| Author | Message | ||
     Greg_e |
SO I needed a stand this weekend to check my timing, and ended up at Harbor freight to pick up one of their cheapo rear stands. Also bought the cheapo front fork adapters thinking I can just move the mounting bolts to the correct position to work with the Buell XB legs. ANyone know how much I should change the length by? Looks like about 3/4 inch or so. And yes I do know it is cheap @ss stuff, but it is working to hold the back of the bike up, figure if I use it with a good rear stand it should work just fine in the front until I can get a decent triple tree stand. | ||
| Slaughter |
Measure from the center of the axle to the bottom of the fork casting. It's not quite 3/4 inch but it really MUST be compensated for. JUST lifting by the bottom of the forks is a disaster without shimming the short side. I'd been tempted to use JB weld to put some thick aluminum on the bottom of the short fork but just went and got the fork tree-lift type extension for the Pit Bull. | ||
| Slaughter |
You do realize that the LENGTH of the fork legs are different left to right? I re-read and realize you might be asking about the WIDTH... but you MUST consider the difference in the distance from the axle centerline to the bottom of the fork. Just go have a look - take a piece of paper and mark and compare. Left and Right are different height. | ||
| Greg_e |
Yeah it's the length that I was asking about. The 3/4 was a guess while I was finishing working on it today. Also decided that since the forks are not straight down that I better move the pivot of the right side so that not only does it compensate for the length, but also for the different distance forward that the shorter fork will need to be compensated. The triple tree stand would be much easier, but I don't want to fork out the cash right now. | ||
| Slaughter |
Yep. I really can't remember who it was that just JBWelded some aluminum plates on the bottom. Not the best looking thing but they did kinda file down nicely. If you can't get the stem-lifter type, it might be the way you need to go because you NEVER can lift from the bottom of the forks (as you found)   | ||
| Greg_e |
JB weld is not going to happen. The way these adapters are made I should be able to come up with something more elegant than that. | ||
| Dbird29 |
I cut down the leg of my Handy stand and installed a pipe inside the tube, drilled holes and some Jesus clips. I drilled an alternate hole so it would work with non Buell forks.   | ||
| Blake |
If you just turn the front wheel about twenty degrees or so towards the short side fork, the standard stands will work fine. It just looks strange having the front wheel turned a bit. | ||
| Slaughter |
DBird - that'll do it! (though Blake's suggestion is certainly cheaper) | ||
| Geforce |
I just got a set of T-Rex stands for a $130ish with shipping. Front and Rear. They are very well made. I had the same problem up front on both bikes. I called them to ask if they sold any special adapters for the right side and he said no. I could spend an additional $34 bucks and get the triple tree adapter or some people have used a little plywood or chunk of rubber to get the right side off the ground a little. I think I will order the triple tree adapter as it isn't very expensive and would give me additional stability and allow me to work a little more on the front end. Now it's time to craft a block o wood with a rubber bottom for the kick stand so I can lift the rear by myself if need be. | ||
| Greg_e |
Lifting the rear is "easy"... Just `put the stand under the swingarm, push down and help guide the bike to an upright position, then push down really hard and it is in the air. No need for a second person or leaving the bike barely on the side stand. Been doing things like this for years and never yet dropped a bike. Going to start modifying the front adapter today. Might cut a slot in the adapter so that I can slide it to the correct elevation. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
Bought the fork stand last year at a Boxing Day sale last year (also bought the rear). Spent about 10 minutes looking at it and figured it would be too much hassle. Took it back and exchanged it for the triple tree lift. That's how I fixed it. Although the above solution is workable. | ||
| Bcool83 |
I just got a set of T-Rex stands for a $130ish with shipping. Front and Rear. They are very well made. I had the same problem up front on both bikes. I called them to ask if they sold any special adapters for the right side and he said no. I could spend an additional $34 bucks and get the triple tree adapter or some people have used a little plywood or chunk of rubber to get the right side off the ground a little. I think I will order the triple tree adapter as it isn't very expensive and would give me additional stability and allow me to work a little more on the front end. I have the T-Rex front triple stand, and don't really like it because I have to remove the front fender to use it. What sense does that make? | ||
| Coops53233 |
I've got the T-Rex w/ triple stand as well. No reason to remove the fender... just put a towel over the top of the fender (so you don't scratch it), slide the adapter in the triple, and lift away. | ||
| Geforce |
Thanks Coops...I was about to shit myself because I just ordered that today. lol Greg_e, I hear ya with the rear stands being easy to use... I just don't have enough experience with them to trust myself doing it alone with getting it a little more upright. I'm sure with time I'll get better at it and need no help. But for now I would like a little uppity on the side stand to help. | ||
| Greg_e |
I would suggest that you have a helper there but try it on your own. The rear stand does pretty much all the work to lift the bike off the side stand, then when you have contact on the far side of the swingarm the bike is fully supported by the stand, press harder and it basically done. Do it several times with your helper there to make sure you have the hang of it. IMPORTANT NOTE: when doing this by yourself and lowering the bike back down off the stand, make damn sure the side stand is actually all the way down! I have my fork adapter modified, got home too late to give it a try so I'll do that when I get a chance. Looks a little ghetto, but should do the job. | ||
| Coops53233 |
Sure no prob. Just take easy when lifting by yourself the first few times. Another tip for taking it off the rear stand - I set a brick or 2x4 lengthwise in front of each of the stand's casters. Then, swing a leg over the seat and grab the bars, as if you're about to go for a ride. Place your feet on the other edge of the brick, so that that brick/2x4 is now between your foot and the stand's casters. Then, just push off. You and the bike will roll forward and off the stand, and voila... you're standing up above the seat with both hands on the handle bars. No need to worry about setting it down gently. (Message edited by coops53233 on October 14, 2009) |
