Bike work stand idea.

[will_start]

why stand when you can sit ?

I lean my bike against something, wall, fence, whatever.
spread out an old towel/blanket if you need to.
I sit on the ground with a old pillow, why raise the bike and stand,
when you can sit down and work ?

 

[graucho]

I have a small shop area with a bike "work bench" in the center. I use a motorcycle (ATV) ramp and wheel them up onto the bench. I can walk around to both sides, and leave my tools laying underneat it on the bench. I also build mini choppers up there which are 110-150lbs. so I need something very sturdy.

 

[a-dam]

OK, here's some pics. A pipe clamp "tail" piece goes up and down the upright. It slides up freely and automatically locks in position, you have to squeeze the release tabs to lower it. Sticking horizontally out of that is an old Schwinn seat post (I used what I had laying around). It's bolted and pinned to the clamp tail. A section of iron pipe about a foot long slides over it. The end of the iron pipe is slitted and a seat clamp locks it in place. I made the the plywood jaws to handle tubes between 1 1/4 and 3/4 inches.

It works well, but the 13/16" seat post diameter is too small. I have to really crank down on the seat clamp nut to keep a bike from rotating. Usually I clamp the bike by the seat tube and that makes it front-heavy. If I'm removing the back wheel, I just let the front wheel rest on the ground. I would use a larger diameter pipe and make the iron pipe fit inside that, instead of outside.

But I'm happy with it. It was relatively cheap, and it sure ain't gonna blow over in a small breeze!

 

[codi79]

I did a google search and this is what I came out with. Hope this helps.

http://journals.neebu.net/khuon/archives/2005/May/homemade_bicycle_repair_stand-000517.html


-Codi79

 

[a-dam]

Well how do you like that? Looks like I'm not the only guy to think of making work stands out of pipe clamps. I like mine better, of course Holding the bike up with one hand while you try to clamp it up with the other? I don't like the sound of that! His bike looks much lighter than any I own, but still... Mine not only lifts and locks at any height but also rotates and locks where you want. Yeah, I know it's not a contest, but if you're gonna make one, I wouldn't suggest the "lift the bike up to the clamp" design.
Also, I found out that bare inner-tube rubber does a good job of pulling paint off of a bike frame. I had an old Schwinn Continental clamped up for a coulple days. I was just using it for mock-up work, not really concerned with the small paint damage on THAT frame, but I was surprised that some of that original paint stuck to the rubber. It's over 30 year-old, baked-on enamel. So I covered the rubber on the jaw faces with leather and now it doesn't leave a mark on my sweet paint jobs.

 

[eltatertoto]

i like ur clamp idea adam. i personally use a 20 dollar bike hoist from walmart, made wo hold bikes in garages. but i dont have a garage. i have a shed with a loft. so i just use the bike hoist to work on my bikes. and when im doing somthing thar involves removing the seat or the bars, i just attach the claws on the top tube. litterally all it is is 2 pullys that work by 1 string, and it has 2 claws at the end, of each pully, so there is 4 pullys all together.2 attached to the roof, and 2 atached to 2 hooks. im over complicating things lol. but its rated for 50 lbs but it caRYS MY STINGRAY, THAT WAS 50LBS WITH NO MOTOR. AND I ALSO USE IT IN THE WINTER AND SPRING TO TAKE THE MOWERS OUT OF THE LOFT. sory for the caps, im not gonna type that again tho lol. ill do a vid, when i lower the mowers. probablly this week.

 

[a-dam]

Thanks Eltatertoto,

I like the hoist idea. I used a homemade hoist system before making the work stand. Down in the basement, I used two tie-down straps like in the pic. I would hoist the bike up from the ceiling joists. It worked well; no chance of the bike falling over, but it was a bit "swingy". I've done a bit of weightlifting, but I still wouldn't want to try to hold a 50+ lb bike up with one arm while trying to clamp it (and not scratching the finish). So I prefer a hoist system to a non-adjustable stand.

 

[eltatertoto]

thanks for the pic, i didnt quite know what ya meant. but looking at the harbor freight mag, the 20.00 dollar bike hoist i bought at wall mart is 7.00 on sale at harbor freight. just letti ya know. kinda agervates me lol.

 

[Esteban]

A lot of DIY ideas on this site;

http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q...on&type:group=on&type:forumTopic=on&sort=none

 

[fetor56]

A lot of DIY ideas on this site;

http://www.instructables.com/tag/?q...on&type:group=on&type:forumTopic=on&sort=none

Some great ideas there,thanks man.