Man, have I got a major problem now!

[Nemo]

I've had the Trike up on the lift bracket, with legs, for the winter. Today, I wanted to get it back down onto it's wheels. I needed to jack it up enough to remove the 4 legs. I got it about halfway up and somehow it tipped to the left. This looks bad, so l as I let the jack back down, the Trike remained at a bad angle and the jack was now loose of the bracket. There's a heavy silver rod that goes thru holes in both the bracket and the Trike frame. That rod is now bent into a Z shape and the legs are on the floor, but the Trike is leaning badly and the lifting bracket is tipped sideways. I think that bent rod is holding it cocked.

 

I've got to figure out someway to get those legs removed. Then maybe I could somehow cut that lifting bracket loose and get that bent rod out. I'm afraid that if I keep jacking it high enough to remove the leg bolts, it may tip over. At least it looks like it may.

 

I know this is long and maybe as clear as mud, but now this thing scars me. I really need your advice. Thank you!

 

Owen.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Floor jack maybe?

 

 

[CMCOFFEY]

a picture of the the situation would help us understand. also let us know the type of lifts, stands, and jacks you have available.

[Cougar]

Go barrow some small floor jacks maybe 3 of them

and work it out.

[mraf]

Quick pull that Sealy posturepedic off the bed so your baby has a soft place to land if it does fall. I would use whatever I could to help prop it in place before moving anything.

[Cougar]

He is using Larry's Trike lift adaptor like I have and he should have been using the

sears ATV jack of similar . I never did like the legs myself

the jack must be all the way to the rear next to the fender almost touching.

[Cougar]

This is what he has I think.. I have never had a problem with it

and it works very well. I have had the trike up 2 plus feet or so .

that is what one of the legs looks like that I never use. to make it more

stable I use another jack up front. or jack stands

 

[ATTACH]83534[/ATTACH]

[Squidley]

I'm working with Owen right now, he's going to have his daughter text me some pics to see exactly what were looking at.

[Sylvester]

This is what he has I think.. I have never had a problem with it

and it works very well. I have had the trike up 2 plus feet or so .

that is what one of the legs looks like that I never use. to make it more

stable I use another jack up front. or jack stands

 

[ATTACH]83534[/ATTACH]

 

This has always worked well with me also. I don't have a trike so I cannot say anything else that would relieve the situation.

 

[Cougar]

One small floor jack under the one shock/bolt on the low side

the other under the low side in the front on the bikes frame

should help get it level to put the ATV jack back under, the rod

will bend pretty easy.

[bongobobny]

It pretty much has to lean more than 45 degrees for it to tip on it's side, but perhaps if you can get some timber stacked under the wheels you can remedy the situation. Make sure the bike is in gear...

[Squidley]

Owens daughter sent me some pics from her phone. The retaining bar which holds the adapter to the bike is bent. I have talked with him about what I would attempt, but here are some pics so y'all can give some ideas as well...

[CMCOFFEY]

Since the stand is still providing a stable base, I would ratchet strap the bike to the stand and cut the bent bar. Then proceed as normal.

 

I would tighten up 2 ratchet straps and have 2 more in place ready to tighten up once you cut the bar.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Ummm...

 

Why is a 1200 pound, 5 foot wide machine perched on a 12 inch wide light duty metal stand all winter?

 

 

 

I'm wondering what that stand is made for...ATVs?

 

Well anyway, looks to me like 3 floor jacks arranged around it and lifting it could take all the pressure off of that rod and make it easier to get things apart under there. Or, you could rent or borrow a portable engine hoist (shop crane) and lift the front end high enough to get under there.

 

Good luck.

 

 

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-Ton-Capacity-Foldable-Shop-Crane-69512.html

Edited April 16, 2014 by tx2sturgis

[Cougar]

That's the Tike Lift made by Carbon One.

look at my photo, same set up, even the jack!

 

That is also a very easy fix with 1 more small jack

under the left rear shock bolt.

