Getting the front end off the ground.

[Obiwan Kenobi]

I need to get the front end off the ground to get the wheel and forks out.

I've got a paddock stand for the back, a decent jack and a garage with beams.

Whats best to do: rope over the beams and round the headstock, jack it up under the offset oil catch tank, or under somewhere else?

thanks.

[D-Rider]

Well ..... to get the front off the ground, a handful of revs and dropping the clutch usually does the trick.



However if you want to do this while stationary, the method you describe will do the job .... as long as the beams are sufficiently robust.
When I had the forks out of mine, I used my Ulti-pro stand (like an Abba but more robust and without the annoying songs) as this supports closer to the centre of mass than a rear paddock stand. I then used a trolley jack under the sump - with a block of wood. Maybe a bit frowned-upon but I had no problem. When the wheel and forks are out there is very little weight there.

[Obiwan Kenobi]

Thanks,

My concern was really whether jacking it up underneath on the sump whilst using a standard paddock stand at the back would put too much weight on the sump itself.

I think maybe a combination of jack underneath and ratchet strap over the beam above may be the safest method.

[Firestarter]

D-Riders method used a pin in the swing arm pivot, so rotating around this via jacking at the sump won't put much load on the sump. Using a paddock stand at the rear of the swing arm, I wouldn't jack under the sump as there will be a lot more load imparted. Deffo don't jack when using a normal paddock stand

[Obiwan Kenobi]

Aah, that makes more sense, didn't know that's how the Ulti-pro stand works.

So a metal bar through the swing arm pivot point (does the hole go all the way through?) and then axle stands either side would work well?

Could maybe get the extra height needed to get the axle stands in place by levering the back end up on the paddock stand in the usual way but with the paddock stand wheels standing on a couple of flat bocks of wood either side...

[squadron Nero]

I thought this was going to be a wheelie thread

[mangocrazy]

Roping bikes up to beams and jacking on cast ali oil tanks scares the crap out of me. When I needed to drop the forks out of the Falco a few years back I decided to man up and by a steering head stand from Harris (cue sharp intake of breath and wallet going into spasm), but it's really been worth it.

It's the proverbial piece of p1ss to use and the peace of mind it gives was worth the outlay. Almost. Sort of...

But these days, steering head front stands are available at affordable prices. I really wouldn't dick about with bits of rope and scissor jacks, buy the correct part and give yourself some piece of mind (and make the job MUCH easier).

[randomsquid]

The abba stand with front lift kit would be the easy option but it'll cost you about £140

http://abbastands.co.uk/product-detail. ... e-2&pid=43

[MartDude]

Centre stands make this sort of thing so much easier. Just sayin' . . . . .

[Obiwan Kenobi]

You're not taking it apart so the bits will fit in that wheelie bin are you?

[HowardQ]

I have an UltiPro stand (like an Abba tribute stand!).
I have used it for years in this way, but it does lift the bike leaving more weight on the front wheel.
Even before I had a front paddock stand I used the simple method of getting a mate, or often the wife, to sit on the pillion seat, whilst I quickly roped the head stock to the garage roof beams and then let Terri off the back!
This allowed me to remove the wheel or do whatever work was needed. My garage roof beams aren't too strong, but as there isn't too much weight on the front it has always been fine for both bikes. Obviously there is even less weight on the front if you are taking the wheel out and it's worked dozens of times for me.

(just realised you mentioned wheel and forks being removed, so ropes round the headstock may get in the may and you may need to look at other options for the ropes, but should still be fine).