Wheel installation

[Beer van Huet]

When I remove a wheel and want to put it back again, I lower the motorcycle lift (the entire motorcycle) to the point where the wheel is aligned so I can stick the axle in.
But I have a feeling there should be an other, much easier and better way.
I was thinking about buying a flat jack/lift (pic) so I can leave the motorcycle like it is and jack the wheel up to exactly the right height.
But perhaps there are other briljant ideas that I haven't thought of.
Anybody?
TIA

[hubcapsc]

15 years ago I took my wheel off using numerous different
techniques I read from the manual and from here on the board.

After a while I settled down to removing the rear fender section,
removing the shocks, and sinking and raising the bike on the lift
for different parts of the job...

Rolling the wheel back in at basically the right height for pushing
the axle through is one of my favorite parts...

-Mike "when it works out..."

[Avanti]

I use an engine lift to lift the entire motorcycle to any required height needed; remove seat, install soft straps on frame and lift. Never need to worry about it tipping over and it can be at any working height.

[sandy]

When I remove a wheel and want to put it back again, I lower the motorcycle lift (the entire motorcycle) to the point where the wheel is aligned so I can stick the axle in.
But I have a feeling there should be an other, much easier and better way.
I was thinking about buying a flat jack/lift (pic) so I can leave the motorcycle like it is and jack the wheel up to exactly the right height.
But perhaps there are other briljant ideas that I haven't thought of.
Anybody?
TIA

If you use that small lift and jack up the rear wheel, the bike will tip forward and fall off the lift. Get/make a lift adapter and strap it down after removing the seat and side covers.

[Beer van Huet]

I think I expressed myself incorrectly.
I use a standard lift to raise the entire motorcycle. And leave it there all the time as long as I work on the wheels. So, both front and rear end are raised off the ground.
Instead of taking the rear fender off, I remove the shocks and jack it up. The entire swingarm lowers so I can remove the wheel (just slide it out underneath the fender).
I don't want to take off the rear fender because I had some rear light wiring issues some time ago, fixed it and coated the entire plug with car underbody coating. Besides, then you still have to align your wheel to fit in the swingarm.
Now, when I want to put the wheel back again, I slide it back under the fender and lower the (main) lift.
Not all the way, but enough to be able to align the wheel.
Since I find it hard to raise and wiggle the wheel with my feet and hands and stick the axle in at the same time, I had in mind to use another small jack to lift the rear wheel until properly aligned.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think I expressed myself badly.
I use a standard lift to raise the entire motorcycle.
Instead of taking the rear fender off, I remove the shocks and jack it up. The entire swingarm lowers so I can remove the wheel (just slide it out underneath the fender).
Now, when I want to put the wheel back again, I slide it back under the fender and lower the (main) lift.
Not all the way, but enough to be able to align the wheel.
Since I find it hard to raise and wiggle the wheel with my feet and hands and stick the axle in at the same time, I had in mind to use another small jack to lift the rear wheel until properly aligned.

I understood you. That is a trick Grumpy showed me years back. He (and now I) used a regular floor jack for this. The cup on my jack is a little too small. It lets the tire roll off easier. A larger cupped one like Grumpy used will work best. The one you are showing will be even worse with the flat surface. 

[Ramie]

I think I expressed myself badly.
I use a standard lift to raise the entire motorcycle.
Instead of taking the rear fender off, I remove the shocks and jack it up. The entire swingarm lowers so I can remove the wheel (just slide it out underneath the fender).
Now, when I want to put the wheel back again, I slide it back under the fender and lower the (main) lift.
Not all the way, but enough to be able to align the wheel.
Since I find it hard to raise and wiggle the wheel with my feet and hands and stick the axle in at the same time, I had in mind to use another small jack to lift the rear wheel until properly aligned.

I understood you. That is a trick Grumpy showed me years back. He (and now I) used a regular floor jack for this. The cup on my jack is a little too small. It lets the tire roll off easier. A larger cupped one like Grumpy used will work best. The one you are showing will be even worse with the flat surface. 

[Beer van Huet]

Thanks, Emperor
Right, that makes sense

[f-Stop]

I think the small jack for just the wheel is a stroke of genius.  

I use a rear wheel removal method to where I'm not taking off fenders and such.  Once the bike is on the lift, I simply remove the shocks and then lower the bike to where the axle is positioned just above the exhausts. Once the axle is out I then raise the bike to roll the wheel out from underneath the rear fender.  I then go in reverse order to re-install the wheel.  Fast and easy!

 

[Jess from VA]

I use the same method as you.

Another trick, which can save your back and shoulders, is to thread the axle through the wheel and brake caliper, but leave the caliper spacer out.  Working alone, this makes it much easier to mate the wheel and drive unit back together.  Once that's done, pull the axle back out just enough to get the spacer back in, and then tighten everything up in the right order. 

[RonW]

I guess your question is if there's a better way to lift the rear wheel to align the axle. With the exception of a plank and a fulcrum, mankind hasn't
advanced that far as of yet.

Btw, I never liked squating the bike to align the axle for fear of damaging the driveshaft's u-joint. Ditto with removing the shocks and letting the
swingarm hang at a steep angle to roll off the tire.

[Chrisj CMA]

As long as no lift, Jack or support or the ground is lifting/supporting the wheel or final drive when you torque the axle and then the four final drive nuts it doesn’t matter how you get the wheel perched in the drive.

[High Desert]

I have taken the rear wheel off twice recently while customizing my bike.  I got the fork just higher than the wheel, and used a wooden wedge under the tire that I could kick with my foot, to fine tune the height to get the axle in.  It was a lot easier with two people.

[RonW]

if you're going to use a wedge, use a long wedge. Longer wedge.