Let's see if I can do pictures.
This is hopefully some shots of the frame stand that I made to stabilize the bike when working on the front end; forks, front wheel/tire, steering head bearings, etc.
Put bike on center stand and raise the front end until the rear tire is on the ground then slide the stand under the frame rails. If you've raised the rear end with dogbones or a Penske, you might have to put a 2x4 or two under the centerstand to get the rear up farther.
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/82_19_10_12_9_43_32.jpeg)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/82_19_10_12_9_44_45.jpeg)
And here is my GPS/Camera mount on the upper triple clamp:
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/82_19_10_12_9_48_22.jpeg)
very nice... is that dust on the bike????? :biggrin:
I've had my 89 FJ1200 for 19 years, and have always dreaded working on the front end. I'm getting ready to service the front calipers (dragging a bit, expect it's a bit of corrosion in the bores), and need a better way to hold up the front end for things like this, tire changes, etc. I've done things I'm not proud of (2 scissor jacks, one under each fork leg, stacking wood under the engine while using the centerstand) and am seriously considering an actual front stand (unless someone has a better idea).
There are the two types, the pin type that lifts from the triple clamp steering stem (which I prefer the idea of) and the type that lifts from the bottom of the fork leg (which reminds me too much of my scissor jack/Jenga routine). Any experience and/or recommendations with either type?
What does anybody else use?
BTW, I have the SuperTrapp 4:1, so I can't use my under engine/frame type lift which works great on bikes with high exhausts and ATVs.
Thanx!
Quote from: racerman_27410 on October 20, 2012, 10:43:16 PM
very nice... is that dust on the bike????? :biggrin:
Good one Frank! That's wax residue. Dust from the wax job it just received.
You should know better. :-)
DavidR.
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on October 20, 2012, 11:43:43 PM
Dust from the wax job it just received.
DavidR.
LOL....I should have known! :drinks:
Ahhh Mr miargy , wax on,, wax off
The only guy I know with a carpeted garage...clean carpet mind you.......it figures... :i_am_so_happy:
Normally i use a under engine/frame lift. But when i need the front wheel of or the forks, i just put the bike on its central support and mount strops to the beams in my garage and attache them to the frame of the bike. The front is hoisted just enough for the rear wheel to touch the floor and i have plenty of room to work on in the front.
Cheers
Ken
how the hell do you work on an Fj and keep white carpet clean :lol: , I had mats and first ride in the rain trashed those , ,
I made one of these, works perfectly! Thanks Mark.
Andrew
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3329.msg27778#msg27778 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=3329.msg27778#msg27778)
Mine is slightly different.
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8185/8107818274_1ace4546c1_b.jpg)
I put my fj on its main stand on a flat floor, I use a sissor jack and a small bottle jack and I position these under the sqaure section frame
either side of the engine. Jack them up untll front wheel is just off the floorand thats it ,u can do any job on the front end in safety to u and machine
I dont like your set up ,its not stable , my little jacks havs u sections on them and they dont slip off the square section.
A very cheap front end stand for some work (lifts by the bottom of the forks), and a strongly anchored hook in the ceiling with a ratchet strap for some work. A floor jack and a centerstand/rearstand for some work, also.
Quote from: HapHazard on October 20, 2012, 10:49:24 PM
I've had my 89 FJ1200 for 19 years, and have always dreaded working on the front end. I'm getting ready to service the front calipers (dragging a bit, expect it's a bit of corrosion in the bores), and need a better way to hold up the front end for things like this, tire changes, etc. I've done things I'm not proud of (2 scissor jacks, one under each fork leg, stacking wood under the engine while using the centerstand) and am seriously considering an actual front stand (unless someone has a better idea).
There are the two types, the pin type that lifts from the triple clamp steering stem (which I prefer the idea of) and the type that lifts from the bottom of the fork leg (which reminds me too much of my scissor jack/Jenga routine). Any experience and/or recommendations with either type?
What does anybody else use?
BTW, I have the SuperTrapp 4:1, so I can't use my under engine/frame type lift which works great on bikes with high exhausts and ATVs.
Thanx!
Having had to remove my center stand, I went for a "Pit Bull" pin type stand. I got tired of rigging the bike to the ceiling truss above my work area. It is extremely stable, but you will have to remove your horn and, of course, if you need to work on your triple tree it can't be used.
james
Quote from: Pat Conlon on October 21, 2012, 12:16:55 AM
The only guy I know with a carpeted garage...clean carpet mind you.......it figures... :i_am_so_happy:
Nope, that's the living room/ workshop.................. :sarcastic:
The last time I worked on the front end, I put it up on the center stand, and laid two 60 lb sand bags ocross the back.........One was just about enough to change the balance toward the rear, and the second one held the front end up solid.....
