Need to lift the front of the bike off the ground

[lukemillar]

Hi all,

I have been tinkering with my bike and have now screwed it up! I'm trying to drop the forks down in the triple clamp so that the caps are level with the yoke (At the moment they are about 4mm protruding). Some bright spark assured from the Triumph forum says that it can be done without having to lift the front of the ground, but as one fork has now slipped under the weight of the bike and is sticking out about 10mm now, I have no idea how to get it back, let alone level with the yoke.

I have no paddock stands, a very basic car jack and just me. I might have coaxed a friend around later to help, but am trying to think in the meantime. I have a trackday tomorrow and need to ride the bike there. In it's current state, that is definitely not safe!

So, to the .org - 911 techniques for lifting the front off the ground so I can adjust my fork positions.

Thanks
Luke

[Baph]

I decided to not post this in the thread, but provide a link... http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m135/baph_2006/Bike%20pics/alterations/100_1622.jpg

That's how I've got the front off the floor in the past. Build the wood up, foot on the side stand, hold front brake, lift rear of bike.

For extra stability if you wanted you could put something under the sidestand. For sorting out those forks you'll want the bike pretty level, so get your friend to help out!!

NOTE: I don't advise those with a heart condition, or too much affection for their bike do what is shown in that picture. :)

[rictus01]

the only way I can think of would require at least two people, get a length of 4 x 2, one to steady the bike, the other to jack under the engine somewhere and then prop under the bottom yoke, it'll still need someone to hold it, but should support the yokes for knocking the forks back down, be careful though it's not going to be fantasticly stable.

Oh another way I've seen come to think of it, is to use sand bags and make a kind of slope and use the engine to climb the base of the engine up it "Slowly" once again not ideal, but has been known to work, all a bit dodgy though so take care.

And buy a paddock of Abba type stand :cool:

Cheers Mark

[mister c]

I've done it before now by having the bike on it's sidestand and using a trolley jack under the engine. Don't know how the Trumper would take it, but I've done this on V twins & IL4's, it's been ok :)

[Dangerous Dave]

For a quick fix get a mate and put the Trumpet on its sidestand and place a jack under the sump to relieve the weight off the front forks (the mate can steady the bike while its on the side stand and jack), you don't need the wheel off the ground but it can help more! With the weight off the front you will be able to push the fork back down through the yoke.

This is exactly why I always recommend to have at least the weight off the front end when dropping the forks through the yokes.

Good luck

[hovis]

BIG ratchet strap around the headstock, and around the joist beam thingy in the garage (if you have one)
thats what i did....... i was tempted then to sit on the bike as it looked like it was floating.

im not convinced the whole thing was a good idea............. but mine was ok overnight like this

[lukemillar]

And buy a paddock of Abba type stand :cool:

I had one - gave it it Jester666 before I left! :rolleyes:

Thanks for all the replies guys - sorted now

In the end, I did what Dangerous Dave said (as that is the only things I had to hand!) managed to find a decent car scissor jack (mine is one of the vertical types that wouldn't fit under the bike), got my friend to hold it level and the jacked it up under the sump. Pretty good job except my mate dropped the towel that was protecting the tank and scraped the tank on the way down. Nothing major - just a small chip in the paint, but I guess these things happen when you cowboy it.

[Ter]

- Jack under the engine near the front so you can get most of the bike weight on the sidestand and rear wheel.

- Loosen but dont remove the bolt hold the protruding fork in place

- Grab the fork just below the bottom yoke twisting it while pulling it down, if it doesnt twist easily loosen the nuts a little more.

- When you get the right level, the yokes should hold it in place, then tighten bolts and lower bike.

Why do you want to have your forks that low anyway?
8)

[pmapp]

Doesn't everyone have one of these in their shed?

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb269/pmapp/DSC00200.jpg

[lukemillar]

.

Why do you want to have your forks that low anyway?
8)

It's for a Daytona 675, not an SV. The debate is long and complicated, so I won't go into details. I'm having some suspension work done in a couple of weeks, so this is just a quick fix in the meantime.

[Ter]

Ahh...
Okay,

I lowered the forks on my GSXR Thou for quic...

;)

[Grinch]

When I lowered my forks 10 mm I didn't lift the front up.

I loosened off all the clamps, and then tightend one bolt. Tight but enough so that with a rubber mallet I could still 'tap' them in to the right height. Then with a steel rule I measured the difference untill it was just right, tightened them all back up and checked it all again.

Easy as pie...

Mmmmh pie...

Need to find pie now... dam!

[Dangerous Dave]

http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb269/pmapp/DSC00200.jpg
Would be handy!

[richbeales]

Re: Need to lift the front of the bike off the ground

Clutch in, lots of revs, clutch out...

Or am i missing the point of the thread?