Oh... What a difference

[us385south]

Oh... what a difference 26.25 inches makes...



T

[mario]

lookin' good, there, geeky.   

[Disco]

You're killing me...   

[doubleminded]

how much did that lift cost?

[f-Stop]

Nice!

[us385south]

how much did that lift cost?

I bought it last April with a coupon and haven't really had much time to mess with it until now...

Seems like it was less than 300 clams.

Hey... I am getting older down here!

T

[Jack B]

How did you get the bike on the center stand with the front wheel it the wheel lock?

[us385south]

How did you get the bike on the center stand with the front wheel it the wheel lock?

1. The lift was down.
2. I pushed the bike onto the lift.
3. I pulled the bike onto the center stand while using a cinder block to add height under my left foot.
4. I tightened the wheel clamp.
5. I lifted the bike and took a picture.

[Tx Bohemian]

Ok, maybe it's too early in the morning for me but what does the "what a difference 26.25 inches makes" comment mean?

[BigBod]

Ok, maybe it's too early in the morning for me but what does the "what a difference 26.25 inches makes" comment mean?

Well it's 4 in the afternoon here so I've had a bit more time to figure it out That's how high it is off the ground on the lift and therefore much easier to work on....well I hope so anyway.

[Rams]

How did you get the bike on the center stand with the front wheel it the wheel lock?

If you'll notice, the front tire is well back from the front stop.  I have a similar lift but mine is air over hydraulic.   I'd also advise using tie downs to secure the bike while it's on the lift.  Had mine tip once while I was wrenching on it.  Thankfully I had already put one tie down on it.  And, it tipped to the opposite side so the tie down caught and held.  Why you ask was there only one tie down being used.  I honestly don't have an answer to that except I got in a hurry and apparently forgot to put it on.  But, I do recommend using tie downs on the lift, I assure you, that front wheel clamp isn't enough.  Ride hard but, ride safe.

Ron

[us385south]

Ron...

Agreed.  But this was just a test to see how the bike sat on the lift.  No wrenching was done.  Since then, two other bikes have been set and lifted on this stand for evaluation purposes... a 96 Goldwing and an 04 VTX1300C.  Holes have been drilled... u-bolts added... shop drawings have been made and forwarded... stock metal, diamond plate and one Black Widow scissor jack have been ordered.

I am far from done, but this is the current state of things as of right now, today...

T

[Rams]

 

[Tx Bohemian]

Ok, maybe it's too early in the morning for me but what does the "what a difference 26.25 inches makes" comment mean?

Well it's 4 in the afternoon here so I've had a bit more time to figure it out That's how high it is off the ground on the lift and therefore much easier to work on....well I hope so anyway.

Ok, that makes all the sense now!
And I can tell you from experience, it does help!

And as another member mentioned that piddly front clamp leaves some to be desired. It seemed to me that when my bike was on the lift clamped in that if I pushed on it hard enough the wheel would just slide out of the clamp!!
I bought the "L" shaped clamp that comes on the air/hydralic version.  Needed to drill some more holes but it gives me much more confidence. I always strap mine down but in the transition between rollling the bike on till it gets strapped I'm not so worried.

A word of advice:
If you still have a sidestand make sure it is up when you are rolling the bike on or off. I learned the hard way.  I was rolling it off and the lowered sidestand bumped the "high spot" between the platform and the ramp, I lost balance and over she went away from me. These things are quite heavy when their falling away from you.

All in all this is one of the best purchases I made for working on this, and other bikes.