Lifting rear end

[Saltywheels]

Tried to get Ole Trike's rear end up as I needed to check the location of the CSC aux fuel tank & re-attach a couple of lose Lizard lights. I was using a Harbor Frt Floor jack under the differential (using a 2x4 as a softener). But no matter how I aligned the jack, only one side would go up, mostly the left side. The trike would get canted over on the right side, which was barely off the ground. So what the heck am I doing wrong The plan was to jack up the rear & place jack stands under the axle joints. Any assistance would be appreciated.

 

[Nauga Mok]

Evidently the diff isn't in the center of the axle weight wise. Just jack up one side, install jack stand, then jack the other side & install stand. If I'm not removing a tire(s), I use car ramps under the rear.

NM

 

[1550vt]

Nauga is correct. The diffy is not centered and is more to the left in alignment with the drive belt/shaft. You can do like he says, if you don't plan to remove the tires....just put the jack under the diffy and get "whichever" wheel off the ground and stick a block of wood (or something similar) under the tire that is off the ground. Jack her on up pretty high...you can stop before you turn it over. Then...slide the jack over to the right and get the foot raised up to the axle just to the right of the diffy and jack the other side up and block it off under the tire. You should be able to accomplish this through your exhaust. Another way is to put the foot of the jack under the shock-mount and jack one side up....block it and then move to the other side. If you want to pull the wheels, you will need to do the same thing but just block it up with the jack-stands under the axle or the shock-mounts on each side of the diffy.

If your diffy is enclosed....it's strong enough to take the entire weight of the trike. If you have an "open diffy"...I would be careful in where I put the jack.

If this is a metric with a closed diffy and shaft drive...not a problem. This applies too either a shaft or belt drive.

 

[Big_Steve]

Tried to get Ole Trike's rear end up as I needed to check the location of the CSC aux fuel tank & re-attach a couple of lose Lizard lights. I was using a Harbor Frt Floor jack under the differential (using a 2x4 as a softener). But no matter how I aligned the jack, only one side would go up, mostly the left side. The trike would get canted over on the right side, which was barely off the ground. So what the heck am I doing wrong The plan was to jack up the rear & place jack stands under the axle joints. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Same on my Motor trike. It was easy getting a jack stand under the roomy side. It really took a bit of figuring on the short side to figure where to jack, and have enough room to put the second jack stand though. Have a cup of coffee, take another look, and you'll see it.

 

[Saltywheels]

Thks guys. This is exactly what I was hoping to hear. Just didn't want to jack up the light side that high that something went snap. Also looked weird with one side way up & the other barely with weight off the wheels. Great! Will go home tonight & give it a try.

 

[1550vt]

I have one of those handy-dandy Harbor Freight aluminum floor jacks too. It's light enough for me to drag it about with ease, yet just a tad too heavy for the wife to throw it very far....at me.

You can jack the thing up as far as the lift will take it and add some blocking onto the top of the jack to make it go higher if you want too. A good way to check your brakes, bearings, etc. is to jack it up at the diffy and have the wife sit on one fender to hold the opposite wheel free....crank her up, stick it in gear and let it run. Move the wife to the other fender and do the same with the other wheel. These things have simple true differentials and only one wheel will turn if you hold the opposite one.

No....do not go tell your wife you think she is plenty heavy enough to hold it down....that will kick you a butt-kicking.

 

[Saltywheels]

vt: You were helpful up to the part abt Wifey Actually she's a light weight

 

[1550vt]

Mine is around 110......she works just fine when I can stick her on there and make her stay still. The entire time she is telling me how crazy I am for doing things like this. She tells me that all the time, so I mostly ignore what I can.

 

[Saltywheels]

:yay:I did it-I did it...um (control yerself, boy!), yes I was able to jack-up Ole Trike's after end (can I say that??). Worked fine once I realized I had to lift & brace each side. Finally got to see the under belly. Now the front end...well let's just leave that for another day, shall we!

 

[1550vt]

No...lets go ahead and take care of the front now too. Right down at the bottom where the oil filter is...go on down and look under the frame and you will see a gusset (flat plate) welded to the frame on each side at the very front of each frame rail as it makes the bend up to the neck. Watch for wires, hoses, oil coolers, etc. and don't mash anything...just slide your jack under that gusset on either side of the trike and pump it up. Th entire front end will simply raise right up.

You could simply stick the jack-foot under the front motor mount bolt and lift, but it will scar-up the rubber pad on your jack. The only place you DO NOT need to jack on is the cross-brace under the oil pan or at some mid-point of the frame rails.

You don't have to make your wife sit on anything during this operation.

 

[Saltywheels]

Gee, all right, if ya put it that-a-way! I'll try that tonite. Sat we leave for Vegas. Ca-chink, ca-chink! NOT! Doing an Adv Rider Trike course hosted by GWRR. Thks a ton for all the tips, dude!!