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Chain Maintenance without center-stand

9K views 29 replies 19 participants last post by  shadowman 
#1 ·
I was asked to show photos of my own solution for chain maintenance, wheel removal and all general work on my bike when a lift is not needed or available. I don’t have a center-stand. This solution is so crazy simple, you’re gonna say, “what the F? What was I thinking running my bike around the backyard trying to lube my chain?"

Items needed:
2 eye bolts (or screws)
A wall, fence or other large flat object (a pick-up truck will work).
2 tie downs.

In my case, I just used two stainless steel eye bolts I had from another home project I haven’t finished, and screwed them into the bottom plate of my garage (the wall will work).

1. Drive bike up against wall.
2. Put bike on side stand.
3. Attach tie downs to right and left side of handlebars and to eyebolts.
4. Tighten up right side until it lifts the bike off the side-stand, adjust both tie-downs until bike is level. Be careful not to scratch the fairing, but be sure to compress the forks a bit.
5. That’s it.

It is just like tying down a dirt bike in a pick-up. Simple right?

Now, just put that $20 Shucks auto parts floor jack under the bottom of the shock and lift the rear tire off the ground. Chain maintenance, wheel removal, etc. now made easy.
I use this set-up for mounting the Pat Walsh bars/skid plate, changing oil, all of my maintenance. With the Pat Walsh I can also just put the jack under the skid plate and jack the whole bike up if needed.

Don’t have a wall to use? A fence will work, or the bumper of your old pick up. I got a request for some pictures a minute ago, so I walked outside, set the bike up and took some photos. The garage is really messy and I’ve had a few beers:cheers2:, but it took less than five minutes.

Have fun and I take no responsibility for you being a dummy and knocking your bike over or scratching it. The photos suck, if I get more time I will make them prettier.













 
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#6 ·
even simpler to get a scottoiler and forget about the chain in between routine service

I don't know about other folks here, but I bought my bike to ride, I know that I'm dangerous handling a wrench, so I prefer to pay a professional mechanic for ALL maintenance, including the chain
 
#5 ·
I think the reason this solution presented itself was because its both inexpensive and eliminates the need for a clearance-robbing center stand. I could probably do this as I have a fence (no garage) but my yard is sloped and I really don't have a level place anywhere - not even the driveway. That makes a race stand ineffective also.

Even using a center stand I'd have to get out in the street where its a bit more level, but really my argument for having a center stand is this: You're out touring away from home piling on the miles and you need to get that chain lubed at a gas station.
 
#9 ·
Hello and thankyou for your idea on chain maintenance. In this day and age on saftey , I'll use your idea first. The likely hood of 194 kg's falling on me in the shed doesn't rate highly on my to-do list. The pipe might be alright in the outback , but hey who's gonna lift this sucker off me when the side stand sinks into the dirt? My mate's would sit there and laugh. Please keep the good idea's coming.
 
#10 ·
Easier, fit rear spools, buy a nylon tent peg (sand peg) from a 4WD or camping store and a velcro wrap.

Cut a V in the pointy end of the peg, and a couple of notches below that. Put light rope or preferably light bungee cord through the notches and make a loop over the V you cut.

Bike on sidestand - wrap the velcro wrap around the front brake, locking it on.

Flip down the right hand footpeg, hang the peg from the right hand spool, lift the bike by the footpeg (really easy). The peg swings down, lower bike.

Provided you got the right length peg the tire is off the ground.

Lube chain.

Lift bike by footpeg, kick peg forward, lower bike.
Flip footpeg up, remove wrap from front brake and wrap it around the bars on that side. (It's useful if you ever drop the bike on a slope and need to lock the brake while you pick it up).

The big plus is that the tent pegs are a) Cheap, BRIGHT (hard to forget), tough and very light.
With an extra small bungie loop you can strap your stand to one of the rear grab handles.

I use this on trips, it works very well, takes no extra room and very little time to get the bike up and down.

Pete
 
#16 ·
That's a fine solution when you are at home and you are happy with it, that counts for a lot. But what do you do when you are on the road and need to lube the chain?

Any such solution for me has to work wherever the bike is home or on the road, so I guess I'm stuck with a centerstand or a second sidestand like the photo above. (I have a centerstand and yes, less ground clearance.)
 
#18 ·
I'd like to know why so many people are averse to shelling out $40 for a decent paddock stand.

They are inexpensive, safe, and very convenient...
Nwef', you even take nice photos of your bike stands. I hate you :mrgreen:.

I had two Pit Bull stands for a former sport bike. It was a DE-LUX setup, I could lift the bike 3" off the ground front and rear very easily. I'd have traded both stands for a centerstand. My garage is not roomy. Storing the stands sucked much. And I still had the inconvenience of trying to lube the chain anywhere besides at home.

Even the tiny inconveniece of a second portable sidestand is one more thing I don't want with me or to have to keep track of. I am overlaoded now. Every convenience is appreciated. Centerstand it is.

And damnit, clicking on your posts makes me want to pitch my camera out the window.
 
#20 ·
I've looked and haven't found one of those stands for less than 80 dollars. I don't really want a centerstand, I like the clearance. If I have to lube the chain on the road, well, I'll chase it around the gas station. It's incovenient, but doable. I just spent money on the bike I barely have, daughters braces ya know, so extras will have to wait. Cheap is in my future for a while.
Keep the ideas coming.
 
#21 ·
#24 · (Edited)
I've looked and haven't found one of those stands for less than 80 dollars.
Have a reference on that $40 stand you talk about?
Yep...

TWO sources, actually...

One is through 'Motovan' in Canada. They are one of the largest powersports products distributors in this country, and ANY respectable dealership or powersports outlet in Canada will be able to order a BVP paddock stand from Motovan for you...




The other source (even less expensive) is the 'Canadian Tire' retail store in Canada. They recently had the front AND rear stand on sale as a package deal, for just $74.99...

 
#27 ·
Never had to change a chain or tire in anger. Fixed a puncture - but that's pretty easy - much easier than looking for the nail, rolling the bike forward, looking for the nail etc.

I don't think I'd trust it without the wheel in there unless I had no choice, but for field servicing the bike it's excellent.

FWIW - that chain had just done 500km of nasty dirt roads ;). The secret is in the lube.

Pete
 
#26 ·
I made this up from some stuff I had around the garage. Not the best, but works.





I have the 1" raising links so the Zuk center stand would not get the tire off the groung enough to spin. This only takes a minute to install(1 bolt). The way it is, the side stand and the work stand are opposite from each other. The side stand wants to go back and the work stand wants to go forward. When using the work stand, the bike is VERY stable and so far has worked out well.
Since these photos were taken, I welded an old allen wrench onto the bolt for the work stand. Now it is even easier and you don't have to dig for a wrench.
 
#30 ·
Old solutions, but it works

This is an old thread, but I didn't see this $10 solution.

I had a Yamaha Vstar and for synching carbs and other work I followed this trick: you take about 4 feet of 2x8 and drill a 1 inch hole at one end.. Place the 2x8 under the bike with the hole closer to the back of the bike. Insert a 4 foot length of 1" iron pipe (from home depot or whatever) into the hole you drilled. Then "roll" the pipe 90 degrees forward and it should lift the bike an inch or two off the ground. I can't get at my bike right now to check this out, but if there is nothing under the 2-by that will get damaged, you are OK. If a 2x8 isn't enough, go with a 2x10.
 
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