hoist

[baldo]

Hello all,

I;m trying to make working on my bike a little easier. I currently use a Kendon bike lift. It's a folding scissor type lift. It works reasonable well, but it has limitations. What I'm trying to make easier is the rear end maintenance. I have a small wheeled trolley that rides in the rail of the lift. It works pretty well, except for one thing....It's lost. I cannot find that damn thing to save my life. So I've been using the scissor jack from my truck. it doesn't roll, so I get nervous.

Anyway, I want to come up with a hoist system that will allow me to lift the bike and place it on a work surface. Whether it's my lift or a yet-to-be-constructed rolling work table.

I have a standard garage with standard height ceilings. I'd like to suspend a steel rod under the joists, but up pretty close. Then use a winch, block and tackle, whatever to lift the bike and place the work surface under it.

I've found these brackets called purlin splicers that might work, but the size I need, 2x4, is constructed of a few pieces welded together. I'd prefer one piece. I would then drill holes through them and place a steel rod through those holes. Hang a winch and call it a day.



I'm posting this to see if anyone has done this before. No way I'm the first guy that wants to do this.

[hubcapsc]

What size are your ceiling joists? What distance do they span?

-Mike

[3W-lonerider]

I'm hoping your not gonna try and lift a bike using a 2by4 as the support. I don't think you would get the bike off the floor before that thing breaks.

[Rams]

What size are your ceiling joists? What distance do they span?

-Mike

I sure as heck would not lift my fat lady using 2X4s.   If your joists are that and I had to lift from the ceiling structure, I would go above and ensure that there are multiple joists supporting the weight by running  2X8s on edge.   

[Bighead]

How about buying an adapter for a floor lift ? I have one and have never had a problem lifting high enough to change the rear.

[baldo]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm not going to lift from a 2x4...lol

My ceiling joists are 2x10 or 12. i haven't climbed up to measure yet. The steel 'bracket' is sized for the width of a 2x4, looks like 6" or 8" tall. I would slide it up from the bottom of the joist, bore through the joist in four places and bolt through the joist. I'm thinking I could drill a hole through the lower portion and run a steel rod through, spanning 3 or 4 joists. I'd put a bracket on each joist.

Look at the picture of the bracket, hopefully you can see what I mean.

[baldo]

How about buying an adapter for a floor lift ? I have one and have never had a problem lifting high enough to change the rear.

IJ have an adapter, too. I just really really hate working bent over like that.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Bob, I don't think I would use those brackets. I'm no structural engineer by any means. But it seems like they would be weakening your trusses, as they are just bolted thru the trusses. It seems a steel beam, a 2x10, or a steel pipe laid over the truss bottoms would be much stronger. This assumes your trusses are open and not sheet rocked in.

[f6john]

Bob, I don't think I would use those brackets. I'm no structural engineer by any means. But it seems like they would be weakening your trusses, as they are just bolted thru the trusses. It seems a steel beam, a 2x10, or a steel pipe laid over the truss bottoms would be much stronger. This assumes your trusses are open and not sheet rocked in.

If he has 2x10’s or 2x12’s as stated they are probably not trusses. Using multiple brackets on multiple joists should carry the load of a Valkyrie just fine.

[hubcapsc]

Besides size and span of joists, where (high on the joist, low on the joist, how far from
the center of the joist) to drill holes in the joist is important too. This illustrates
the idea. Like span tables and stuff, there's tables to look this information up
on too...



-Mike "the plumber just brings in the sawsall and cuts away at whatever's in the way "

[Bigwolf]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm not going to lift from a 2x4...lol

My ceiling joists are 2x10 or 12. i haven't climbed up to measure yet. The steel 'bracket' is sized for the width of a 2x4, looks like 6" or 8" tall. I would slide it up from the bottom of the joist, bore through the joist in four places and bolt through the joist. I'm thinking I could drill a hole through the lower portion and run a steel rod through, spanning 3 or 4 joists. I'd put a bracket on each joist.

Look at the picture of the bracket, hopefully you can see what I mean.

If you slide those brackets up from the bottom and bolt through the existing holes in that bracket, the joist will likely split at the upper bolts because the load will be transferred to the joist at that point.  If you try this, I believe you will witness your winch (or block and tackle) slamming into your bike before it falls all the way to the floor and you will have a couple of big chunks ripped out of the joists.

If your joists are that and I had to lift from the ceiling structure, I would go above and ensure that there are multiple joists supporting the weight by running  2X8s on edge.   

I have successfully done this sort of overhead reinforcement to lift car engines, not 800lb bikes.

Bigwolf

[Andy Cote]

You can buy a Pit Bull lift.  Lifts the bike high enough for anything and you can even strap it down and roll the whole thing around the garage.

[baldo]

Sorry, I should have been clearer. I'm not going to lift from a 2x4...lol

My ceiling joists are 2x10 or 12. i haven't climbed up to measure yet. The steel 'bracket' is sized for the width of a 2x4, looks like 6" or 8" tall. I would slide it up from the bottom of the joist, bore through the joist in four places and bolt through the joist. I'm thinking I could drill a hole through the lower portion and run a steel rod through, spanning 3 or 4 joists. I'd put a bracket on each joist.

Look at the picture of the bracket, hopefully you can see what I mean.

