Tie down to a LIFT

[erkmann]

Seems simple. Get out some ratchet straps and go, but my version is never very elegant. Sure, engine guards to this and that, but the ratchet end is always too long for the application. Does anyone have a SLICK way of fastening their Wing down before raising it up in the air for service?

[WingAdmin]

Seems simple. Get out some ratchet straps and go, but my version is never very elegant. Sure, engine guards to this and that, but the ratchet end is always too long for the application. Does anyone have a SLICK way of fastening their Wing down before raising it up in the air for service?

Leverage is always an issue as well - with the bike tied down to a narrow lift, the tie-down straps are not very far out. I've toyed with the idea of bolting or otherwise attaching a steel bar or C-channel so it sticks out on either side of the lift, giving better purchase to tie the bike down.

I've also seen some pictures where people just lifted the bike up on the lift, but used ratchet straps to tie the bike to overhead beams in the garage, so the bike couldn't tip over.

[Snowmoer]

What kind of lift are you using? Here is my 1800 on a table lift. I hooked up my 1500 the same way when I had it. You are just going to have to search for straps with a short piece of strap between the ratchet and the hook. Other straps that I have will not work because the strap is to long between the ratchet and the hook. The ones in this picture came with one of the two rail, under the motor type lift that I picked up before the table lift.

When I need to remove the front wheel, I take the wheel chock off the table and put the bike on the center stand. I then put a scissor jack under the motor and take the weight off the front of the bike. I then strap it down using the front and rear tip over guards before lifting. Rock solid.

[erkmann]

Snowmoer, I wish I HAD one of those nice table lifts but can't afford the space. In the interim I HAVE come up with a ratcheting strap that works over short spans (lift-to-engine guard) and that is either an auto-retracting ratchet strap or even shorter yet, an 'ENDLESS ratchet strap' (search these on Amazon). The endless strap has no S-hooks whatsoever, so you can loop the strap over the guards and down under the lift before feeding it back into the ratchet. With a little stitching it might be a good way to make use of one of your worn straps that might otherwise be headed to the trash. Perhaps someone can take Scott's idea of extensions and come up with a slick solution for that as well. Hmmmm...magnets to hold some C-channel in place while fastening one side then the other???

[Rambozo]

I use the CargoBuckle straps on my trailer. They are an auto retracting bolt on style that you could bolt to your lift. I have also done a similar bolt on mod to regular ratchet straps so they can be used for short spans. I've seen the hookless straps, but have never tried them. They look like a good solution, too.
I used 4" wide C channel with rubber stair tread covers to make my lift adaptors, so it's stable enough that I don't use any straps.

[Snowmoer]

Snowmoer, I wish I HAD one of those nice table lifts but can't afford the space. In the interim I HAVE come up with a ratcheting strap that works over short spans (lift-to-engine guard) and that is either an auto-retracting ratchet strap or even shorter yet, an 'ENDLESS ratchet strap' (search these on Amazon). The endless strap has no S-hooks whatsoever, so you can loop the strap over the guards and down under the lift before feeding it back into the ratchet. With a little stitching it might be a good way to make use of one of your worn straps that might otherwise be headed to the trash. Perhaps someone can take Scott's idea of extensions and come up with a slick solution for that as well. Hmmmm...magnets to hold some C-channel in place while fastening one side then the other???

Glad you figured something out. I also have one of the smaller under the frame lifts that I got before the lift table. Works great on the KLR Duel Sport and quads, but I was not comfortable with it on the wing. Same concern as you, lifting it up without being able to strap it down until it was up in the air.

I have limited space also. Here is what I do with the table lift when not in use. Just lean it against the wall in the garage. I do the same with the under frame lift. It would be hard to do with the bigger lift tables because of the weight of the lift. But I have no problem doing it with the Harbor Freight lift table.

