Topic: Need to take off wheels, what to do to stabilize bike while they are off?

[Vreihenmotor6]

hey guys, I've got the motor running nicely on my new to me 76 750f

now its time to adress the brakes and do some polishing/ cleaning of the fork legs and wheels

I think I'll be taking the front wheel off first, then later i'll take the rear off when I'm done with the front

whats the best way to stabilize the bike with no front wheel?

I have the factory center stand

thanks guys

[Artf0rm]

$99 bucks.  And good for all kinds of things that will come down the road.  Get that and some ratchet straps and your bike won't go anywhere you don't want it to go.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb-capacity-atv-motorcycle-lift-2792.html

[Stev-o]

+1 on a jack, safest way to work on your bike. Check your local CL, I see them for sale regularly for as low as $50.

[shizzomynizzo]

Best tool i bought for the bike besides the impact driver. Harbor freight has them on sale for 60 all the time

[CycleRanger]

Just stick a cinder block and some 2x4 ends under the forks...
Don't over-think it.

[70CB750]

I lift it with come along and support with blocks and wood.

[ekpent]

A small Hydro jack or other with a small block of wood under the oil filter or engine will stabilize and allow you to raise a little higher. Don't need to spend money,the centerstands work well.

[raymond10078]

If put a 2x4 under the centerstand, then I just use a jack to raise the front end until the rear tire just touches, or I have enough clearance.  I need the 2x4 or else the rear tire touches before I have enough clearance (for the front tire/fender).

On one bike I have an ugly engine guard - that I'll put regular jack stands under as well.

[Artf0rm]

Good call Stev-o

Vreihen, go forth and buy used:
http://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/mcy/2693984640.html

[mono]

hahaha --- since you guys mentioned checking CL for $50 bike jacks, i just did and there's one in town for sale for $50!  i'm picking it up tonight.  i guess wisdom = learning from others!  i love this forum.

[Rigid]

A stack of 2x4 lumber under the frame rails will work also and is cheaper.  Go for the lift at $50, and BTW, offer $30, the seals wear out and they leak down over time.  Don't rely on the hydraulics to hold the bike, use the lock bar.

[Gordon]

A motorcycle jack works, as do many other temporary and readily available (free) options.  When making a purchase of this sort, think about how many times it will be needed versus the cost and the space available for storage of it. 

I've rebuilt several bikes with only a floor jack and a piece of wood to hold the wheels off the ground.  If you'll need to be able to move the bike around while the wheels are off, then a motorcycle jack is the way to go.  If not, a standard floor jack and a piece of wood is all you need.   

[bjatwood]

I'm in the "Thrifty" group with the piece of wood with a vee cut in it for under frame support. It works excellent when the front wheel is needed off the floor surface. IE=that a SOHC owner would call "Monthly Maintenance" 

[luap]

hole in the ceiling with a ratchet strap looped over the truse looped around the neck, an another looped around the seat up to the one around the trus

[Vreihenmotor6]

thanks guys, I'm gonna try with the wood / jack stands, I'll post back how it goes, I'd rather not take the exhaust off again, but we'll see how much space there is

[mono]

ok guys i need some advice - i got my bike jack tonight but it's got a crossbar support smack in the middle between the 2 "lifting arms" that my oil pan will hit.   i've got everything off the bike except for the front end and the engine, and my goal is to lift the bike to remove the front wheel/forks/etc. so it's a frame with an engine.

the "hanging it from the rafters" suggestion is awesome.  wish i hadn't gotten rid of the 1/2 ton chain hoist i used to have :/   oh, but this was before i decided to become a garage monkey.

[CoachDoc]

Count me as a FORMER proponent (along with all my fellow cheap sh*ts) of the 2x4's under the frame rails to save a buck or two. Here's what happens if Murphy's Law strikes. Get the jack.

[Stev-o]

Mono - put a couple 2x4's on your jack.

[bjatwood]

Count me as a FORMER proponent (along with all my fellow cheap sh*ts) of the 2x4's under the frame rails to save a buck or two. Here's what happens if Murphy's Law strikes. Get the jack.

Coach, what is that yellow jack looking thing under the Blue tarp? Could that be a "JACK"?!?!?!

[Rigid]

I got my jack for Christmas from Sears about 5 years ago.  I use it all the time.  That being said, I see no reason for a bike to spontaneously fall off of a small stack of properly placed 2x4 boards.  I use that method also, when my jack is serving another bike.  No more chance of that than the seals in the hydraulic jack failing (even slowly) and dumping the bike on the floor while it is unattended.  Always use the locking bar on floor jacks, always use jack stands under a vehicle, and never trust hydraulics.  never. 

[CycleRanger]

Count me as a FORMER proponent (along with all my fellow cheap sh*ts) of the 2x4's under the frame rails to save a buck or two. Here's what happens if Murphy's Law strikes. Get the jack.

Coach, what is that yellow jack looking thing under the Blue tarp? Could that be a "JACK"?!?!?!

[Rigid]

Count me as a FORMER proponent (along with all my fellow cheap sh*ts) of the 2x4's under the frame rails to save a buck or two. Here's what happens if Murphy's Law strikes. Get the jack.

