bike work table

[zed]

so I've got that 550 that I have been working on and now the KZ650 and maybe a canatuna soon so I'm going to need something to get the bikes off the ground to make working on them easier. I don't have enough to buy the table lift I would like to have from Harbor Freight, so I'm going to just build a table and ramp the bikes up on it. I probably will end up getting one thing from HF though. one of those wheel chalks for the front wheel.

this is the lift I'd like to have.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=94813
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/94800-94899/94813.gif

this is the wheel chalk I'm probably going to get to put on the table.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96349
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/96300-96399/96349.GIF

ok, so here is what I started with, it's a Yamaha ATV crate.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/Bike%20table/biketable-1783.jpg

now I've got it cut down to the width I want.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/Bike%20table/biketable-1786.jpg

both of them are welded up, stacked together

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/Bike%20table/biketable-1787.jpg

I have the 3/4" plywood cut and laid on it, going to figure how I want to attach it tomorrow.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/Bike%20table/biketable-1788.jpg

[Particle Man]

I have the 3/4" plywood cut and laid on it, going to figure how I want to attach it tomorrow.


drill and rivot.

[zed]

drill and rivot.

3/4" plywood is the problem with that I think. probably going to end up with bolts or some long damn sheet metal screws.

[Cutty72]

I'd say drill and bolt.

[Particle Man]

3/4" plywood is the problem with that I think. probably going to end up with bolts or some long damn sheet metal screws.

You can sink into the wood half way and then fill the holes with wood putty...

[Porkchop]

I wrenched on mine last night on the kickstand...... DAMN i wish i had a stand...... :bash:

[zed]

I wrenched on mine last night on the kickstand...... DAMN i wish i had a stand...... :bash:

yeah, I had the head off that 550, off the floor would have been nice.

[Porkchop]

yeah, I had the head off that 550, off the floor would have been nice.

Luckily all of my stuff is work up top. Splicing a few headlight and turn signal wires. Sand down the mid-fairings.

[JoJoYZF]

Luckily all of my stuff is work up top. Splicing a few headlight and turn signal wires. Sand down the mid-fairings.

Search through classifieds on some different forums if youre just trying to find a rear stand to halp make maintenance easier. I ended up getting mine from nts for a good price.

[derf]

how did you get the yamaha atv crate? that looks like some decent (free) metal

[Amber Lamps]

Use long drillers or "tech" screws. They drill into the wood and metal and self thread. We use them all the time to install everything. To include the wood deck on work trucks.

http://www.stainless-fasteners.com/sdflathd.htm

They work great and are easy to use.

[zed]

how did you get the yamaha atv crate? that looks like some decent (free) metal

I still get to pick up the scrap metal from the local shop I worked at.

I take most of it to the scrap yard for the money but if I come up with a project...

[zed]

Use long drillers or "tech" screws. They drill into the wood and metal and self thread. We use them all the time to install everything. To include the wood deck on work trucks.

http://www.stainless-fasteners.com/sdflathd.htm

They work great and are easy to use.

that is something like what I was going to go look for. thanks for the link.

[ZUKIMON]

I'm still trying to come up with a good way to make a sling setup in my building for lifting the bike off the ground to remove the wheels. I think it's going to be fairly easy to make it happen and better than using stands.

BTW, drill and bolt FTW!

[zed]

I'm still trying to come up with a good way to make a sling setup in my building for lifting the bike off the ground to remove the wheels. I think it's going to be fairly easy to make it happen and better than using stands.

BTW, drill and bolt FTW!

I'm lucky for that too. there is an I beam that goes through the center of my basement, I threw a ratchet strap over it and hung the 550 from it and worked great while I had the front end off replacing fork seals.

[Amber Lamps]

I'm still trying to come up with a good way to make a sling setup in my building for lifting the bike off the ground to remove the wheels. I think it's going to be fairly easy to make it happen and better than using stands.

BTW, drill and bolt FTW!

I said screws FTW punk!

Oh and I use ratchet straps from my stairs to do my rear shock.

[zed]

ok, I got down there and was working on the work space to make room for everything I wanted in that area. I added a shelf to my workbench with supports so it won't sag. moved my light over the workbench so it isn't shining into my eyes now. I did get the bike table in place, just have to go get something to hold the surface to the frame.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1790.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1792.jpg

then a couple riding buddies stopped by to check it out.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1794.jpg

[zed]

I got some of the screws Tig suggested. found out though that the length of the screw includes the length of the selftapping end which is longer than it really needs to be so the screws I got (1-7/16") were just long enough to go through the 3/4" plywood.

I've got the KZ650 on it right now, wasn't that hard to get it up there. I think that wheel chalk will work better on a tire wider than 100 though.

[CasterTroy]

I have that very setup

$200 for the lift and $29 for the chock from harbor freight

[zed]

I have that very setup

$200 for the lift and $29 for the chock from harbor freight

I didn't know if I would like that lift. doesn't look as stable as the one I want to get (the $500 one). how do you feel about having the bike up and doing a little tugging on it, does the lift feel stable to you?