Use the other jack under there as well.

The bar will bend back when the trike comes back, if not , cut it off later

the rod metal is pretty soft. If you don't have a small jack then find a couple guys

and have them lift on the down side while you are on the other side using the jack.

 

First bring up the ATV jack (just to the left side of the stand, it should already be there now)

for more support.

then start using the other little jack one at a time back and forth

then then bring the 2 down little by little.

(Bring the small jack in from the front side of the left fender to that shock bolt.)

 

Thought it was way worse. and stop using those legs :-)

 

And no you don't need to store it up high like that all winter

just roll it from time to time about 6 inches. I only live

right down the road from you , so we have the same winters.

 

Oh, and get rid of that kick stand :-)

 

NOTE: look at my photo and notice the two huge hose clamps

I use them every time , and band the front of the stand to the main

frame on the trike right up front on each side, then this will stop any movement

like you just had.

 

Before you start all of this make sure you have your 3-- 2X12X12 wood pads under all the tires

so you main lift will come out easier, and will give you a bit more room the cut the rod out

or maybe hammer it enough to slide it out.

Good Luck!

Edited April 16, 2014 by Cougar

[Guest tx2sturgis]

That's the Tike Lift made by Carbon One.

look at my photo, same set up, even the jack!

 

 

Hmmm...well Ok...a lift is normally for service work, rather than storage. I suppose that stand gets the trike up for oil changes and whatnot, but still, if the trike is on the stand, I would think that one should support the rear corners of the frame with jackstands to keep it steady and safe.

 

Actually, the rear tires of the trike have so little weight on them (vs a car) that I would just leave the trike on the garage floor all winter and be able to push it around a bit if needed.

 

 

 

[Flyinfool]

If you were closer you could come over and borrow my 4,000 lb shop crane and just pick the whole thing up to get the stand off the bottom. Maybe some local gear head has one you can borrow.

 

That is my plan for next time the rear tire has to come off. Just pick up the whole bike with the shop crane.

 

But since the rear wheel is already on the floor, there is no danger of tipping it over.

[jakester]

No major problem, nothing broke, nothing injured (besides the rod that secures the stand) Lots of great ideas here. I like just jacking the bike up, each corner one at a time, block the wheel up with lumber(multible 2x products) when bike is up and level, remove the stand and damaged rod, let the bike down one corner at a time. take your time and be careful.

Bill

[Eddie]

I was going to say the same thing about the racket straps , take the seat off and ratchet strap the bike to the lift plate and jack it back up to get the legs off. Or have a BBQ and invite a bunch of people over to help you lift it by hand.

[Nemo]

There is no way to express my feeling for the help that I received from all of you, except that I truly appreciate the interest you took for offering the suggestions. Thank You! The Trike is back down on it's 3 wheels now, with no damage what so ever. I straightened the rod.

 

A special thanks to Brad for the phone calls and walking me through. Also he and Jeff said to use a jack under the left shock/bolt, which worked fine. And I think most of you have convinced me not to use the rack and legs for winter storage again.

 

It's sure a relief to have difficult problems solved so simply with the expert help from the members of this group. I'm proud to be a part of your family. Happy Biking!

 

Owen.

[Cougar]

[bongobobny]

:banana:

[Squidley]

Glad to hear you got after it and made it happen Owen

[Barrycuda]

Brad should get another recognition award for all his time helping others . Almost every time there is a crisis or emergency of some sort, I read or here he is right in the thick of it, trying to solve the issues at hand. Glad you're on this site Brad!

[Carbon_One]

OK just now seeing this post and am glad you got it all worked out with the guys help here Owen. My main question is how the bike had gotten off centered on the stand in the first place? Due to the fact that most weight or I should say that the balance enter has now moved rearward with a trike conversion opposed to a conventional 2 wheeler it does make it trickier lifting. I've had my trike up numerous times over the years without having this problem so am somewhat baffled about your situation.

Certainly it's a lesson learned and can be avoided in the future.

Larry