Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDATE)

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with this

Polock, always a man of few words, you are a freakin' GENIUS!!! Those, OR 8 of the next size down, sunk into a circle of 1" (or 3/4" with the smaller ones) plywood would DO THE TRICK!!! And be thinnner yet. I smell V.3. Thank you!!!

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with t

The price of that Snap On motorcycle lift is obscene. I don't much like the turnabike disc. It is limited to just turning the bike around rather than being able to move the bike anywhere you want it.
If you look at the picture of the legalspeeding platform, you will see that the wheels are recessed up inside of the platform and have a bit larger wheels that would roll a bit easier. When I get a bit of time I will try and make one of the gizmo's like on legalspeeding. It shouldn't bee too hard. If I can make several of them at a nominal price I will let everyone know. I want to locate some good quality wheels that will swivel easily and won't bind up. I should be able to make some with minimum floor clearance so that it won't be difficult to lower the center stand.

Ride Safely,

Ed

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with this

Ed; GO for it! My problem is I have no way to bend, stamp, weld up or otherwise construct something that heavy. I agree that is probably the most practical design, because of the larger wheels. The "Turn-a-Bike" is also touted as being a "rollaway" platform in some of their sales pitch. I found casters here: http://www.reidsupply.com/ and here: http://www.nationalcaster.com/catalog_online.htm and ball casters from: http://www.acmecaster.com/ Then Polock found: http://www.mcmaster.com/ who have an EXTENSIVE product line. I'm going to go ahead with my ball-caster prototypes (since I already bought the casters) but please by all means see what you can come up with as well. I don't mind spending $40-$50 or so per unit but $200 is a bit over the top.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with t

fitz,

I am a bit covered up right now but have my eye open for some materials to use for the project. I am going to have the same problem with either stamping or welding, but I am a machinist and certified welder and not too worried about it. However, I have to keep the cost reasonable or I can't do it myself. I need some time to locate everything I need for it.

Ride Safely,

Ed

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with t

Ed; No worries. I was thinking a thick cross-shaped flat plate with 3-sided cubes welded into the corners to act as support "stanchions" for the wheels would be functionally similar to the LegalSpeeding product but wouldn't have to be made of anywhere near as heavy stock. That being said, V.1 of the "platform" is finished, and you were right. At just a hair under 2" it is too tall to be practical for day-to-day use, but as a winter storage caddy for my Nort it is ideal, as it gets the rear off the ground far enough to get the back wheel off. Plus it lets me push the bike flat against the back of the garage. Pics as promised:

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience with t

fitz,

I have to say that it looks good. If the height was lower it would be very functional for either of your bikes.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

OK...V.2 was a complete FAILURE. I used 8 ball casters rated at 100lbs each, to get the height 1/2" lower (still 1 1/2" high) but the load isn't spread as evenly as I thought, or concentrated by their smaller ball size (3/4".) Total "capacity" on this one although 800 lbs is apparently not enough GVWR "overkill." The result was that 5 of the 8 ball units got ground to death and locked up in the first foot of movement, with my XJ 550 on it. My Norton rolls fine on the first one, and the book says it weighs 430lbs. The book says 407lb for the Seca. (I believe both of those are dry weights so assuming each probably weighs about 30lbs more.) SO: Version 2A:I'm going to try 6 ball casters rated at 150lbs each, they have a 1" ball compared to the 1 1/8" on the 200lb size. With a total capacity of 900lbs, it will be slightly lower than the 5x200lb platform but not by much. As long as it will roll, it will still be fine for winter storage duties though. We shall see.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

Duplicate post--deleted

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

Fitz,

The ball bearing idea is not a good one. I hope I don't pee you off. The ball bearings will dig into your floor and get crud in and around the rollers and lock up.
I found a "Machinery roller" set at harbor freight that I think could be adapted to work. Problem is with the casters it comes with, they are rated a a bit over 300 pounds. The casters could be replaced with better ones.
The next thought is also from Harbor Freight. Wheel dollies for a car. Each dolly has MORE than enough capacity hold the bikes. Some cutting and welding would be required but the cost of the dollies is about $79 per set (for 2 wheels). They could be modified to use under the center stand and by purchasing a "set", you would have two.
Like I said, some cutting and welding would be required. If I can get some time I will make up a proto-type.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

Ed; You'd have to try a lot harder to piss me off. My garage floor is clean and smooth and the bigger balls in the 200lb units work just fine except the platform is too tall to be practical for daily use. This is all just an engineering experiment with a practical bent. You're right, the best way to get it low enough is to build something with a configuration similar to LegalSpeeding's product. I would just buy one if it weren't so blasted expensive...

