Sub frame paddock stand

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:49 pm

Just a query and a request for pooled knowledge/experience. I want to remove my swingarm and have tried a socket on the engine mount bolts into my Abba stand but it really didn't feel secure and and there is no clearance on the engine cases. Call me a tart but I don't want to mark the cases if I can avoid it.
I know there is the A frame gallows stylee option but I thought something purpose built.
So I was thinking, would a paddock stand, designed to fit across the subframe in front of the rear footrests and raising the bike to the same sort of height as the Abba work. I have access to some three quarter inch LCS and fittings along with bending kit.
So what do you reckon would the material be strong enough to hold the Storm?

gilson · Post by **gilson** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:00 pm

Hi kev, I have an abba style stand if you wish and you are welcome to borrow it.

Sorry, read it again. You have one.

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 10:07 pm

Thanks for the offer though. I even bought the Abba swingarm removal kit to go with it however it won't work with the VTR due to the unique method used for securing the footrests.
I intend to give it a go and see what happens.

MacV2 · Post by **MacV2** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:36 pm

Kev I've recently done mine, removed the swing arm that is.

Bung it on a rear paddock stand, use two ratchet straps over a joist hooked/passed through the two hoops that the seat hooks into, tighten the ratchet straps until it lifts off the stand, then remove the stand. for extra safety use a jack under the sump using a piece of timber to protect the cases. Loosen all necessary bolts nuts before raising off the stand though.

I did mine like that & it was suspended quite happily for about a week with no probs. Might help to have someone/second pair of hands around for steadying things when raising & lowering. Just for safety like.

No roof joists? Use two equal hight step ladders & a length of scaffold tube should do the trick.

Of course if you do manage to rock it up & drop it/damage the body work it's a good excuse to get a respray done so it's no longer that hideous Bluegh colour!!!

he he he. ( I see your touchÃ© & raise you an insult)

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Sun Oct 23, 2011 11:45 pm

You Ba**ard. I was just about to fling back that it wouldn't matter if your horrid little red bike fell over when I got to the bottom of your post. Bo**cks.
So in the spirit of commaradarie which is so much a part of this fine forum, ahem - " your mother was a hamster and your father smells of elderberries. I fart in your general direction, now go away or I will taunt you some more". I see your insult and raise you a Monty Python quote!!

AMCQ46 · Post by **AMCQ46** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:22 am

Kev, I improvised with the ABBA stand fittings to pick up on the engine bolts just above the clutch and it worked great.

one of the standard fittings worked on the sprocket side, and on the clutch side there is the bolt head, so I used the correct socket for that bolt [cant remember if 17mm o 19mm] and wrapped than socket with a slice of jubilee clip so it was a snug fit in the ABBA stand holder, then tightened up as normal.

to cope with the fact the engine bolts are higher up than the swingarm bolt, I had the bike up on a normal padock stand, fitted the ABBA stand to the engine bolts, then placed 2x2 wodden blocks under the ABBA stand and then lowerd the bike off the padock stand so it was now supported by the ABBA.........very stable

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:07 pm

Cheers Al, I did try your suggested method but used a deep socket nearer to the size of the abba mounting point. This left very little clearance to the cases. I will try packing out a smaller socket. I have access to the kit for LCS at work and quite fancy having a go at a stand which supports via the sub frame, even if the bike is placed on it from the Abba stand.

AMCQ46 · Post by **AMCQ46** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 5:53 pm

Kev L wrote:Cheers Al, I did try your suggested method but used a deep socket nearer to the size of the abba mounting point. This left very little clearance to the cases. I will try packing out a smaller socket. I have access to the kit for LCS at work and quite fancy having a go at a stand which supports via the sub frame, even if the bike is placed on it from the Abba stand.

I am sure I didnt see any clearance problems as that side of my abba stand has the adjuster screw, so I can set that leg as far out as I want.

I did think about making something to locate under the footrest mounts so it is supported by the subframe, because when I have to drop the engine this winter, I will not be able to hold it up by either the swing-arm or the engine bolts, as they are both coming out!

My plan was a bit heath-robinson, as it was going to be a 1x1 under the subframe and then set ontop of some A frame supports on each side

AMCQ46 · Post by **AMCQ46** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 7:53 pm

Some pics of how I did the engine mounts support. I fitted the abba stand with the bike on the paddock stand, then once all tightened I lowered it down onto the blocks of wood.

Wicky · Post by **Wicky** » Mon Oct 24, 2011 8:31 pm

DIY

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Wed Oct 26, 2011 5:58 pm

Wicky wrote:DIY

Wicky, it looks like your bike has been hung for some unspeakable offence (being red in a pubic place perhaps!!!).

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Sun Nov 06, 2011 7:55 pm

Just a little update on my stand project. All made up from 3/4" LCS with a pair of reducing tee's with a bit of 1/2" to make the bar for the bike to rest on. I used a pair of unions so the frame can be set in place from each side and then secured. I lifted the bike up on the stand with no problem with the mounting ( did have to loosen the Penske shock remote to give access) the only problem is that the bends are not quite deep enough leaving the bike a little too upright. I will stick them back in the hydraulic benders and give them a tweak.

Also made this up from some spare bits and pieces. I had to buy some trolley wheels but the rest of the bits were lying around. The front part needs cutting down to size and the platform isn't secured because of this.
Hope the manufacturer of a well known stand named after a Swedish pop group doesn't take offence. Sorry Roxette!!!

Kev L · Post by **Kev L** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:28 pm

Final update on the paddock stand which allows swingarm removal and breaks in half for storage. As in the pics below it works perfectly, allows full access to the swingarm and shock -

The little front lift Abba copy works as well.

If anyone wants to borrow either of them you are more than welcome. Only relevant to anyone local really as I don't think Mr Postie will want to deliver them, but the offer is there if you intend changing your swingarm or want to maintain bearings.

AMCQ46 · Post by **AMCQ46** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 4:14 pm

nice work there, I might copy the front lifter to go with the ABBA stand

simo · Post by **simo** » Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:20 pm

Well Kev,you might have one of the slow Blue'uns, but I really like the colour of the engine cases on them later models

VTR1000.ORG