Would like to get my Trike (1800R/Roadsmith) a little higher off the floor to make oil/filter changes easier. Thought about riding it up on three 4x4s (one for each wheel) but don't know if that will work. What do you guys do to get a little ground clearence?
Oil Change
- Thread starter sporter
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I use a MC jack to get it up a little higher so I have room to move the oil collecting pan under. If your oil catch pan will fit and u can get to the drain plug, u should be good to go. I roll the front tire on to a 2/8 to raise the front enough to get he MC jack under it.
what really works slick is 3 of those plastic ramps you use to change oil on a car.
Yep. That's what I do. I've marked the garage floor as to placement of the ramps. The one for the front tire is braced up against the wall so it won't scoot forward. Just drive up on 'em slow. Leave it in 1st gear.
Sporter I just pull the front wheel up on a reg car ramp. Gives plenty room underneath for oil change
I have the same problem when changing oil. i back my trike up a ramp with a 2x4 behind the front tire & it works great
I don't worry about it. The GF volunteers to do it!
might be tempted to agree with that, but what about the oil that runs to the rear of the engine and don't drain out. i like to get as much dirty oil as possible, and to do that it needs to be as level as possible.
Buy a couple of 2x10" boards at the lumber yard. Probably 10' long.
Cut 3 of them 3' long. Cut the other 3 boards 2' long. Use long screws to attach the shorter boards on top of the longer boards. Drive the trike up onto the longer boards, then continue up onto the shorter boards and stop. Put the trike in reverse so it will not roll off.
You now have another 3" of clearence to the floor to remove the plug and filter. The trike is level and the oil will drain out completely. When finished, just reverse off the boards and save them for the next oil change.
Cut 3 of them 3' long. Cut the other 3 boards 2' long. Use long screws to attach the shorter boards on top of the longer boards. Drive the trike up onto the longer boards, then continue up onto the shorter boards and stop. Put the trike in reverse so it will not roll off.
You now have another 3" of clearence to the floor to remove the plug and filter. The trike is level and the oil will drain out completely. When finished, just reverse off the boards and save them for the next oil change.
- Thread starter
- #10
Thanks for all the replies. Sgtbush, I think I can work with your suggestion, but what's this "reverse" you speaK of 
?
?
Take a lid off a 32 gallon garbage can.
Then put the front wheel on a 2x4.
Plenty of space, and the big pan will catch EVERYTHING
oh yeah ! all them suggestions sound much easier and cheaper than running by wal mart and buying a set of plastic ramps -- good luck
Thanks for all the replies. Sgtbush, I think I can work with your suggestion, but what's this "reverse" you speaK of
All recent Goldwings have a reverse gear that runs off the starter motor - it's on the right handlebar. You may need to read your manual.
- Thread starter
- #14
oops, I should have said VTX 1800 R., no reverse.
I have a Lehman Monarch II conversion for my GW. I made 3 ramps out of 2x12s, 3 boards stacked on each other with an offset so they mimick a ramp. I also made 3 ramps out of 2x12s, 6 boards stacked on each other and they form a continuation of the first 3 ramps. I run the trike up on the set of 3 lower ramps, then place the second set of ramps flush at the end of the first set to be able to continue up the height of another 3 boards. This puts the trike up 9 inches off the floor (9 more than whatever clearance there is when it's just sitting on the garage floor), and it's level, secure, and with loads of room to scoot underneath and do anything.
I'd love to be able to buy car ramps at Walmart and run the trike up on 3 of them, but the Wing EFX running boards will not permit it - therefore I go up in stage 1 and stage 2. They're bulky, and heavy, and I realize that they could be made out of different materials, etc., but I like the weight and the absolute security they provide for the trike being up in the air with me under it.
I may post photos eventually as one is worth a thousand words - especially if anybody expresses any interest.
I'd love to be able to buy car ramps at Walmart and run the trike up on 3 of them, but the Wing EFX running boards will not permit it - therefore I go up in stage 1 and stage 2. They're bulky, and heavy, and I realize that they could be made out of different materials, etc., but I like the weight and the absolute security they provide for the trike being up in the air with me under it.
I may post photos eventually as one is worth a thousand words - especially if anybody expresses any interest.
I put a standard car floor jack under right floorboard and pump it up. Oil is on the left side and you get a better drain.
Yes - You have my interest![COLOR="Magenta"][/COLOR]
Me???
Want pictures?
NO, Joe - that was for ahamilton3.
- Thread starter
- #20
OK, so yesterday I built three ramps out of 2x8s, shorter one atop another longer one, beveled the edges. Front tire goes on fine, left rear goes on fine, right rear spun the ramp half way across my driveway, glad no one was standing back there. In the future I'm going to drive the front tire onto the ramp, then using a floor jack raise the back end and place the other two ramps under the back tires. This will give me 3 more inches of clearance, which should be enough.
Thanks for all the replies.
Thanks for all the replies.
How about gluing some large grit sandpaper on the bottom of those ramps? Or rubber floor mats?
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