 

Just read through the entire thread rather quickly so my idea may laready have been covered, but you could duplicate the legalspeed concept with some heavy gauge track (12g) for commercial construction. This can come in 6" wide lengths with 2" vertical legs. The thickness isn't too much that short bolts and nylock nuts can work, then use angle iron as a mount for wheels or larger casters. I'll check my garage and see if I have anything that I can fab up to convey what I'm thinking of.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

They have these for sale at Harbor frieght for $50.
With a little work this maybe the ticket.

That same lift for $114

 

I looked at those when I was at Harbor a week or so ago, they're too thin and dependent upon the brace across the sides for strength. Maybe the product that they're a cheap copy of would offer more potential. I've been a bit put off by Harbor of late: I wanted one of those short rolling shop stools. Went to Harbor, checked out both their "basic" and "deluxe" versions. Both were poorly engineered and constructed compared to the Craftsman version at Sears for the same price. A lot of Harbor's stuff LOOKS the same but close examination reveals the differences, some acceptable some not.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

Fitz,

A couple of things I was considering.

$59.00 pair and 1000# capacity each.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/C ... pricetype=

$49 set and 1100 pound capacity.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=98322

$39.00 set but only 300 pound capacity. Would have to change casters.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/D ... mber=95288

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

I was thinking weld a plate between two of these but they only hold 110lbs.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

For those of us in Canada with a Princess Auto nearby, you can get a 1,000lb platform lift for $400:
Princess Auto Lift

 

I have decided to build my own lift table. With the exception of the 'deck' (I'll most likely use plywood) I should be able to build it for about $130 + a few hours with a my welder. 7' x 3', 36'' tall when raised, ~6" when down.

That price doesn't include a ram, that'll be another $50 on ebay.

 

Are you going off of plans or just developing as you fab? What type of ram will you be using? I've got a table-top frame that has been sitting, waiting for me to finish and I'm debating whether to have it fixed height with ramps or an adjustable platform. Keep us posted.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

kd, ambitious SOB aintcha! I was just looking for a way to roll the bikes around the (very small) garage this winter. UPDATEon the rolling platform: V2B, 6 of the 150lb ball casters is a questionable success. It is only about 1 1/2" high, still too high for daily use, and the 150lb casters do not sound happy. I suspect they won't last too long. For rolling about the garage, the LegalSpeeding design is the most practical. Now how to duplicate it for less than $200... Meanwhile, by all means keep us posted on your lift, I wish I had the room (and will someday.)

 

Fully DIY. No plans.

The mechanics of the 'system' are quite simple. Two rectangle parts (I call them the 'deck' and 'base'). I intend on the deck being a few inches wider than the base, and have some legs on the corners and 1/2 down the sides so that the base will sit under the deck w/o touching. I'm leaning towards having the base about 1/3 longer than the deck to help with stability, but that may not be needed. Attach a 36" bar from each corner of the deck to each corner of the base (not exactly to the corners of the base if the base is longer). When you lift up on the deck it will swivel up and back. Add a few stops so it doesn't lift too far, as well as some stops so it won't fall back down until you want it to.

I don't remember the exact measurements now, but I found an 8ton ram on ebay for about $50. It had about 18" of travel. If you mount the ram so that it pushes on the vertical (36") bars about 12" from the bottom you need about 12" of travel, as well as the ability to push about 1600ft/lbs. That doesn't take into account friction. There are some other tweeks I may make, like having a U shaped bar that the ram pushes on to change the angle that the ram is at while lifting.

This glosses over many details that I will mostly make up as I go, for examples: gusseting, bearings or greased bushings, etc. It may not sit as low to the ground as I would like, simple because the ram will be too thick.

