Poor man's bike lift

[danimal2]

Needed a new tire. Best deal I could find and they had it in stock, could lace it up and could do it tomorrow so I can ride this weekend. Problem is I have to take the wheel off and take it to em. No bike lift yet and couldn't figure out a way to get the bike raised up.

Guess I could've asked how ya'll do it, but figured I'd just wing it.

Cherry picker is for swapping boat motors in and out. You can see the boat and a spare block on the floor in one of the shots. When I swap out boat motors the picker is maxed out as high as it will go with a 800 lb big block swinging off it. Do it once or twice a year (sometimes more). It's plenty sturdy and doesn't seem to have a problem doing it.

Worked pretty good and was able to cut out a few steps. Able to lift the bike high enough to roll the wheel out without having to take off a bunch of extra stuff.

Crude............but effective.

Using the balance beam was able to adjust it so the bike sat level even though the front wheel was cocked. Sometimes ya just gotta make do. The jack stands are just there so I could take the pressure off the hydraulic ram until tomorrow when it goes back together.

[Sin City Stan]

I like it. Necessity is the mother of invention.

[taranis]

Purdy <s>fart smeller</s> smart feller, if ya ask me!

[ringadingh]

Thats a great idea, theres no sense buying jacks for a limited purpose when you have something like that around.

[MAS Tequila]

I've seen pics of someone (maybe Judge) working on bikes lifted with both wheels off the ground.

MT

[danimal2]

The only down side is the legs of the picker are sort of in the way. Not terrible for this purpose and had the back wheel off in 10 minutes or so. On other jobs it might be a pain to work around the legs.

I was a little nervous on first lift and made darned sure that it wasn't going to tip. I had used a couple old tiedown straps and used the rubber coated hooks to lift with, but one of them looked like it might straighten out. Decided to tie the straps and that worked great.

I think it could pick up the entire bike if rigged properly. Again........my big block Ford complete with tunnelram and dual carbs, full 10 quart oil pan (with headers attached) weighs more than the bike does and it lifts that no problem.

The picker is rated at 1000 lbs with the arm extended all the way.

[Jared]

Looks like it worked out pretty well!

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Not a bad lifting idea at all. Looks like it did what was necessary.

[danimal2]

On the road again. Bike shop took my old tire off, put the new one on and balanced it while I waited. Man what a difference. The old tire was the original 12 year old Bridgestone pretty much bald and cupped really bad. They (previous owner) managed to get 5400 miles out of it.

Nice new Dunlop D404 150/80/16 rear for $132.00 out the door. Didn't think that was terrible.

Next I'll get the original OEM Bridgestone off the front. That should help things out some. It's a 12 year old tire too and although it has a good bit of tread left on it, the rubber is pretty stinkin hard and crusty. Definitely not pressing the issue on corners if ya know what I mean.

[minst7877]

Did you do the swing-arm maintenance while you were in there? Getting ready to start working on mine.

DC

[danimal2]

Originally Posted by minst7877

Did you do the swing-arm maintenance while you were in there? Getting ready to start working on mine.

DC

Where from in Michigan. I was born in Pontiac and lived down state from 1957 to 1969. Then moved to the UP from 1969 until about 1985 or so.

I gave it the once over. Everything looked o.k. visually and according to the maintenance schedule it's not due for service until 7500 miles. Bike only has 5400 original miles even though it's a 1999.

[minst7877]

I grew up just outside of jackson a little place called Munith. Got married and bought a house in Jackson and have been here ever since.

DC

[danimal2]

I see it on mapquest. I lived in Washington a little town on Van Dyke and 28 mile road. Family moved to Escanaba and I did most my growing up there. Spent quite a bit of time working around Traverse City, Cadillac, Sturgis after high school and military. Dated a girl from Petoskey for a couple years. Many a trip across the mighty Mac on two wheels. That's always just a little freaky especially if it's at all windy.

[minst7877]

That trip over the mighty mac is on my to do list this summer. I have been over it many times in cars and trucks in wind that I definately wouldn't want to be on the bike in.

DC

[danimal2]

If you're feeling adventurous try riding on the metal grates. You can look through them and see the water several hundred feet down. Also freaks out the handling of the bike. We used to do it for kicks. Then again we were twenty-something year old idiots. No offense to any twenty-something year old idiots out there reading this.