Joe2Lmaker
Well-known member
I need to replace the ignition switch on the bike and I thought as long as I was at it I might as well repack the steering bearings and possibly change the fork oil.
What does that have to do with a bike dolly? Well, I was thinking that instead of hoisting the front of the bike, I could pull down on the rear of the bike. I've wanted to make one of these anyway <Link to feejer222's version> <Turn a Bike> <Harbor Freight version>
I was planning on making it out of 5/16" plate formed into a channel because feejer222 used 8mm. This morning I talked to a press brake operator and he probably won't be able to find a drop the right size (at least 7' long) which means he's going to have to sheer my piece off a full sheet. Plus, I'll also have to pay the 1 hour minimum rate (even though he could probably make four of these things in that hour - $65). He was too busy to make one for me today but could do this late next week.
Things have a way of working out. The delay has given me time to study the Harbor Freight version a little closer <Link> and I see that it is made out of much thinner gauge steel. If I can, I'd like to make mine out of thinner material. I need some help with the calculations though. The inside dimension of the channel will be about a minimum of 9", but I was thinking 10" wide. The channel will be about 7' long. As the material gets thinner, the sides of the channel can be shorter. Using 5/16" plate, the sides would have a minimum inside dimension of 1.125" high. I mention this because I would like to get the inside dimension as close to .750" as possible, to make it easier to get the bike up on the center stand.
The plate needs to be thick enough to resist two things:
1.)When I roll the bike up onto it (assuming its on casters) I don't want the channel to collapse in like a taco.
2.)If I put the bike on the center stand (on a non structural cross member) I don't want the channel to fold up in the middle like a broken bone.
Thanks in advance for your help with this.
What does that have to do with a bike dolly? Well, I was thinking that instead of hoisting the front of the bike, I could pull down on the rear of the bike. I've wanted to make one of these anyway <Link to feejer222's version> <Turn a Bike> <Harbor Freight version>
I was planning on making it out of 5/16" plate formed into a channel because feejer222 used 8mm. This morning I talked to a press brake operator and he probably won't be able to find a drop the right size (at least 7' long) which means he's going to have to sheer my piece off a full sheet. Plus, I'll also have to pay the 1 hour minimum rate (even though he could probably make four of these things in that hour - $65). He was too busy to make one for me today but could do this late next week.
Things have a way of working out. The delay has given me time to study the Harbor Freight version a little closer <Link> and I see that it is made out of much thinner gauge steel. If I can, I'd like to make mine out of thinner material. I need some help with the calculations though. The inside dimension of the channel will be about a minimum of 9", but I was thinking 10" wide. The channel will be about 7' long. As the material gets thinner, the sides of the channel can be shorter. Using 5/16" plate, the sides would have a minimum inside dimension of 1.125" high. I mention this because I would like to get the inside dimension as close to .750" as possible, to make it easier to get the bike up on the center stand.
The plate needs to be thick enough to resist two things:
1.)When I roll the bike up onto it (assuming its on casters) I don't want the channel to collapse in like a taco.
2.)If I put the bike on the center stand (on a non structural cross member) I don't want the channel to fold up in the middle like a broken bone.
Thanks in advance for your help with this.