[unknownroad]

What is that getting you, like 6" off the ground? :scratch: Doesn't really seem worth the amount of shop space it takes up, but to each his own.

I just use an engine hoist and some 1000-lb ratchet straps for doing wheels and suspension crap... Need to pull the whole front end off the bike? No problem...

[Fleck750]

It's going to have legs on it.

[Amber Lamps]

What is that getting you, like 6" off the ground? :scratch: Doesn't really seem worth the amount of shop space it takes up, but to each his own.

I just use an engine hoist and some 1000-lb ratchet straps for doing wheels and suspension crap... Need to pull the whole front end off the bike? No problem...


Me too. In fact I just replaced my rear shock yesterday using ratchet straps attached to the stairs of my apt complex.

[CasterTroy]

I didn't know if I would like that lift. doesn't look as stable as the one I want to get (the $500 one). how do you feel about having the bike up and doing a little tugging on it, does the lift feel stable to you?

My setup works great. I can lift the bike 40" in the air and work on the bottom of the bike and not have to crouch over. The front chock works OK but I always have my straps on the canyon dancer tied down like you see in the pics "just in case" because you CAN tug on the bike in that chock and get it to lean. But as far as the LIFT itself....it's very stable at full height.


My buddy Brian has the $700 with the freakin cast iron VICE on the front wheel.....it weighs about 500 pounds and you can lift the bike 4ft in the air, sit on it and lean all the way off the bike shaking and rocking the bike and it nor the stand will budge.

But try moving it around in the shop.

Mine will roll anywhere in the garage I need it too even fully extended

[Rider]

ok, I got down there and was working on the work space to make room for everything I wanted in that area. I added a shelf to my workbench with supports so it won't sag. moved my light over the workbench so it isn't shining into my eyes now. I did get the bike table in place, just have to go get something to hold the surface to the frame.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1790.jpg

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1792.jpg

then a couple riding buddies stopped by to check it out.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/Projects/workspace/workspace-1794.jpg

Man you are a Kawasaki freak aren't you? :lol: Is that a Kawasaki cordless drill I spy?

[lauralynne]

This is what we worked on for many years
http://www.pappawheelies.com/motorcyclestand.htm

Then we upgraded to a Handy lift - BEST money spent in the garage.
http://www.pappawheelies.com/pictures/remodel/misc%20040.jpg

[zed]

What is that getting you, like 6" off the ground? :scratch: Doesn't really seem worth the amount of shop space it takes up, but to each his own.

I just use an engine hoist and some 1000-lb ratchet straps for doing wheels and suspension crap... Need to pull the whole front end off the bike? No problem...

like Tina said, it's going to have some legs to bring it up some, reason for the two parts instead of just one. I am going to try to have several that I can change out for different heights. I'm unemployed right now and this keeps a bike straight up and even a little off the ground is better than nothing. don't know if you have ever worked on a bike on a lift but it is much better than working on the ground. without legs I am about 10" up. that puts the carbs on this KZ650 right at my waist. figured I'd try top height of 12" then see what I could get away with for another height. don't know, it may not work, it may only end up being used as is till I have the money for a real one. nothing lost either way. I can scrap it if I don't like it and have the money from it.

[zed]

My setup works great. I can lift the bike 40" in the air and work on the bottom of the bike and not have to crouch over. The front chock works OK but I always have my straps on the canyon dancer tied down like you see in the pics "just in case" because you CAN tug on the bike in that chock and get it to lean. But as far as the LIFT itself....it's very stable at full height.


My buddy Brian has the $700 with the freakin cast iron VICE on the front wheel.....it weighs about 500 pounds and you can lift the bike 4ft in the air, sit on it and lean all the way off the bike shaking and rocking the bike and it nor the stand will budge.

But try moving it around in the shop.

Mine will roll anywhere in the garage I need it too even fully extended

I'm used to working on one like the first one I posted that I want to get. I did think about one like you have but wasn't sure about the stability of it with a bike on it and moving/jerking around on it like you sometimes have to do.

thanks for letting me know about it. that one is closer to me being able to afford and better than the table I made.

[zed]

Man you are a Kawasaki freak aren't you? :lol: Is that a Kawasaki cordless drill I spy?

yeah, I bleed green :D

I got a hell of a deal on that drill. with my discount I think I paid $20 or so for it. I didn't think to order an extra battery when I ordered the drill and paid more for the second battery (off special) than I paid for the drill, battery, flashlight and charger, even with my discount.

[zed]

This is what we worked on for many years
http://www.pappawheelies.com/motorcyclestand.htm

Then we upgraded to a Handy lift - BEST money spent in the garage.
http://www.pappawheelies.com/pictures/remodel/misc%20040.jpg

hell yeah, the drop center is the bomb. they are pretty proud of those Handy Lifts though.

[CasterTroy]

hell yeah, the drop center is the bomb. they are pretty proud of those Handy Lifts though.

I love that drop center for rear tire removal!!!! :rockwoot:

[zed]

it's in there, will be plenty of room after I get the motor in the 11.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/zedx10r/forum%20pictures/mancave-1795.jpg