Lifting a Trike

[rmrc51]

What do all of you use to lift your trike off the floor? (For servicing and working underneath)

So far I've used a regular car floor jack under the differential while someone else keeps her balanced. Then I place horses (jack stands) under the axles.

As far as the front goes, I haven't tried that yet.

Any suggestions?

 

[John Luciano]

Many buy the jacks from Sears, Harbor Freight or Auto parts stores. they are normally sold to lift garden tractors/ ATV . Tractor Supply sells one for $103.00. #11-60007

 

[jim peacock]

I bought a small roll around jack at walmart for forty dollars has a four thousand lb. lift capacity,also bought two jack stand For about the same amount.Would not craw under any thing with out using jack stands.
Got pinned under a car years ago by using just a hydraulic jack to hold a car up,the jack seeped down and I got pinned,was lucky I was not hurt but could not get out,lucky the wife was near by and I hollered for her real loud,she was able to jack the jack back up and I got out.After that no way will I craw under any thing with just a jack of any kind holding it up.
Now if I have to go under my thing I jack it up and immediately put the jack stands under it.
JUST NOT WORTH THE RISK.

 

[Trike Rich]

I have been battleing that ever since i've had my trike [88 wing w/ lehman kit]. The best i found is to ride the front up on a car ramp with some wood under it for a little more hight then put a floor jack under the pumpkin in the rear with a small square peace of ply wood[3 inch] on the left side to keep it level while jacking it up[i do this alone] and put jack stand under it.

 

[rmrc51]

I have been battling that ever since I've had my trike [88 wing w/ lehman kit]. The best i found is to ride the front up on a car ramp with some wood under it for a little more height then put a floor jack under the pumpkin in the rear with a small square peace of ply wood[3 inch] on the left side to keep it level while jacking it up[i do this alone] and put jack stand under it.

Riding the front up on a car ramp and then raising the back seems to be a good idea! I'll try that next time. Luckily, I usually have another person around when I lift he trike to keep her balanced.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Riding the front up on a car ramp and then raising the back seems to be a good idea! I'll try that next time. Luckily, I usually have another person around when I lift he trike to keep her balanced.

Hmm... I go in the opposite direction - I run the rear wheels up on the car ramps, then jack up the front if I need the whole rig off the floor and level. Usually I just need to get to the back or the front, so either the rear wheels go up on the ramps or the front one does. If I need the wheels free, I jack up the back and use the jack stands, for the front I jack at the pivot of the centerstand (it and the kickstand were left on when converted) or a frame member and leave the rear on the ground for stability.

Now if I was flush there would be a Handy Lift in the garage...

 

[rmrc51]

Hmm... I go in the opposite direction - I run the rear wheels up on the car ramps, then jack up the front if I need the whole rig off the floor and level.

Wish I could do that but my Valkyrie doesn't have a reverse gear.

 

[Ozarkryder]

Wish I could do that but my Valkyrie doesn't have a reverse gear. [/QUOTE

I run the trike up the ramps forward. I don't have the running boards, there probably isn't room for the ramps in front of the wheels for those who do. To get off, little help pushing back off the ramps is helpful, and judicious use of the rear brake and/or clutch to roll off after the front wheel is on the ground.

 

[sprt220]

I use a motorcycle jack from the side to lift the front and two little floor jacks under the axle near the tires and then raise all 3 of them. I can put it all about a foot high and it's easy to do work and the trike is balanced very good with a 3 point lift. Ken

 

[msocko3]

Now if I was flush there would be a Handy Lift in the garage...

They are well worth the money spent. My dad just picked this little gem up and I'm stoked, no more crawling around on my knees.:woohoo:

 

[Nana]

Wow! Nice lift! You and your dad will be spoiled by that for sure

 

[sprt220]

Nice lift, what brand name and if I may ask,how much did it cost? Very hard for me to be on the ground. Does it run on a compressor? Ken

 

[msocko3]

Nice lift, what brand name and if I may ask,how much did it cost? Very hard for me to be on the ground. Does it run on a compressor? Ken

It is a Handy BOB 1500 with the Trike wings. I'm not 100% sure on the cost but I believe is was right around $1900 delivered. It does use an air compressor to raise it. Both of use also grew tired of working on the ground. I perform 99% of the mechanical work on my dads trike plus I do the work on my Trike and my 2 wheel Ultra. My dad is also a clean freak and will crawl under the trike to clean the frame, now he doesn't have to craw under it anymore. This winter I put cams in both his and my Triglide befroe he bought the lift and all the crawling around on the floor took its toll on my knees. We had a Direct Lift which we used to use when he had his 2 wheel Ultra, it wasn't heavy enough to handle the trikes. If you want to get a close look at a lift like this you should be able to find one in the service dept of any Harley Dealer that sells Triglides. One of the things the MoCo required of the dealer was to have a lift for the Triglides before they were allowed to take delivery of them. Handy Built this setup with the Harley Dealer in mind.

 

[PhilGilbert]

I have had Old Yeller up on a regular MC lift. Drove the front wheel all the way into the clamps and then put blocks on the lift on each side of the MGB pumpkin. It didn't work all that well as the weight was mostly on the rear. We live and learn.

