I bought a bike lift that worked great for my Harley Road Glide but I dont think it will work so well on my FJ because the headers look to be routed under the bottom of the frame and would probably get damaged if I tried to raise the bike that way.
I guess the other option is use the center stand and find some way to fasten the back end to the ground to keep the front wheel off the ground. But I thought I saw some kind of rear wheel stand that guys were using to instead of the center stand? Suggestions?
Also some how I got a very slow leak in my front tire. I have looked over the whole tire for a puncture and cannot seem to find anything. I refill the tire and it goes down about 2lb of pressure a day. What really sucks is I just put brand new Pirelli Sport Demons on when I bought the bike a couple months ago. So I want to take the wheel off and take it in and have a new tire put on, instead of the whole bike.
For any bike with a centerstand, including FJ, I use the said centerstand and put weight on the back.
I have used cement blocks in the saddlebags and I have also asked a friend to just sit on it while I take off the wheel.
Once you take off the wheel, it should stay tilted back.
Loukiii,
For about US$40 and a pair of heavy tiedown ratchet straps, you can make a bike lifter that can support most of the bike's weight, front or back. Folds flat to the wall, when not in use. Made from 3/4" (~20mm) diameter black iron plumbing pipe, two tee fittings, two 90 degree elbows, and even four end caps if you wish. Should not be made too much higher than the handlebars. The lifter seen in the video is excessively tall, not a good idea. Stock (shorter) lengths of threaded pipes are fairly inexpensive. Custom lengths and threading will add costs.
https://youtu.be/3zLXrq8pIpw?t=46 (https://youtu.be/3zLXrq8pIpw?t=46)
Once you get the wheel removed, dunk it in the bathtub to find the leak. Check especially the valve stem under water; bend it slightly in each direction to check it for cracks.
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I use a bottle jack and put in straight up into the drain plug.
I use this little cheap stand fits between the headers
I had similar leaking and it was leaking air behind the bead .I used a can of fix-a-flat and the tire did not leak anymore for its lifetime
Quote from: Old Rider on September 07, 2021, 03:02:54 AM
I had similar leaking and it was leaking air behind the bead .I used a can of fix-a-flat and the tire did not leak anymore for its lifetime
You don't see a lot of shops do it, but the rim where the bead sits should be cleaned after the old tyre is removed. You sometimes get bits of tyre compound sticking to the rim which compromises the seal.
Noel
Quote from: Loukiii on September 06, 2021, 05:29:11 PM
I bought a bike lift that worked great for my Harley Road Glide but I dont think it will work so well on my FJ because the headers look to be routed under the bottom of the frame and would probably get damaged if I tried to raise the bike that way.
Also some how I got a very slow leak in my front tire. I have looked over the whole tire for a puncture and cannot seem to find anything. I refill the tire and it goes down about 2lb of pressure a day. What really sucks is I just put brand new Pirelli Sport Demons on when I bought the bike a couple months ago. So I want to take the wheel off and take it in and have a new tire put on, instead of the whole bike.
As has already been mentioned, a jack under the lug in front of the sump plug works fine and is quick and simple. Just be careful, the bike is not particularly stable in this configuration.
I doubt you will need a new tyre just because of a slow leak.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50508692583_23a44d18db_c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50509309111_d19bba0e6b_o.jpg)
Noel
Pit Bull head lift stand. Not cheap but the best way to safely lift the front end. The rear also needs to be stabilized. If you lift the front to the point where the rear tire engages you end up with only 2 points of contact....no bueno. :Facepalm:
Fill a spray bottle with water with some dish washing liquid in it. Spray the whee/tyre and you'll immediately see where the leak is.
Also, a paddock stand is an easy and practical way to lift the front or rear of the bike, provided it has the correct adapters for your bike. You should not lift the front end first, since it makes your bike unstable. I always secure my bike with some straps from the ceiling beams just to make sure nothing bad happens.
I pull the calipers and hang them by strings to protect the brake lines and then the speedometer cable . Then I loosen the axle bolt nut and remove the clamping bolts . Then have my son push down on the back with the bike on the center stand but a jack is fine if your a lone wolf. As soon as I've pulled the wheel off I slide the axel bolt back in and rest it on a block of wood.
When I change my tires I always use super fine steel wool and clean the rim then I don't have leaks from the bead.
I bought one of these. I've only had the fj up on it once but I took the chin spoiler off , put it on the center stand and lifted it enough to get the front wheel off. Didn't damage the pipes at all. I put the axle back in the forks and a jack stand under the axle while I was getting the tire replaced.
Quote from: T Legg on September 07, 2021, 08:36:49 AM
When I change my tires I always use super fine steel wool and clean the rim then I don't have leaks from the bead.
:good2:
I used a floor jack once, worked ok.
Another, I strapped the front 1st, then the back pulling the front up. Stabil, it was.
My old method (before cutting off the center stand mounts) was to roll the bike up on a long board and just let the front roll off the end. Pop the bike up on the center stand. Then use tie down straps to pull the back end down the the board to raise the front tire off the ground. You can tie down through the rear rim to the board, or tie down the grab handles to the board to do the same. Same should work with those flash lifts too!
Quote from: fj1289 on September 08, 2021, 09:52:18 PM
My old method (before cutting off the center stand mounts) was to roll the bike up on a long board and just let the front roll off the end. Pop the bike up on the center stand. Then use tie down straps to pull the back end down the the board to raise the front tire off the ground. You can tie down through the rear rim to the board, or tie down the grab handles to the board to do the same. Same should work with those flash lifts too!
Chris, that's a great bit of lateral thinking and simplicity at it's best, using the bike's own weight to elevate the front.
Here is my "board"....
(https://live.staticflickr.com/4186/33764343343_e6472ba499_c.jpg)
...and if you want to raise it up and down, tie it to the table itself.....
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51439960230_4996e22aa1_c.jpg)
Noel