Motorcycle Stand Grating

[longlivepunk]

So I built a standard wooden motorcycle stand in my garage about a year ago and since then had a couple friends build bikes on it, but my personal bike has very low clearance and I can't use my regular oil drain-pan to do oil changes. I could use a low-clearance one, but there's still basically no room to remove the drain-plug. So since I was bored and had too much time on my hands I built this:

I built the external frame out of some angle-iron and some square tubing I had lying around, then I test-fit it in my stand:

It fits perfectly snug, you have to drop it in square and tap it down with a rubber mallet, so I cut some expanded steel to fit, and made a couple of braces for it that run down the center of the frame:

then welded on the expanded steel:

and now I can drain my oil straight through the stand. Kind of a goofy project, but I'm happy with how it turned out, so I thought I'd share. Just have to paint it now.

 

[longlivepunk]

By the way, the welding wasn't done in my garage unfortunately. I'm currently renovating mine, and can't afford a welder at the moment, it was done in a friend's that I have access to. Also, those two middle supports are made from part of an old Ducati crate! (I used to work at a dealership that sold Ducks)

 

[memphisnate]

Any issues with the tires picking up the oil on the grate after an oil change?

 

[longlivepunk]

I just finished it yesterday, so I haven't had a chance to use it yet, but any little bit of oil that gets on the grating should come off easily with a bit of degreaser.

 

[grego]

You did a mighty fine job and came up with a good solution, a couple of points from looking over the completed project if that's ok?
You might get a bit of spillage if the oil hits one of the center supports and it might spray all over and make a mess. You should look into putting a funnel under the expanded metal to help control the flow down into a drain pan.
Used, black, smelly oil has a certain vescosity that allows it to drip and splash in the most unusual of ways.
I see draining the oil, or other fluids, from that tall of a distance will make a mess. If using a stool or something else to hold a pan closer to the metal, make sure it is stable and won't fall over if kicked while you are moving around the bike.
Watch those knuckles when loosening the oil pan bolt. I have ran my knuckles over the cheese grader metal before, not fun.
Be careful, the metal looks to be right at the same spot that you apply the brakes when backing down the stand. If not clean and dry, your front wheel will skid and slide and if you are straddling the bike, your feet might be barely touching the ground. I had that happen several times, luckly someone was there to help me. After that, it was a two person job, one on each side of the bike as it was backed down.
On the motorcycle stands I seen, the middle comes out so you can do the oil changes. The front and back also come out so you can get the tires out when you are putting new ones on. They have a metal frame and the front, middle and end pieces are heavy guage sheet that is bent to form the sides and fit over the frame. That's what I thought you were going to do. If you can find the materials cheap, make it like that for version 2.0.
Again, nice job keeping the costs down and making it yourself with the help of your buddies.

 

[longlivepunk]

Thanks for the tips! I was worried about the center supports too, but I had to strengthen it, so it had to happen. I considered turning them so the corner would be up but I figured I can just try to line the drain up to miss the supports. I also wanted them there so I could use my motorcycle scissor-jack on it without worry. I'll definitely have to watch out for my knuckles, and I always have a friend with me to take bikes up and down because my ramp isn't wide enough to put my feet down.

That's a good point about raising the drain-pan, I think I'll build a steel rack under the grating that I can slide the drain-pan into. Thanks again!

 

[theknurl]

I've around bikes for a long time.....almost 60 years
I have a HandyLift SAM 1000
never seen a hoist with any fluid drain holes in it
front and rear wheel drop outs? yes, mine only has a rear one

how low is your bike?????

take a restaurant alloy tray drill a big hole in a corner, weld a tube to it, put a hose on the tube, lift the opposite side 3/8", run it into your used oil can/container

problem solved

oh, push your bike up the ramp.....
too many YouTube videos of people riding up them

 

[ekuhn]

I built the exact same stand a few years back minus the drain. Pick yourself up one of the harbor freight wheel chocks - they work great.

 

[longlivepunk]

My bike only has about 4"-4.5" of clearance. It's tight for just hands let alone anything under the hands, so I think this grating will work well. And yeah, I always bring bikes up and down with a person on either side and the ramp strapped to the stand, no riding down.

Yeah, I'm looking at wheel chocks right now. I was considering building one, but if I find one cheap enough I might buy one. We don't have HF in Canada, but it seems to be the same idea as Princess Auto, so I might look there or just look online.

 

[slakwhere]

the black one at HF is adjustable for wheel sizes and you can remove the front wheel chock stop and the pivot on a couple of pins, they're just on R clips. i have one bolted to my HF lift, which replaced a wooden table like that one a couple years back.

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-stand-wheel-chock-97841.html

http://sphotos-b.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/529072_3697337271218_1187600879_n.jpg

 

[madjack]

I too have a HandiLift. I use a sheet cake pan as a oil drain pan for low clearance bikes like my dragbikes. I put a drain plug in one corner, so that the plug hole can be slid over the edge of the table and drained into a funnel in a 5 gallon pail.

 

[slakwhere]

+1 to sheet cake pans. clean up easy with brake cleaner, hold their shape, handle heat and are cheap!

 

[sberry]

It looks like this stand is a common project. I got a Bud with a bike shop and they have 2 or 3 lift tables. Considering the cost of lumber and the difficulty of loading I would be inclined to buy a power stand if this was more than once or twice in a lifetime experience or would figure out a hoist winch setup, might even be able to use a cherry picker.

 

[sberry]

I built the exact same stand a few years back minus the drain. Pick yourself up one of the harbor freight wheel chocks - they work great.

a minor mod on your stand might be to move the long leg stiffners to the inside to give a "toe" space.

 

[slakwhere]

i've never run into issues with a place for my feet. but i bet next time i whack my toes and immediately get the welder out

 

[jsaw]

+1 to sheet cake pans. clean up easy with brake cleaner, hold their shape, handle heat and are cheap!

+2 on the cake pan.

 

[shawnspeed]

I built a bike stand many years ago,that I copied from a friend...it has a tilting top table, that is attached to a 1"sq tube base. the base is shorter than the top..you tilt the top down & roll the bike up, and as you go over center on the hinge point the top comes down & latches with a common gate latch on the bottom of the top. I use nylon straps to hold the bike on the stand (same ones I use in the truck/trailer)...granted I usually am working on off road/race bikes, but it has served me well for 20 + years....If any one is interested , I can see if I can get some pic's posted...Shawn

 

[OldMedic]

Re: Wheel Chocks

Canadian as well... Princess Auto has them, I bought 5 this summer (they were $38.00 each). They are a copy of the "General" and work well for most of my bikes.

Typically Princess Auto brings a bunch in sells them and then waits for awhile before getting some other brand in.

Happy with mine. I will likely pick up some more if/when they restock.

As for your stand, I also built one almost identical to yours, it has served me well, I added some recessed tie down points to the sides for some stability when needed as well as when I need the front end in the air.

I will be purchasing a commercial lift this winter for my new garage, but will keep the current stand for additional longer term projects.