 

[Paul06Trike]

I have a 2006 Goldwing Lehman Monarch II trike and I've been looking at the Greg Smith Equipment Co. They have a XLT lift that will handle 1500 lbs. and has side extentions to handle the width of a trike. The last time I checked it was about $995.00 plus shipping. It also has a front wheel vise and is air operated. For now I'm going to use the Condor that I have from my previous wing to hold the front wheel steady while I jack up the rear and put it on jack stands. Here is the link to Greg Smith Equipment Co.

Greg Smith Equipment Sales Inc. - The lift professionals with quality automotive equipment at discount prices.

Good Luck and be careful,

Paul06trike

 

[gareth323]

Instead of lifting the trike into the air; why don't you go underneath it. Dig a pit in the garage floor; brick up the sides, pour a cement base and you can simply roll your trike over the pit and work till you drop. It's a couple of days work if you're a handyman and it makes life so easy. It's also a good place to hide from the wife when she's giving you too much ear ache. I lay planks across a rebate when the pit is not in use to give a flush garage floor. You can run power for lights and sockets etc if you're so inclined. Might even want a refrigerator down there with a couple of tins in.

 

[Nana]

Gareth, that made me laugh--especially the last sentence! But what a great idea!!!! You'll have started a whole new trend!

 

[Muleskinner]

Nana, that might start a trend where you are, but here in Arkansas, the concrete floor is easier to go through than the rock underneath. Think I'll go for a skyhook, instead.

 

[SEAlaskan]

I have a 2006 Goldwing Lehman Monarch II trike and I've been looking at the Greg Smith Equipment Co. They have a XLT lift that will handle 1500 lbs. and has side extentions to handle the width of a trike. The last time I checked it was about $995.00 plus shipping. It also has a front wheel vise and is air operated. For now I'm going to use the Condor that I have from my previous wing to hold the front wheel steady while I jack up the rear and put it on jack stands. Here is the link to Greg Smith Equipment Co.

Greg Smith Equipment Sales Inc. - The lift professionals with quality automotive equipment at discount prices.

Good Luck and be careful,

Paul06trike

Paul if your looking at the Atlas XLT 1500, I'd take a closer look at it. It has a problem with holding up a trikes rear wheels. I have one with the same exact design only red and for the same price. The part were the rear wheels sit is weak because of the drop down door in back. There is no cross support because of the rear wheel door. M3 & TheJimer have the best set up. Here are a few pictures of mine.
Butch

 

[sprt220]

Thanks all for the info.I will be looking around. Ken

 

[msocko3]

Paul if your looking at the Atlas XLT 1500, I'd take a closer look at it. It has a problem with holding up a trikes rear wheels. I have one with the same exact design only red and for the same price. The part were the rear wheels sit is weak because of the drop down door in back. There is no cross support because of the rear wheel door. M3 & TheJimer have the best set up. Here are a few pictures of mine.
Butch

The Handy has a rear wheel door but the Trike kit covers it up. The way Handy did it was instead of adding one part on each side supported by pipe they made the trike kit out of one piece that sits on top of the table which is held with a piece of pipe. The part for the trike kit is one heavy bugger, has to be close to 150 pounds.

 

[magusjinx]

Gareth ... I like your pit idea ... Especially since I don't have a garage yet ... Be easier to put it in during construction ... Just one thing tho ... Around here we hit water at 3 feet down ...

 

[Saltywheels]

Instead of lifting the trike into the air; why don't you go underneath it. Dig a pit in the garage floor; brick up the sides, pour a cement base and you can simply roll your trike over the pit and work till you drop. It's a couple of days work if you're a handyman and it makes life so easy. It's also a good place to hide from the wife when she's giving you too much ear ache. I lay planks across a rebate when the pit is not in use to give a flush garage floor. You can run power for lights and sockets etc if you're so inclined. Might even want a refrigerator down there with a couple of tins in.

Hi Gareth, I gotta have a look at yr garage the nxt time I am in London. Dont think me missus would go for all that jack-hammer din while 'designing' my hide-a-way!! Ghalib:no:

 

[SEAlaskan]

The Handy has a rear wheel door but the Trike kit covers it up. The way Handy did it was instead of adding one part on each side supported by pipe they made the trike kit out of one piece that sits on top of the table which is held with a piece of pipe. The part for the trike kit is one heavy bugger, has to be close to 150 pounds.

Here's a closer look at my lift. You can see that I added support (Silver part) just below the drop down door but it needs more. I'm afraid to add anymore wait cause of the small lifting ram they put on it. The whole thing needs beefing up.
Butch

 

[msocko3]

Here's a closer look at my lift. You can see that I added support (Silver part) just below the drop down door but it needs more. I'm afraid to add anymore wait cause of the small lifting ram they put on it. The whole thing needs beefing up.
Butch

Yea I see where you wouldn't want to add any more weight. If it is doing the job you can't ask for much more. Sure beat the heck out of crawling around on the floor.

 

[SEAlaskan]

Yea I see where you wouldn't want to add any more weight. If it is doing the job you can't ask for much more. Sure beat the heck out of crawling around on the floor.

It works for me.:yes: