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Long term storage without front end

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Dan Gardner, Sep 24, 2021.

  1. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    If I wanted to put a bike away for the winter but take off the front forks to be able to work on them over the winter, what would be the best way to do that? The easy way would be to put some sort of stand under the exhaust to hold up the front end, but that seems like a bad idea - a lot of weight on the exhaust for a long time.

    Getting a jack stand under the frame in the area of the oil filter doesn't seem to want to work. Maybe my jack stands are just too fat or something.
     
  2. Huntchuks

    Huntchuks Well-Known Member

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    I don't think weight on the exhaust for a season is any worse than for a day or week, unless the exhaust will corrode over that period and get weaker and weaker. Share the weight with the back tire.
     
  3. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam Premium Member

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    It’ll sit on the center stand without a front end indefinitely. Just have to be mindful that a nudge to the rear will drop it to the floor. Put a jack stand or two on the frame rails if you’re worried.

    Stands on the case guards works too:

    D45C9C2E-56C0-45B6-ABFA-97A9485863D9.jpeg
     
  4. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I will have to try that jack stands under the crash bars trick.
     
  5. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I've got an ambitious list of projects for the XJ650J this winter, including:
    Master cylinder rebuild
    Caliper rebuild
    Clean/lube speedo to hopefully fix Mexican jumping bean
    Repaint speedo/tach needles and red zones on the faces
    Fork rebuild

    So I want to put it in storage, pull all the parts off, and have them in the house for the winter, which leaves the bike without any front forks.
     
  6. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Strap the centerstand to the rear wheel frame so the stand can't close.
    Put about 75 pounds of weight on the passenger seat.
    For insurance use a longish peice of wood on the oil pan, and set a jackstand under it.

    Do not allow the exhaust bear any weight.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2021
  7. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    OK, thanks everybody. Some good ideas. I will work on it.
     
  8. Franz

    Franz Well-Known Member

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    You can fix a strong rope from the centrestand to the front transverse frame rail to stop it shutting.
     
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  9. JCH

    JCH Active Member

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    I install a 1 inch by 2 inch about 5 inch long piece of lumber in-between exhaust pipes 2 and 3 on the frame rail with a car screw jack.
     
  10. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    I’d strap to the FRONT
     
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  11. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    I edited my response. Brain farts happen.
     
  12. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I gave it a test run and I think I should be able to do like @jayrodoh did and put my crappy jackstands under the crash bars, along with a ratchet strap from the center stand to the crash bars.
     
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  13. kosel

    kosel Active Member Premium Member

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    When I took off my front end, I used a large chink of styrofoam I got at the recycling center. Easily cuts down to whatever height you need and it was soft enough that it formed around all the pipes and curves and corners without marring paint or anything.
     
  14. Dan Gardner

    Dan Gardner Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Finally had to put it away for the winter. Here's how it ended up - sitting on the jack stands under the crash bars, and a ratchet strap from the top for insurance:
    20211016_215532506_iOS (2).jpg
     
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