . . .  I made an adapter for my 750 with stock 4-4 pipes out of a rectangle of 3/4 ply, 2 chunks of 2x4s, 1 chunk of 4x4, 3 half slices of 1 1/2 PVC pipe and some thick rubber.  The 2x4 chunks are mounted (screwed down standing tall ways 3.5 inches) at the front of the adapter running parallel to  and directly underneath the frame rails.  The PVC cradles are screwed to the 2x4s and lined with rubber to protect my powdercoated frame.  The 4x4 sits directly underneath the cross rail near the center stand.  It also has a PVC cradle and rubber lining it.  If I remember correctly, the front 2x4s had to be trimmed a bit in height to have the bike be level with lifted.  I work with wood for a living so this little project only took about a half hour and allows me to lift my bike safely without damaging pipes or frame paint.  I took off my centerstand so having a good method of lifting is a must for me.

PICS?  You know this forum likes pics... 

[BobbyR]

Can't imagine jacking up the motorcyle and using the pipes as a point of contact! . . . .  I made an adapter for my 750 with stock 4-4 pipes out of a rectangle of 3/4 ply, 2 chunks of 2x4s, 1 chunk of 4x4, 3 half slices of 1 1/2 PVC pipe and some thick rubber.  The 2x4 chunks are mounted (screwed down standing tall ways 3.5 inches) at the front of the adapter running parallel to  and directly underneath the frame rails.  The PVC cradles are screwed to the 2x4s and lined with rubber to protect my powdercoated frame.  The 4x4 sits directly underneath the cross rail near the center stand.  It also has a PVC cradle and rubber lining it.  If I remember correctly, the front 2x4s had to be trimmed a bit in height to have the bike be level with lifted.  I work with wood for a living so this little project only took about a half hour and allows me to lift my bike safely without damaging pipes or frame paint.  I took off my centerstand so having a good method of lifting is a must for me.

PICS?  You know this forum likes pics... 

I use the Craftsman jack all the time without taking the pipes off and I will do so tomorrow since I will probably change the chain. With the stock 4-4 pipes it is not an issue. If I can I will shoot some pics.

[eurban]

Here's a couple pics of the lift with the "adapter" in use.  You can just see the PVC/rubber cradle on the dyno sides 2x4 (cut down in height)  chunk.  The pipes on my 78K project are NOS and currently made of unobtanium.  No way I'm going to lift a 540lb bike on these plus I wouldn't expect that the pipe to head joint or the rear mounting brackets to be in any way designed to carry this load.  Not a wise choice IMHO.

[eurban]

And another shot from the rear.  I've got too many things disassembled at the moment to take her off the lift and take a pic of the adapter off the bike. . . .

[Bob Wessner]

eurban,

Thanks for posting the pics, makes sense now, my "visual circuitry" was not working well with just the description. I also think the cradle tubes are the only safe place to lift them.

[DF]

I just made a quick jig for my new lift.  I just used scrap wood plank and made two rails to sit under the frame.  I quickly routered a groove so the frame tubes would half-assed sit in them for stability.  I also had to cut out a slot fot the kickstand.  I could have made the jig a little narrower, but thought the bigger the base, the more stable it would be.

It was a little tense jacking it up by myself for the first time not knowing where the balance point would be.... what I did was set up the tie down strap with just a little bit of slack before lifting up.  When it reached the height I needed, the strap was already tight and the bike secure.

I would show you the jig by itself, except my bike is sitting on it right now.  Once I get the wheels back on, I'll make a more precise jig that fits and looks better.  But it does the job for now!

I should mention that this jig will not work with the exhaust on - but removing the pipes is a 5 minute job anyway.  Good luck.