Missing hole.

[hillbilly1]

Since it was time to change the front time I rolled out my trusty steering stem stand and to my wonder the hole in the steering stem was missing.

What a pain in the butt to get the front tire off the ground.

 

[puppychow]

Friday comes early sometimes. Too early.

 

[blassoff]

Geez, the rest of us lazy bastages just use a tire jack under the headers.....

 

[TripperMike]

That title leaves so much to the imagination.

You might get some bizarre responces.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Floor jack and 1 X 6 chunk of wood works for me...

--G

 

[Heen]

I hang my front end from the ceiling - (boy did I leave myself wide open for comments)

 

[900gc]

I hang my front end from the ceiling - (boy did I leave myself wide open for comments)

Braggart.

 

[SacramentoMike]

That title leaves so much to the imagination.

You might get some bizarre responces.

Thought it was put in the Technical section by mistake. Sounded more like it belonged in "Jokes and Fun Stuff."

 

[Old Guy]

Geez, the rest of us lazy bastages just use a tire jack under the headers.....

Yep. That's all I've ever used for a bike with a center stand. I didn't even own any other kind of stand until I got my ZRX -- the first street bike I can remember owning without a center stand.

 

[gixxerjasen]

You could always hang stuff off the back of the bike as well. It stays up easier once the front wheel is off too. Or get someone to sit on the passenger seat for you. You know, if none of the other options here work for you. I use the jack from my car with a book or a piece of wood under the headers, works fine.

Can't find the picture but sometimes you need to be creative, and having centerstand allows for all sorts of creativity. I backed my FZ1 up to my wife's car, then attached a ratchet strap to her wheel and the givi rack on the FZ1. Ratchet the back end down and the front comes up. I will note, you should make sure she doesn't need to go anywhere, as they get pissy when they have to wait for you to finish the tire change so they can go to the store.

 

[Cav47]

I hang my front end from the ceiling - (boy did I leave myself wide open for comments)

I do the same. I use the garage door "down arm" (the angle bracket piece) There seems to be quite a bit of strength there. Before I put the FJR on there with the rachet straps, I did a few pull ups to make sure it would hold first.

On the center stand, there is really not much weight on the front wheel. That is the method I also used when changing the fork oil and servicing. Definitely not much weight up front when the wheel and forks are gone.

 

[SacramentoMike]

Before I put the FJR on there with the rachet straps, I did a few pull ups to make sure it would hold first.

How many? Just to be real sure you know?

A few pieces of 2 x 6 and one or two thinner pieces under the pipes--get it all set up except for the last piece or two, then call somebody out to lean on the tail end while you put the last pieces in-doesn't take much weight. It's enough to clear the ground and do what you need to do.

 

[gixxerjasen]

Jack method.

 

[mcatrophy]

...A few pieces of 2 x 6 and one or two thinner pieces under the pipes--get it all set up except for the last piece or two, then call somebody out to lean on the tail end while you put the last pieces in-doesn't take much weight. It's enough to clear the ground and do what you need to do.

I do that, but wifey never comes when I call, so I stand behind the bike, lean on the luggage rack to tip the bike, then push the pile of wood under the headers using a broom handle. Not easy, I'm barely heavy enough with all my weight on the luggage rack, but it just about works.
To lower the bike I put another piece of wood beside the supporting pile, then repeat the process and push the extra piece of wood with the broom handle to push the supporting pile out from under.

 

[Old Guy]

Ya know? You can get a little 2-ton trolley jack for about $30.

 

[gixxerjasen]

I was thinking along the same lines...Mcatrophy, don't you have a jack in your car? Seems much easier.

 

[Cav47]

I was thinking along the same lines...Mcatrophy, don't you have a jack in your car? Seems much easier.

Nothing easier than hooking it up from the ceiling.

#1 It cannot fall over. Like a jack or other method

#2 I already have the straps, they store easily, and they are not heavy.(my floor jack is heavy)

#3 It is very adjustable

#4 It provides a visual reminder for the kids in my garage. With the jack, they could climb on the bike and not realize it. (yes, my kids climb on my bike. I have "caught" the 10yr old and 7yr old on it. Sometimes they are riding solo, and sometimes they are on a trip riding 2-up)

And

#5 It looks super cool floating up there.

I suppose it could pull the angle bracket out of the ceiling, but it would have to sheer off 3 bolts. (3/8ths into a doubled up Glue Lam in my case)

Everyone has their own fav method. This is where I put the YMMV acronym.

 

[BigOgre]

I was thinking along the same lines...Mcatrophy, don't you have a jack in your car? Seems much easier.

Nothing easier than hooking it up from the ceiling.

#1 It cannot fall over. Like a jack or other method

#2 I already have the straps, they store easily, and they are not heavy.(my floor jack is heavy)

#3 It is very adjustable

#4 It provides a visual reminder for the kids in my garage. With the jack, they could climb on the bike and not realize it. (yes, my kids climb on my bike. I have "caught" the 10yr old and 7yr old on it. Sometimes they are riding solo, and sometimes they are on a trip riding 2-up)

And

#5 It looks super cool floating up there.

I suppose it could pull the angle bracket out of the ceiling, but it would have to sheer off 3 bolts. (3/8ths into a doubled up Glue Lam in my case)

Everyone has their own fav method. This is where I put the YMMV acronym.

Soo sorry Scooter but this just begs for a repost.

I know, different ends of the bike, and I'm not suggesting you're not being super-careful Cav, but just a reminder of a valuable lesson. (Full thread link here.)

Posted 12 February 2013 - 04:37 PM


Slow progress continues to be made. And sometimes, it even comes with a bit of drama!

Borrowed a friend's Sky Hook to get to the meat of the job.

Good news: I found a way to make access to the C-stand and relay arm REALLY easy.

Bad news: It was NOT a planned event.

.

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.

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.

.

.

.

.

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**** me to tears.

But as I said, easy access to the work area!!!

I blame it on Yamaha's battery location. That extra weight up there was the straw that broke the camel's back tipping it over. No doubt if I had one of those fancy-schmancy lightweight Shorai batteries up there, this wouldn't have happened!

Got some neat new 'character' scratches to remind me of what a complete BONEHEAD I am. Ahhhhh....... a day in the life of SkooterG..........

Let's be CAREFUL out there folks!

 

[Old Guy]

I was thinking along the same lines...Mcatrophy, don't you have a jack in your car? Seems much easier.

Nothing easier than hooking it up from the ceiling.

#1 It cannot fall over. Like a jack or other method

#2 I already have the straps, they store easily, and they are not heavy.(my floor jack is heavy)

#3 It is very adjustable

#4 It provides a visual reminder for the kids in my garage. With the jack, they could climb on the bike and not realize it. (yes, my kids climb on my bike. I have "caught" the 10yr old and 7yr old on it. Sometimes they are riding solo, and sometimes they are on a trip riding 2-up)

And

#5 It looks super cool floating up there.

I suppose it could pull the angle bracket out of the ceiling, but it would have to sheer off 3 bolts. (3/8ths into a doubled up Glue Lam in my case)

Everyone has their own fav method. This is where I put the YMMV acronym.

My little 2-ton trolley jack is not heavy and even if it were, it has wheels It sits by the wall right where I tend to use it and already has a small piece of 1x4 lying on it. The motorcycles are all I use it for, so it doesn't really go anywhere else.

I guess it could fall over, but I don't rightly see how.

No kids around here except this old, grey-headed one.

I actually did hang my ZRX from my garage door track once to do fork work, and I didn't like how it swung around when I was pulling on wrenches.

But, you're exactly right. Everyone has his/her own favorite -- neither of us is wrong or right.