How to remove front wheel with the center stand

[sergeantnic]

So I need a new front tire and the local rip off artists want $40 to install. Only $20 if I bring in the wheel.

I've never owned a bike with a center stand so this might be a dumb question. Is there a way to get the front wheel off the bike with the center stand?

Can I tilt the bike back onto the back wheel somehow or is there another way?

I have access to my rafters in the garage so I thought about using some rachet straps to pull the front end up but not sure if that is the best way to do it.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[FJRBluesman]

I've used jack stands for a car, but that is extremely unsatble. I told my wife and kids to not even enter the garage while I had the front tire off. I bought a stand right after that. It's well worth the $$.

 

[Duff]

Just use some boards to gently rest the front-end of the headers on. Most of us do this and it doesn't hurt a thing. Just did my tires the other day and had the bike free-standing on center stand and 2x4s under front fairing for 24 hours while I had the rubber switched. Perfectly stable.

 

[Geezer]

I put the bike on the center stand then place a board on top of a scissor jack and put it under the headers. Only jack it up as high as necessary. You can lift higher if the back wheel is already off. I also usually have a 2x6 under the center stand for extra height to remove the back wheel.

And, since you have a way to do it, you can use ratchet straps from the triple tree up to the rafters to use as a safety strap. I did not use these when I had the stock header on, but after I installed a Muzzy 4-2-1 header the bike was a little wobbly with just the scissor jack under there.

 

[redtail]

Search feature should give you several options... like a "pipe rack" that's easy to make ( probably the same as strapping from the rafters!) or ... I use a block of 2X4 and a floor jack. I have two pieces of scrap wood attached to each end, so the pressure is on the bike and not the pipes. I'll try to find the pic.

front end stand

Or, this is my board. (Make sure the bike is on the center stand!)

 

[sergeantnic]

I put the bike on the center stand then place a board on top of a scissor jack and put it under the headers. Only jack it up as high as necessary. You can lift higher if the back wheel is already off. I also usually have a 2x6 under the center stand for extra height to remove the back wheel.
And, since you have a way to do it, you can use ratchet straps from the triple tree up to the rafters to use as a safety strap. I did not use these when I had the stock header on, but after I installed a Muzzy 4-2-1 header the bike was a little wobbly with just the scissor jack under there.

Excellent. That's exactly what I needed to know. Now I just need to find a 19mm alen wrench.

 

[SkooterG]

All the suggestions above are great if you have a jack. If you don't..................

I've seen folks ratchet strap the rear down to something to raise the front. It'll work. Just be sure it is VERY secure. Or, you could do it your way and raise the front by strapping it from above.

 

[sergeantnic]

All the suggestions above are great if you have a jack. If you don't..................
I've seen folks ratchet strap the rear down to something to raise the front. It'll work. Just be sure it is VERY secure. Or, you could do it your way and raise the front by strapping it from above.

That's kinda what I was leaning towards in the begining was how to pull the back down safely but my truck has a scissor jack so I'll give that a try and throw a ratchet strap on the trees for safety.

Thanks again.

 

[Warchild]

Excellent. That's exactly what I needed to know.

No, no, no, no.... NO!

You people are providing the INCORRECT perspective for sergeantic!!!

Due to the nature of his original post, we should ALL be telling him that he now has justification to purchase a kick-*** front stand!!

Go with one of the Pit Bull stands, sergeantic... they don't get any better!

 

[mferriter]

Excellent. That's exactly what I needed to know.

No, no, no, no.... NO!

You people are providing the INCORRECT perspective for sergeantic!!!

Due to the nature of his original post, we should ALL be telling him that he now has justification to purchase a kick-*** front stand!!

Go with one of the Pit Bull stands, sergeantic... they don't get any better!

Are there any ABS sensor friendly front stands out there? I have afront stand but it's pretty precarious on there due to the ABS sensor.

 

[redtail]

Go with one of the Pit Bull stands, sergeantic... they don't get any better!

OOOHH!!! That looks sweet!

I think I need a bigger garage!

 

[sergeantnic]

Go with one of the Pit Bull stands, sergeantic... they don't get any better!

I'm too cheap!! And besides I have to get this done tonight!!

 

[Spud]

I put my bike on the center stand, put a plastic crate under the headers, and add some counter-weight to the far back-end of the bike using two of these specially-designed FJR approved weights:

Then, as another previously stated, TRESPASS everyone from the garage until the wheel's back on :lol:

 

[mferriter]

Does anyone know the distance between the center of the bottom of the forks? I've seen a relatively cheap lift for 8 1/2" spacing.

Thanks.

 

[RadioHowie]

Quick and easy solution....put the bike on the centerstand, then have someone with some heft sit on the pillion.

It will overbalance the bike back onto the rear wheel, lifting the front off the ground, then put a jack/block of wood/your mother-in-law's head under the headers to hold the front up.

Let gravity do your work for you.

 

[Warchild]

Are there any ABS sensor friendly front stands out there? I have afront stand but it's pretty precarious on there due to the ABS sensor.

As you can see, I use this exact, same Pit Bull stand for the front of my '04 ABS.....

 

[wfooshee]

Now I just need to find a 19mm alen wrench.

5/8 Spark plug socket, with a 3" extension in the "wrong" end. The hex on the top of the socket is microscopically smaller than 19mm, works perfectly.

 

[worldbound4now]

All the suggestions above are great if you have a jack. If you don't..................
I've seen folks ratchet strap the rear down to something to raise the front. It'll work. Just be sure it is VERY secure. Or, you could do it your way and raise the front by strapping it from above.

I used to fear the pressure on my headers using the jack/board method under the bike, so I originally used a ratchet strap off of my luggage rack down to one of two places... either a spoke on my car's 5 spoke wheel rims or the supporting corner post on garage shelving which was firmly secured to the wall and floor. I'd connect the ratchet strap and then sit on the rear seat of the bike facing backwards to get the front end up then tighten the strap gently until it held the bike up. I've since converted and have used the jack under header method for a few years now without incident. It makes removal of both tires at the same time quite a bit easier. Put the bike up on the center stand on top of a 2x4, remove the rear wheel, jack up on the headers to gain appropriate front end clearance, remove front wheel and look at your bike precariously standing there without any rubber.

My preference is to remove the rear wheel before jacking up on the headers to prevent the possibility that you'll cantelever off of the rear wheel and lose the lateral support of the center stand when trying to gain front end clearance.

my 2 cents.

worldbound4now

 

[sergeantnic]

Now I just need to find a 19mm alen wrench.

5/8 Spark plug socket, with a 3" extension in the "wrong" end. The hex on the top of the socket is microscopically smaller than 19mm, works perfectly.

genious. I can't see photobucket at work but I think I get the idea. If you feel up to the task feel free to email me the pic!!

sergeantnic AT gmail DOT com