fivestring
CB750 Member
After much consideration, I chose the fork-style Harbor Freight lift as a Christmas gift . It took about 20 minutes to bolt it together and it was ready for use.
I wanted this type of lift so I could easily remove wheels or forks.
But I also had looked at the table type of lifts so I could work on the underside of motors (exhaust, oil changes, frame mods, etc) and this style of lift is not really good for accessing the underside of the bike. So..I decided to tweak it! (insert Tool Man grunt here).
I purchased an 8' section of 6" steel channel.
This piece would be long enough to park my bikes on and still have some length left over. I had some round stock, 3/8" I think, and heated and bent it into a 'U' shape for a front tire holder.
Then I tried to heat the other end of the steel to bend a section down for a ramp, but I found it easier to just cut off a 1' section and weld it back on at an angle. I used chunks of 4x4 under the channel . This way the channel sits 4" off the floor at all times and that allows me to slide the 'forks' of the lift under the channel and lift everything up together. The 4x4 at the front end is longer and serves as a stabilizing leg to help keep the bike upright until I get the lift placed at the center of weight distribution and get straps on the bike and secure it to the lift.
What a difference it makes when doing most anything to the bikes! I used to sit on a milk crate to work on carbs or cables. Now I can stand beside the bike and see clearly what I am doing. I replaced the exhaust system the other day on this KZ and it was so easy to see and install everything. No more aching backs or laying on the floor beside the bike to work on frame rails.
I can use the lift either way,obviously. Using the forks under the frame still requires using 2x4 'spacers' laid perpendicular across the lifting arms so I am not lifting against exhaust tubes. but that works great, is stable and allows for free access to both wheels. Using the channel gives me plenty of room for welding frames or doing anything under the center of the bike.
I hope this helps someone trying to decide what kind of lift to purchase for your home shop.
I wanted this type of lift so I could easily remove wheels or forks.
But I also had looked at the table type of lifts so I could work on the underside of motors (exhaust, oil changes, frame mods, etc) and this style of lift is not really good for accessing the underside of the bike. So..I decided to tweak it! (insert Tool Man grunt here).
I purchased an 8' section of 6" steel channel.
This piece would be long enough to park my bikes on and still have some length left over. I had some round stock, 3/8" I think, and heated and bent it into a 'U' shape for a front tire holder.
Then I tried to heat the other end of the steel to bend a section down for a ramp, but I found it easier to just cut off a 1' section and weld it back on at an angle. I used chunks of 4x4 under the channel . This way the channel sits 4" off the floor at all times and that allows me to slide the 'forks' of the lift under the channel and lift everything up together. The 4x4 at the front end is longer and serves as a stabilizing leg to help keep the bike upright until I get the lift placed at the center of weight distribution and get straps on the bike and secure it to the lift.
What a difference it makes when doing most anything to the bikes! I used to sit on a milk crate to work on carbs or cables. Now I can stand beside the bike and see clearly what I am doing. I replaced the exhaust system the other day on this KZ and it was so easy to see and install everything. No more aching backs or laying on the floor beside the bike to work on frame rails.
I can use the lift either way,obviously. Using the forks under the frame still requires using 2x4 'spacers' laid perpendicular across the lifting arms so I am not lifting against exhaust tubes. but that works great, is stable and allows for free access to both wheels. Using the channel gives me plenty of room for welding frames or doing anything under the center of the bike.
I hope this helps someone trying to decide what kind of lift to purchase for your home shop.