Coach, what is that yellow jack looking thing under the Blue tarp? Could that be a "JACK"?!?!?!

Whats a ROFL? 

[heffay]

Rolling On Floor Laughing = ROFL

There's also roflmao or roflmfao etc

[HondanutRider]

the "hanging it from the rafters" suggestion is awesome.  wish i hadn't gotten rid of the 1/2 ton chain hoist i used to have :/

Actually, that is a very nice solution.  Another way to achieve the same is with an engine hoist.  They can be made to act like a crane, and as such it is possible to hang a bike with straps from it and hold it in the air while removing the wheels.  The engine hoists usually also have wheels, making it easy to move the suspended bike around.  I have a motorcycle lift like the Harbor Freight described, and I actually prefer using the engine hoist.  I recently used the hoist on the front only of a bike while I removed the forks to replace the seals.

[heffay]

I didn't want to post these, but after the jack-off pictures I'm reminded that we all do silly things.  At least mine didn't end up with the bike on the ground.   

the 2x4 rigging was only there as a prop in case the weld on the clothes line post gave way.  It was super strong though, it didn't even move or creak.  I think I was being overly cautious, but had I not done it, I'm sure it would have come crashing down.

[70CB750]

You would at least bend it - better be safe.

[heffay]

You would at least bend it - better be safe.

i can pretty much guarantee i could have never bent that with 300ish pounds hanging from it, the steel was about a 1/4" thick.  it was waaaaay over built.  it was back from at least the 50s, it looked like.  before i slung the bike to it, i hung on it and bounced a lot and whacked it with a big sledge a couple times.   you know, just to weaken it as much as possible before dangling my precious from it

[heffay]

better be safe.

but yes, agreed

[CoachDoc]

Count me as a FORMER proponent (along with all my fellow cheap sh*ts) of the 2x4's under the frame rails to save a buck or two. Here's what happens if Murphy's Law strikes. Get the jack.

Coach, what is that yellow jack looking thing under the Blue tarp? Could that be a "JACK"?!?!?!

\\
 OK, I'm busted. I use the HF jack all the time for my GL1500, but I figured- what the hell, it's so much easier to just tip the front up and stick the wood under the rails. Neglected to factor into the equation 2 70 lb. canines who come tearing out of the house like freight trains off the rails. Down came that pile of boxes, and the bike was on the ground in no time. I amend therefore my previous post as follows: Get the jack. Then USE THE F***ING JACK!!!!!!

[78whiteorbs]

I have my front end off now jacked up with a 2x6  and the center stand - You guys are making me nervous   that 550 on the floor picture is making me nervous.....

hastily leaving to replace front end......

fwiw though I think there's nothing wrong with the ghetto jack but only if you are doing something right then and there and it isnt gonna sit for any real length of time - stuff happens . The last xs650 I had I came to realize quick I needed a moto jack as for some bikes you cannot use this method on because of the designs-

these fellas had a bright idea, think it's called the East LA (Louisiana ) method

[Stev-o]

That pic is making me nauseous, please make it go away!

[CoachDoc]

I think I know those guys.

[mono]

thought i'd share a bit of irony with you all about this topic:

tuesday night i bought a moto jack, but it's got a center cross-bar that prevents me from using it (fixing that this weekend).

anyways, my bike's been torn down for about a month now and on the CS and front wheel.   well last night i was working on my car and bumped the bike with my arse.  this made the front wheel turn, the bike shifted, and the center stand collapsed.  Luckily the bike's fall was broken by the plastic oil drain pan (for changing oil) which was underneath it.  yeah, i had to clean up about 2qts of dirty motor oil i hadn't bottled, but the bike is OK.

i'm guessing the center stand would not have failed if i had one of those front wheel stabilizers on, but of course i didn't.

after it happened, i just looked at the moto jack and threw it a few curse words lol

[heffay]

That sucks, Mono.

I was parting out a 350f (to a number of members on here) a few years ago and it was minus the front end at this point, only a rear wheel, frame and engine.  It was on the center stand and didn't want to lean back so I needed to brace the front.  I have a big army crate that sits just high enough for the steering stem to sit on nicely.  I wheeled it over there, by carrying it at the stem, got it on the center stand again and leaned it on the crate.  It wasn't over the crate far enough so I grabbed it in the same fashion and stupidly pulled it right off the center stand.  The bottom of the steering stem smashed down on the metal crate... my fingers were underneath!  It only caught the end of my right pinky and the end of my ring finger on my left hand.  Both got smashed to hell and pulled good chunks of skin off the pads.  I finally lost my pinky nail about 3 months later putting on my snowboarding glove.     They were black for about a half a year.  The feeling in my pinky is just now getting back to normal.

[mono]

ouch!  you win, heffay.   i'm just really grateful that no damage was done to my bike.  i was ready to get hurt in the process of saving it from its fall --- i have pretty good insurance, so it's cheaper for me to get hurt.  plus, some time off work would let me stay in the garage all day...   hmmm..... lol.

[heffay]

I was wearing gloves too... garage day was cancelled for about a week.  Gimpy or not, guys needed parts!