Bike lift Question

[Rams]

Most folks here know I was involved in a crash last September resulting in the total destruction of my beloved Valkyrie.   Enough said about that.

I am now attempting to set up my new (to me) Valkyrie.  But I don't have the mobility and range of motion to get down and work on it.   I had a bike lift table once and sold it because it simply took up too much room for the amount of use it got.   I now have a bike lift jack that will raise my Valkyrie vertically about a foot.  This isn't enough height.   I simply can't get down there due to the previously mentioned restrictions.

What I'm looking for is some device that I can use for my Valkrie on my two post lift.  

I can get something fabricated if there isn't a commercially available device/version out there.   I've been searching the internet but have failed to find anything.   Ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.   And yes, cost is important.  

Rams  

[old2soon]

    Pictures and dimesions would be of immense help of the two post lift. Ross-da prez-also fabricates or may have an idea.    da prez seems to recollect SOMEONE here who fabbed up an adaptor for a two post lift BUT he can't recall WHO.  You jusy KNOW yer gonna git a Lot of help Ron!  RIDE SAFE.

[Rams]

    Pictures and dimesions would be of immense help of the two post lift. Ross-da prez-also fabricates or may have an idea.    da prez seems to recollect SOMEONE here who fabbed up an adaptor for a two post lift BUT he can't recall WHO.  You jusy KNOW yer gonna git a Lot of help Ron!  RIDE SAFE.

Already have an idea but was hoping someone had already done it.  Shrug

Pictures are not something I have mastered.   But, I'll let ya know if my idea works.

Rams 

[Robert]

Are you talking about this?

I did the same with my 1500 also, although I had a belly tank that I put the rear support on, the front ones went under the crash bars. The same as the one in the picture.

[Rams]

Are you talking about this?

I did the same with my 1500 also, although I had a belly tank that I put the rear support on, the front ones went under the crash bars. The same as the one in the picture.

Well, I certainly am interested in how you did that.  That's durn close to what I am contemplating. 
Can you provide pics of the device(s)?

Rams 

[Robert]

If you have a lift like this then its pretty easy as long as you have the pad extensions for the lift. Normally the pad sit right on the lift arms, but lifts come with lift extensions for the pads. You will see one on the front has this longer extension. The back one is under the shock and it has a lift extension that is about half that. Also the lift arms must be able to swing in.

You position the bike at an angle,with the front wheel just past the lift, so that the front is in the center so you can swing both arms into the center and pulled out to their furthest reach under the front crash bars and the rear is closer to one side of the lift. Since the arms in front are positioned out from the center compared to the rear that is positioned dead center under the bike. I Put rags on the pads in order not to scratch the chrome and so they will not slip out from the metal. Next put one rear arm under the swing arm with the half extension. The rear is closer to the lift since you are only going to use one arm in the rear and it needs to be long enough to get to the center of the rear suspension swing arm or Once positioned try to lift the bike, but you will have to go slow in the beginning so that the bike will stay in position while you hold it and raise the lift and the bike will sit upright off the kickstand. At this point if everything is good you can go up.

You can on the 1500 extend both arms out on one side of the lift and hold the bike that way also. It will support itself on the exhaust and put a spacer in front and it will rest on the engine.

I did not like doing it this way and felt more comfortable lifting the bike with both sides supported on the crash bars since they were wider and held the bike better. I did not worry about the bike falling over if pushed. Blow up both pics and you will see the 2 possibilities and how to lift with a 2 post lift that I found works without any adapters.








In this pic one side arms are both together and extended out as far as possible and I did not use the other side at all. The bike was very stable with no problems. This is how a bike jack would go under the bike but you use the lift instead, Obviously. 

[Rams]

Robert,
Thanks for opening my eyes (and mind).   I was coming up with all kinds of different ideas on how to accomplish this while I already had everything I needed (with the exception of a little imagination).

Sincerely appreciate you turning on the light so I could see.   Obviously, it's dark in my world.  

Edited: My goodness you keep a lot of batteries on hand!

Rams

[MarkT]

Great idea to set up a lift to put your work right in front of your eyes. I used to use small lifts that raised the bikes only a foot or so - and modified a long frame truck axle jack to lift it higher after I broke my leg and tore a rotator cuff with the deer incident - couldn't get up from the floor and I was still building exhausts, sometimes with customers riding in so I had to R&R them on the bikes.  I've found the position of the workpiece is really important for good throughput and quality work - as opposed to out-of-position compromise work.  This is especially important in welding.  So I have focussed on jigs and lifts and such to hold the work in the right place and angle.  Misfit found a Snap-On 6,000# scissor car lift and thought of me. I bought it and added a steel deck and wheel chock and removable on-ramp.  I have to say it's the best tool in my shop.

BTW this one is low enough when down that I can park cars over it to get the car under a roof when the hailstorms show up.  Hail is a problem here.

Good luck setting up your post jack.

[Rams]

It all depends on how you want/need to utilize the space you have.

I had a air over hydraulic bike lift table but did not use it enough to justify the space it took up.  It became a storage table for all the crap I wasn't currently using.  Sold it.

I currently know where I can get another nice used hydraulic bike lift table for a very reasonable price but, it would result in the same issues if I brought it home.   I use my two post auto lift frequently.   I don't have sufficient room for another lift table and all the other crap I keep/use in my shop.

Robert opened my eyes.  I've been trying to figure this out for a while now.  The answer was staring me in the face and I failed to see it.   Again, Cudos to Robert.

Just goes to show, an old dog can learn new tricks.  

Rams  

[Avanti]

I pick the complete bike up with an engine lift, using the frame area located under the seat. 

[Rams]

I pick the complete bike up with an engine lift, using the frame area located under the seat. 

Where there is the will, there is a way!   

[t-man403]

I use an ordinary table lift and to justify the space it takes up ....... I park on it.