(http://i859.photobucket.com/albums/ab154/firehawk068/misc/P6210351.jpg)
Hey Guys, shit, don't know what happened.....
I merged DavidR's topic, he posted over in the General Discussion, with this topic, and all the original postings in this topic went away...
I'll see if there's a way to recover them. I am so sorry.
I've done this dozens of times thru the years and this has never happened before.
Sorry guys :flag_of_truce:
I wondered how my pics got over here.
Anyway, here's a wide shot of the Man Cave
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/82_21_10_12_3_34_49_0.jpeg)
And here's a shot of a stain on my carpet. It did NOT come from the FJ! :-)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/3/82_21_10_12_3_34_50_1.jpeg)
FJ porn..... I love it.....
David,
I'm disappointed that you used a #2 grade of 2x4, with knots, instead of a #1 grade :rofl2:
Carey
Wow! Not only did I get lots of good input on holding up the front of my FJ, as a bonus I got to feel inadequate about my garage decor! :biggrin:
I don't have a "traditional" joist setup for a ceiling - it's 2x4 trusses that are pretty high up and at an angle, so hanging it up is a no-go.
The Pitbull stands are works of art, and will hold the bike steady in a hurricane, but I didn't think about the horn removal (also, a rear stand is needed as well, and neither is inexpensive, and together is too much $ for cheap me).
Obviously, the 2 sand bags are the easiest way to get the job done (so obvious that I never thought of it), but I had been contemplating possibly using the two threaded brackets that the chin cowl attaches to along with some metal leg or stand assemblage along with the centerstand. The fabricated wood stand is a quick easy build that I'll probably go with (our "vintage" square frame sections are a plus in this case!). Also, it doesn't take up much room when it's not in use (big + there).
Thanks for all the great help!
I really think David needs another tool box to balance the chi in there.... :biggrin:
KOokaloo!
Frank
BTW what was it exactly that DID leave the stain on the carpet?
My bike did not come from the PO with a center stand. I have a rear race stand and a front wheel stand that lifts from the bottom of the forks. I did pull the forks off to change the fork seals. I used 2 bicycle hanging hooks screwed into the ceiling rafters and 2 tiedown straps hooked to the upper triple tree.
Photo of the bike on the front and rear stands.
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o145/aviationfred/578055_3656762991014_425499596_n.jpg)
Quote from: racerman_27410 on October 21, 2012, 07:30:22 PM
I really think David needs another tool box to balance the chi in there....
BTW what was it exactly that DID leave the stain on the carpet?
Frank,
My third toolbox is just off the right side of the picture next to that blue box. It's my main toolbox. :-)
I think that stain was from doing some fork work a few years back. Not really worth renting a carpet cleaner for, after all, it is only a garage. :-)
DavidR.
Quote from: SlowOldGuy on October 21, 2012, 07:44:44 PM
Quote from: racerman_27410 on October 21, 2012, 07:30:22 PM
I really think David needs another tool box to balance the chi in there....
BTW what was it exactly that DID leave the stain on the carpet?
Frank,
My third toolbox is just off the right side of the picture next to that blue box. It's my main toolbox. :-)
I think that stain was from doing some fork work a few years back. Not really worth renting a carpet cleaner for, after all, it is only a garage. :-)
DavidR.
AHA i see the third box now..... i knew you had to have prefect chi brother! :drinks:
Another approach I have used:
Assuming you have something to hook the bottom hooks to, put bike on center stand and then use two ratchet straps hooked to the grab handles and then ratchet the bike down so the rear wheel touches the floor. Jacking on one side of the frame at front aids the process. Very stable and safe.
Jeff
Success! (It happens so infrequently)
Thanks again to all for the varied ideas. I scoured the garage and found 2 short (16") lengths of 4x4 post material. I rounded up 2 scissors jacks, after putting the FJ on the center stand, I placed a 4x4 and a scissor jack under each frame rail. I alternately jacked each side up until the front was up enough to service and check the calipers. It worked great. The scissors probably aren't as stable as a purpose-built (markmartin) under frame stand, but they did the job.
Also, a tip you all probably know, but a useful one anyway:
Before raising an FJ up on the centerstand, first roll the rear wheel onto a 2X4 lying flat on the floor. The length of the stand, high lift and less than ideal geometry make it impossible for me to put the FJ up without first giving the rear end a raise. With the 2x4, it's almost easy.