If you slide those brackets up from the bottom and bolt through the existing holes in that bracket, the joist will likely split at the upper bolts because the load will be transferred to the joist at that point.  If you try this, I believe you will witness your winch (or block and tackle) slamming into your bike before it falls all the way to the floor and you will have a couple of big chunks ripped out of the joists.

If your joists are that and I had to lift from the ceiling structure, I would go above and ensure that there are multiple joists supporting the weight by running  2X8s on edge.   

I have successfully done this sort of overhead reinforcement to lift car engines, not 800lb bikes.

Bigwolf

I agree. If I pursued the purlin bracket, it would be dependent on the height of the plates in relation to the joist. I can't imagine it's more than 6" or so. That would be too low on the joist.

I'm also considering steel straps, maybe 6" wide that would be the same height as the joist plus 4"-6" below the bottom of the joist for the steel rod to go through There's a pretty good steel fab business not too far from me.  Put the attaching bolts near the top of the joist, say 4 on each hanger.

[Rams]

Consider this, instead of attaching those brackets from the bottom, use them on top of your joists.   Then, you wouldn't need those four bolts holes/bolts through the joists.   Use only enough to secure so they don't move.   Then run that bar across between the two brackets and run your cable/chain down from there.   Doing this will ensure your joists stay structurally sound.

I hope I explained that well enough to be understood.

Rams   

[baldo]

Consider this, instead of attaching those brackets from the bottom, use them on top of your joists.   Then, you wouldn't need those four bolts holes/bolts through the joists.   Use only enough to secure so they don't move.   Then run that bar across between the two brackets and run your cable/chain down from there.   Doing this will ensure your joists stay structurally sound.

I hope I explained that well enough to be understood.

Rams   

Would if I could....There's a floor sitting on top of those joists.....

[Rams]

Consider this, instead of attaching those brackets from the bottom, use them on top of your joists.   Then, you wouldn't need those four bolts holes/bolts through the joists.   Use only enough to secure so they don't move.   Then run that bar across between the two brackets and run your cable/chain down from there.   Doing this will ensure your joists stay structurally sound.

I hope I explained that well enough to be understood.

Rams  

Would if I could....There's a floor sitting on top of those joists.....

Where there's a will, there's a way.  
When I installed and hung my HVAC heat in my shop, I used a similar method but used multiple joists to support the load.

Rams

[TNRACER]

Apparently you've never weighed a motor

[Hook#3287]

Lot's to consider based on real location of the lifting purlin on the joists and size & span of floor joists.

Is the space above your garage occupied space or storage?  Is there stairs to the area?

What you could do is get a 8' 4x4 and drill two 1/4 holes at 16" oc.  If your able to mount the purlin temporarily, mark the back and drill from the back to the front.

Get some 7" Ledger Lock bolts (Grey)

You could add these if you think you need them.  

https://www.strongtie.com/deckties_decks/dpt_tie/p/dptz

Add a couple of bolt through I-bolts to the 4x4 about 24" - 30" from the ends.  Hang a wire cable or chain to the I-bolts.

Bolt the 4x4 to the floor joists using 2 ledger locks on each,  being mindful to hit the middle of the joists.  

You'll need a impact driver.

You should be able to hit 7 joists, spreading the load to them. Most 8' 4x4 are a little longer than 96" but you could always get a 10' and cut it.

If your lifting the full bike weight of around 800lbs, your putting about 115lbs load on each joist.

[Rams]

Apparently you've never weighed a motor

Huh?  If, that was directed as a response to me, yeah, I've pulled and re-installed many engines but, that's not what we're talking about.   Lifting a Valkyrie can easily exceed 800 lbs. depending on how it's dressed.  But, the weight issue is precisely why I suggested the load be spread over several joists.

Baldo's situation is what we're trying to advise on, not mine.

Rams

[bassman]

"I have a small wheeled trolley that rides in the rail of the lift. It works pretty well, except for one thing....It's lost."

Is it possible to just replace (buy or fabricate) the "lost" trolley?  Rest assured, it will show up right after you build the hoist or replace the trolley.  

Good luck......

[baldo]

"I have a small wheeled trolley that rides in the rail of the lift. It works pretty well, except for one thing....It's lost."

Is it possible to just replace (buy or fabricate) the "lost" trolley?  Rest assured, it will show up right after you build the hoist or replace the trolley.  

Good luck......

Exactly......my shop is due for a major cleaning. I'll find that little sucker......

[Bigwolf]

Apparently you've never weighed a motor

LOL. I never said what car engine I was lifting, obviously it was not a diesel of any appreciable size.  I did say “car”.  If it helps your calculations and sensitivities, the engines that I was lifting were a little under 500lbs at the times of lifting.  As I said, NOT 800lb bikes.  I never lifted anything over 500lbs with that setup.

Perhaps I made that statement too wordy.  I have successfully lifted 500lbs using cross braces across 4 2x6 ceiling joists, but I would be very nervous with 800lbs on such a lifting arrangement.

[Oldfishguy]

I use a small 3000 lb winch to lift marine motors on to wheeled stands.  Above the ceiling are a couple 2x6 boards spanned several trusses.  If you notice I am lifting near the wall for added support.  The vintage marine Chrysler 120 does not weigh as much as a Valkyrie, but the concept works for my purpose.

[Rams]

If you notice I am lifting near the wall for added support.  The vintage marine Chrysler 120 does not weigh as much as a Valkyrie, but the concept works for my purpose.

Excellent application.   

Rams