What lift do you use? How high do I have to lift bike to remove rear tire?

[Knights2theEnd]

I am going to replace both my tires on my 2000 Honda Valkyrie interstate soon. I will be making a wooden adapter and buying a ATV/Motorcycle lift.

#1 How high do I have to lift the bike in order to remove/slip the rear tire from the bottom? (I do not want to remove the fender, etc)

#2 Using the information from my question above, I want to buy a lift that will lift to such a height. What lift do you recommend on buying?

[f6john]

Any of the atv jacks will be sufficient for height capabilities. Been a long while since I changed a rear on the Valkyrie  but once you remove the rear shocks you can manipulate the height up and down enough to take the rear axle out without removing the exhaust for clearance. When you actually remove the tire and rim you only need a few inches of clearance to get it free from the final drive and drop it on the floor taken you can raise the bike as high as deemed necessary to roll it out from under the rear fender after removing the lower part with the license plate and turn signals.

All this is subject to those who wrench on these bikes all the time. I just wanted to give you something to chew on until the “experts” show up!

[klb]

I bought the Pittsburgh 1500 pound jack from Harbor Freight for $129.00.
Works well.

[Knights2theEnd]

Thank you guys. I was thinking about using a scissor jack however there are alot of reviews online about scissor jacks failing. So I am leaning towards the harbor frieght jack mentioned above. Just takes up so much space and my garage barely has any room left lol.

[Jess from VA]

Fully collapsed, I stand mine up under the work bench.

Make sure the safety bars catch on the nubs on the base.  Mine have always been a bit crooked.

You must use jack stands under the engine guards with the jack.  The idea is to jack it up, place the jack stands under the guards, then slowly lower it so the safety bars engage the nubs AND the bike rests firmly on the jack stands at the same time.  So you get a solid 3-point hold. 

Without jack stands, when you drop the rear wheel off the bike, it will begin to slowly fall forward off the jack with the loss of weight in the rear.  Not a good kind of excitement. 

[Pluggy]

Consider raising your bike with the fuel tank nearly empty.  My experience.... When the bike goes up, it feels a little more balanced without 30 pounds of gas above the engine. 

[Chrisj CMA]

A lift adapter is required for most bikes. Some seem to be able to squeak by without it. Not mine. I have the craftsman lift. It has three safety stops. I go to the second one. Use a tie down and find the best attachments and angle. You can get it rock solid with just the lift and one strap.



I have a permanent metal bolt on adapter Now. But this is what it looks like using the wooden one

[Hook#3287]

I use the same type of lift that klb shows.

I lift it to the highest it goes, use 2 jack stands on blocks to get the height needed for the stands to catch the bikes front guards and drop it down with the jack safety arms in place.  Usually the safety arms connect with the lift jacks lower bar with the "Humps" while also sitting on the jack stands.

Using a tire jack under the rear wheel, I can move it up and down as needed to remove shocks and axle.

You'll have to use a wedge to move the exhaust out some to get the exhaust mount bolts to clear the swingarm.

If you already haven't done so, review Jeff's excellent write up on rear end service.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/rear_end_service.pptx

[Jess from VA]

I think Jeff is the only guy who works on his bike in the living room.   

[f6john]

I bought this one off marketplace a few months ago. My old atv lift has taken semi permanent space under the Valkyrie. It seems many Wing owners prefer this style. I haven’t had occasion to use it yet but I find to be much more maneuverable and being mostly aluminum construction it is much lighter. I think they are over $200.00 at HF now but I gave $120.00 for this one. Just another option.

[Chrisj CMA]

I think Jeff is the only guy who works on his bike in the living room.   

Well, it bothered my first wife. Judy on the other hand appreciates that I may be spending hours on my mistress yet she can talk to me and sometimes hold a wrench or hand me stuff. She likes it. And I can work in A/C or heat, clean space and great lighting. It’s a win win.

[John Schmidt]

Once I got my centerstand mounted on the Tourer many years ago, I never raised the rear of the bike more than 3-4" off the floor. I'd remove the bags and rear section of the rear fender, put a floor jack under the swingarm and remove the shocks. Then I could raise/lower the rear as needed. Once done, you could just roll the rear wheel in/out leaving both hands free...no lifting involved. Since you didn't need to pull the rear that often, removing all the stuff mentioned gave me a chance to clean where you didn't normally reach. On the I/S, it would be a bit more difficult to do what I did unless you had done the SuperValk mod. With the trike I have now, it's even easier. Lift the front only to change that tire, to remove the rear I just jack up the entire back end and pull both wheels. It's a different world entirely. 