I'm planning for 800lift weight, with 100% safety rating (i.e. it'll really life 1600lb, in which case the ram would actually need to lift 3200lb). Exact size of tubing TBD, leaning toward 2" right now. A civ engineer friend of mine is doing the math on that for me. I may add extra vertical bars to stay with smaller tubing if I need to (cheaper that way).

Any suggestions/concerns/thoughts?

 

A suggestion: Go to Harbor freight, and on the internet, and look at how all the ones that are commercially offered are made. Then copy the best features. You should be able to "reverse engineer" the relationship of the ram to the lift, etc. that way; let someone else do the engineering for you.

 

bigfitz,
Thats basicly what I've done. There are some features I'm not able to duplicate. And of course, I've got to give it a flair all my own

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

If you had adjustable legs,larger tube with smaller inside, holes drilled through both, pin to hold it at the correct level
Attatched to the outside of the deck at the top, would folded up flush.
They would fold down and lock in place.
Then the ram could be let down and legs support deck.
Kind of like jackstands.
Just a thought.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

If anyone might be interested, I found a listing on Craigslist, Chicago. The guy has 4 hydraulic lift tables that could be adapted to make a motorcycle lift. He has two electric/hydraulic lifts and two that are regular hydraulic. He sent me pictures of them and the electric ones have all the pumps and controls. One of them is $150, another is $75. The regular hydraulic is $100 and $50. All are operational and should have the capacity to lift a bike like the XJ.
He has some other stuff that I am interested in. I live in the Louisville, KY area and if anyone would want one or more of them I could possibly pick it up and meet you somewhere if you would want to pay for the fuel expenses. I am not out to make anything from anyone on here. BTW, they are on wheels as best I cold tell, but the tables are not large enough. They would have to be extended on each side for the wheels to sit on.
One thing about it, you could get one or more of them and work on it when possible.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

Hound,
I like the idea. the question is, would that be more stable than simply putting a ratcheting latch on the two rear (or front) legs? It might allow for using the lift as a ramp.

Actually, that gave me another idea: The lift should have the ability to lift to the height of my truck's tailgate.

How should I support the bike? Most tables I've seen have a front wheel 'vice', but what if I'm changing the front tire/brake work, etc? Put something under the front of the bike while it is on the center stand? I'll have ratcheting straps of course.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

KD,

If you do it, put eye bolts on all four corners and possibly a couple in the middle. They can be removable so they won't be in the way. Have a panel on the front and back as well that is removable.
Tie the bike down where you want it, remove the panels on the end your are working on and you have it. The tie-down straps will secure it where ever you want it.
I wish someone lived closer to me. I could help build it and weld / cut as necessary.

 

hurst,
Good idea with the eyelets. 1/2" thick (the rod, not the hole) maybe? With your list of qualifications (your sig..) I'm sure I could use the help!

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

kd,

1/4" will be plenty large enough. Anything else would be an overkill. You could go as large as 3/8" but it would not be necessary. By setting the bike on the center stand you can tie either end down and remove the plate to have access to the opposite end.
I wish we were close enough so that I could help more.
If you have an idea that you would like to get an opinion on feel free to yell. Metal fabrication and equipment building/rebuilding has been my life's work.

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

I have a Harbor Freight platform lift. If you guys making one need any closeup pics of the platform mechanisms, just yell.

Carl

 

Carl; +1 on returning the exhaust to stock you won't be disappointed...

 

Re: Motorcycle Lifts does anybody have any experience (UPDAT

{BUMP} OK, so the second wooden platform hasn't held up well in use, even with six casters they're crumbling under the weight. Just gotta use the 200lb casters, which makes it too tall to be practical except for "once a season" use.

SO, back in January I ordered myself a birthday present, and it finally arrived: The Weigl Telefix MOTOBOY!

I ended up getting it from ENGLAND because at the time the Euro vs. GBP vs. USD exchange rates were all playing in my favor. (The MotoBoy is manufactured by Weigl in Germany hence the Euro.)

IT FINALLY ARRIVED!!! I will post pics of it "deployed" it makes the "Park-n-move" look like a cheap toy though.