So I was looking at motorcycle lifts this summer and they looked very handy, some even would jazz up a ManCave, they are that pretty. The good ones are very expensive, like to the tune of $3000.00.
Not wanting to spend 3K because the budget committee has not yet authorized PO values for such items, I postponed the purchase. One day while walking by my scrap iron pile I noticed some really good iron, and then found some more iron with my toe. And then I started digging and found a little more.... So maybe the scrap iron pile had gotten a little out of control. One hell of a workout though.
I also noticed a hydraulic cylinder that I had laying around for the last ummm bazillion years. Ok maybe Im not that old but there was at least a couple decades of dust layers.
Sat down, sharpened my pencil, Googled a few formulas and pounded out a few calculations. I headed to town for a box of welding rods and began to build.
I had a bolt that fit perfectly inside an old Cummins wrist pin (out of an Big Cam III), that will work perfectly for the main pivot. No such thing as overbuilt when you are raising your favourite toy 44 inches off the concrete floor.
Starting to take shape...
Oh look! the budget committee is taking a nap! time to order a pump for the lift....ummm just a sec........bad click issue..... I'll be right back........
OK, so its time to wake up the budget committee for a bit of ordering help..... So the story is-- I cannot build it for what I can buy it for off Amazon.... yeh.... love it....
New pump on the way!!!!!!
It comes with box and had 'UP' and 'Down' buttons. I added the momentary switch for down without running the motor. So much more asthetically pleasing than what I had planned... Worth every penny, yup.
Some hold downs are going to be necessary to keep bike from falling off. Would it? Dunno for sure, but not gonna find out the hard way.
First I made some 'D' rings
I made a tool to make the clamps so they were moveable, just like the fancy ones in the pictures!
using half an old wrist pin, I heated up the flat iron and pounded it into shape, kinda like forging I guess... that would be an interesting hobby too. Just not enough hours in a lifetime
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All 44" of height, so much easier on the knees!
And with removable plate for rear tire removal. Wings are the easy ones to change tires, but there are friends with bikes that are a little more demanding.
Speaking of Wings, I was still basking in the light of a job well finished when a trike owner mentioned he had a rattle-- so now there are Wings for the Wing lift.
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