[BobC1960]

I have a J&S Jack in my garage which is extremely stable and two ratchet straps that I use to secure the either my Harley or my GoldWing to the jack. I can torque my GoldWing’s rear wheel lugs to specs (80 ft lbs) and the bike won’t move whatsoever. For a large touring class bikes, I do recommend a J&S or Pitbull jack. Unless you have a table lift which is even better.

[wingpilot08]

I've been working on my brother's 1988 Wing and needed to get on the lift to really make it easier for working on the bike. Using the lift I have, I am easily able to strap the bike to the lift with the existing rings on the lift, I also used the frame of the bike as an attachment point on both sides!

[LittleGoldy]

I do not even have a "Newer" wing. I have an OL Wing 4 cylinder and folks, Mine fell off the lift (the narrow lift shown) which luckily fell forward and caused minimal damage. The fact it could have been far more catastrophic physically and wallet wise, I went out and bought a second hand Harbor Freight Lift like the RED one shown. It helps in so many ways and can be safely secured on both ends. 1 problem, tire removal. The back end of the lift does have a removable section for removing the back wheel, but, to remove the front wheel, it is no longer in the wheel holder, (purchased separately as the HBF one just was a POS) and further destabilizes the adventure of fun working on our bikes. I use that narrow jack on the lift to lift the front portion while I DOUBLE the straps after lifting enough to remove the wheel. The disassembly and stacking against a wall is a great idea for limited space, but, I do not have the space problem as my space is adequate to store it as is. There are times I need to lock it down and lean it against a wall for "other" project which is quite nice.

My $0.02 worth. We all have to think outside of the box at times and this place is GREAT for those kinda ideas. I LOVE GWDocs.com

[GoldWingrGreg]

Here, our lifts (or tables), are very stable and rarely is a Wing tied down. Since a stool, or anything, can cause a table to begin to tilt, if the table hits it, when rising or lowering, we've learned to always look around all 4 corners, and to have a hand on a handlebar when rising or lowering. The hand on the handlebar is there to sense anything going wrong. Also, rarely is one in a chalk. Once one is rode on, the center stand is set.

[LittleGoldy]

Here, our lifts (or tables), are very stable and rarely is a Wing tied down. Since a stool, or anything, can cause a table to begin to tilt, if the table hits it, when rising or lowering, we've learned to always look around all 4 corners, and to have a hand on a handlebar when rising or lowering. The hand on the handlebar is there to sense anything going wrong. Also, rarely is one in a chalk. Once one is rode on, the center stand is set.

That's nice, however, the original post was NOT about a table lift. It was a mini lift and they are not the most stable platform though usually lift a bike fine. But opposed to a table NO WHEELS are on the "Platform"

[GoldWingrGreg]

That's nice, however, the original post was NOT about a table lift. It was a mini lift and they are not the most stable platform though usually lift a bike fine. But opposed to a table NO WHEELS are on the "Platform"

To me, and because GoldWings are so large and heavy, anything other then having a real lift is dangerous. Prior to having commercial space, and when working on other Wing out of my Villa, I still had neither. On 5th and 6th gen Wings, basically everything, other then replacing a center stand, can be done on a center stand.

If using one a m/c jack, I do understand the need of strapping a Wing onto one.

[BobC1960]

That's nice, however, the original post was NOT about a table lift. It was a mini lift and they are not the most stable platform though usually lift a bike fine. But opposed to a table NO WHEELS are on the "Platform"

To me, and because GoldWings are so large and heavy, anything other then having a real lift is dangerous. Prior to having commercial space, and when working on other Wing out of my Villa, I still had neither. On 5th and 6th gen Wings, basically everything, other then replacing a center stand, can be done on a center stand.

If using one a m/c jack, I do understand the need of strapping a Wing onto one.

I think you need a lift or heavy-duty motorcycle jack, or at a minimum, a car style jack (under the frame) to replace the front wheel. I like to lift my Wing to change both front and rear wheels. But yeah, most other things can be done off a center stand.

I have a video showing my Wing on a J&S Jack. I wouldn't lift it without a J&S or a Pitbull Jack


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