[Beer van Huet]

Just a heads up.
When the rear wheel is removed to have the tire changed, you might as well replace the 3 O-rings
https://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/Elusive%203rd%20O-Ring.htm
And pack MSO2 paste into the O-ring groove in the driven flange
I usually take out and check the drive shaft as well and apply MSO2 grease into the seal lip and pinion joint spline.
I had the splines of the drive shaft completely worn one day during a trip. Somehow, the grease got away.
When I put the engine into first gear, the bike wouldn't move and I heard a rattling sound from the drive shaft.
The only thing you can do in that case, is to put the bike on a trailer and replace the shaft.

[Rams]

https://www.northerntool.com/products/ideal-atv-electric-lift-bench-with-retractable-ramp-system-2200-lb-capacity-47in-lift-model-a-2200ieh-xr-99226?cm_mmc=Bing-pla&utm_source=Bing_PLA&utm_medium=Automotive%20%3E%20Automotive%20Lifts%20%3E%20Motorcycle%20Lifts&utm_campaign=iDEAL%20by%20Tuxedo&utm_content=99226&cmpid=53403372&agid=3200075881&tgtid=pla-4577473070980994&prdid=99226&ogmap=SHP|PLA|BING|STND|c|SITEWIDE||Auto%20Repair%20-%20SC|Auto%20Repair%20-%20SC||53403372|3200075881&gclid=0ce6fcd269a71521addf945f12d33dcd&gclsrc=3p.ds&msclkid=0ce6fcd269a71521addf945f12d33dcd

The iDEAL Electric-Hydraulic Lift is designed to lift the largest UTVs with a 2200 lbs. capacity and features a 65” x 88.6” table. It includes a retractable ramp system that folds down and out of the way, providing a safe and clean workspace. The lift is equipped with pivot ramps that can be adjusted for various lifting tasks, making it versatile for different applications. Additionally, it offers side extensions with center drop panels for easy access to service motorcycles without removing side extensions.

This is what I have in my shop, I have another one like shown by Chrisj CMA but, it seems my son borrowed it and it can't seem to find it's way home.   I bought the iDEAL lift shortly after getting the trike so now all my Fat Ladies can be elevated when necessary.  My lift is a bit different than in the link, mine has fold down sides.   I use my iDEAL lift for a lot of things, even working on my zero-turn mower.


Sorry, have never figured out how to post my own pictures.

Rams

[sandy]

I have used several lifts over the years. The upgraded HF lift is well worth the money. It's stonger and very stiff when elevated.

https://postimg.cc/fVkGSgpS

[Pluggy]

To answer the second half of your question, there are two methods to choose from.

1. Removing the lower half of the rear fender. The wheel rolls with bike barely off the floor. To do this, disconnect the brake light and turn signal sub-harness, then remove the half fender. John Schmidt described this.

2. Leaving the lower half of the fender in-place. See the photos. Before removal, the rear wheel will be about 6 inches off the floor. To do this, the bike gets jacked up about a foot. The wheel is removed and rolls out under the fender edge. Seems easy, but lifting the wheel back into place is harder, when you are sitting on the floor.

I learned this:  I left the lower fender on and rolled out the wheel.  Easy enough. With a new tire, the wheel was half an inch larger in diameter and would not roll back in.  Had to carefully raise the bike a little more to get the wheel back under the fender.

[h13man]

Fully collapsed, I stand mine up under the work bench.

Make sure the safety bars catch on the nubs on the base.  Mine have always been a bit crooked.

You must use jack stands under the engine guards with the jack.  The idea is to jack it up, place the jack stands under the guards, then slowly lower it so the safety bars engage the nubs AND the bike rests firmly on the jack stands at the same time.  So you get a solid 3-point hold.  

Without jack stands, when you drop the rear wheel off the bike, it will begin to slowly fall forward off the jack with the loss of weight in the rear.  Not a good kind of excitement.  

Mine fits under my steel work bench also from the side so don't trip over it. Your procedure is spot on.   Its most intimidating lifting the 1st. time but after the trial run I'm settled in so to speak. High enough to drop the shocks allowing access to remove the axle. I don't remove the PITA fender thus I used 3 different technique's doing this thus I'm not going divulge as its still under experimentation.  I used use a engine hoist on both ends with lifting straps. I also have the locking HF wheel chock with detachable outriggers for more support.