Supporting Your Bike While Servicing: Difference between revisions
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Depending on what exactly you need to do, this can be done in a few ways: | Depending on what exactly you need to do, this can be done in a few ways: | ||
1) If you need to work on the forks, you will have to prop the engine. Of course, you will have to remove the lower fairing for that to work. Be sure to put the bike on the centerstand to reduce the weight on the exhaust headers and make the bike stable enough so it won't fall over. Examples: | '''1)''' If you need to work on the forks, you will have to prop the engine. Of course, you will have to remove the lower fairing for that to work. Be sure to put the bike on the centerstand to reduce the weight on the exhaust headers and make the bike stable enough so it won't fall over. Examples: | ||
[[Image:FrontEndSupport1.jpg | 200px]] | [[Image:FrontEndSupport1.jpg | 200px]] | ||
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You can also prop the engine with a jack or jackstand (which goes under the oil drain bolt). <b>This method is less stable</b>, but allows you to raise or lower the front end smoothly, and with some jacks there is no need to remove the lower fairing. | You can also prop the engine with a jack or jackstand (which goes under the oil drain bolt). <b>This method is less stable</b>, but allows you to raise or lower the front end smoothly, and with some jacks there is no need to remove the lower fairing. | ||
2) Of course, there is a civilized way of supporting the front: Use a front stand. But be careful when you do so. You '''have to''' either use a centerstand that is tall enough to keep the rear wheel off the ground or a rear/swingarm stand along with the front stand. Having the rear wheel on the ground and the front on a stand is just one small step more stable than the bike standing by itself on its own 2 wheels. | '''2)''' Of course, there is a civilized way of supporting the front: Use a front stand. But be careful when you do so. You '''have to''' either use a centerstand that is tall enough to keep the rear wheel off the ground or a rear/swingarm stand along with the front stand. Having the rear wheel on the ground and the front on a stand is just one small step more stable than the bike standing by itself on its own 2 wheels. | ||
You should really only use the centerstand/front stand combination for short-term projects (less than one day). Longer than that and the rear stand adds noticeably more stability to the whole setup. | You should really only use the centerstand/front stand combination for short-term projects (less than one day). Longer than that and the rear stand adds noticeably more stability to the whole setup. | ||
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[[image:100_1393.jpg|150px]] | [[image:100_1393.jpg|150px]] | ||
'''3a)''' If you have access to an overhead beam, a ratcheting tie-down (with a large ratchet mechanism) can be strung between the top triple clamp and the beam (or two beams - see picture below). Run your strap under one side of the triple, around the rear of the steering stem, then under the triple on the other side and back up to the rafter. Make sure it pulls evenly on both sides of the triple. | |||
[[image:yeild.jpg|150px]] | [[image:yeild.jpg|150px]] | ||
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If you use this method, be careful not to put pressure on any cables or wires, and ensure that the tie-down is pulling on the center of the bike. This is not the best way to do it, but can be useful when supporting under the bike isn't an option. | If you use this method, be careful not to put pressure on any cables or wires, and ensure that the tie-down is pulling on the center of the bike. This is not the best way to do it, but can be useful when supporting under the bike isn't an option. | ||
4) If you just need to take the front wheel off, you can: | '''3b)'''A better way to do this is to loop the tie-down through the frame. There are two reasons for this. 1. It's impossible to do it around the top triple without removing a bolt holding the ignition wires in place. 2. You can't remove the triples when you're holding the bike up by them. | ||
You don't need to disassemble anything for this option; it doesn't pinch or touch anything important, and it's fast. It's as stable as it gets when suspending a bike like this and on the center stand (meaning the front end swings a bit). Make sure you loosen any bolts while the front end is still on the ground. If your bike doesn't have a centerstand, you have to also use a rear stand. | |||
[image:IMG_2358.JPG|150px]] | |||
[image:IMG_2354-2.JPG|150px]] | |||
'''4)''' If you just need to take the front wheel off, you can: | |||
* put the bike on the centerstand | * put the bike on the centerstand | ||
* loosen the axle nut | * loosen the axle nut | ||
* ask your friend to sit on the back of the bike, thus raising the front a little bit | * ask your friend to sit on the back of the bike, thus raising the front a little bit | ||
* take the wheel off and prop the forks on a cinder block with a piece of wood on top of it. Another option is to put the axle back in and support the front with the axle on a jackstand. | * take the wheel off and prop the forks on a cinder block with a piece of wood on top of it. Another option is to put the axle back in and support the front with the axle on a jackstand. | ||
The obvious downside is that this is not very stable. <b>Taking off both wheels</b> with the front end supported in such a way is <b>not recommended</b> | The obvious downside is that this is not very stable. <b>Taking off both wheels</b> with the front end supported in such a way is <b>not recommended</b>. | ||
== Working on the Engine == | == Working on the Engine == | ||