Do you think this would work?

Mailman

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I have been thinking of inexpensive ways ( without a welder ) to wrestle my motor in and out of my frame. By myself.
Right now my engine is mounted in the frame and sitting on top of my bike jack, like in this photo, but the swingarm and shocks are no longer on it.
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So I was looking at this cable winch puller for sale on HF and this little wooden dolly.
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My thought is to hang the cable winch from a rafter, pick up the frame with the engine off of the bike jack with the cable winch.
Then set all that down on the ground, lay it over sideways on some cardboard, unbolt the motor and lift the frame off. Then re attach the cable winch and lift the motor back up, set it on the dolly, so I can roll it around.
Does that sound like it would work?
Also can the motor be lifted by the top motor mount alone? You know the one on top of the head?
Just curious. I would really like to think of a way I could do this by myself.
 
100_0172.JPG I use this with my cherry picker, seems to work just fine. A couple short lengths of chain would prolly work as well.
 
Hey Bob, as you know I had buddy help and it made this real easy. Full props to guys who do this solo.

Have a look at I am Carbons video. He did it using a chain hoist and a couple of ladders. Removal is at about the 19:45 point. Certainly doesn't look too hard.

 
IMHO all the cheap cable winches are POS a boat trailer winch with flat strap is pretty good stuff.
Dead exactly what you suspect get under a load held up by that POs and dead happens.
 
Gotta watch out for the length of the lift on some of those, chain is better than wire rope, just an annoyance. I prefer the endless chain hoists myself, or chain blocks, what ever you guys might call them.

4000 lb is plenty,
 
Dunno I've been just grabbing and lifting (So far). Up on the HF lift helps a LOT. I have a waist height wheeled cart I put right next to the lift so it doesn't need to go up or down much. Last fall I moved 20 motors to a shelf in the shed. No lift used. They weren't all complete.
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Mailman I would rethink the single rafter as the hanger. As far as the come along I've used and abused them for years no problem.
Having run a gin truck for a couple years in the oil patch I like cable vs. chain for pulling on things. After laying frames over on their sides, using the pipes in the front and rear mounts with PamcoPetes suggestion of using an office chair for the second person and tying off the cylinders with straps to lift by. I've settled for this home made cobbled up unpainted hanger for the head mounts. It took a try or two but the weight is balanced front to back and side to side.
The bracket stands off enough to clear the backbone and wiring harness. I think I've included enough pics for you the offending parts and pieces.
And the carts are the cats ass for rolling motors around the shop. I have three (or four) in the shop right now.
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I’m with halfmile and your idea. That’s the way I did mine, losened all the motor mounts, layed it over on the clutch side, blocked the cylinder so that the motor was kind of level, removed all the mount bolts and lifted the frame off. The frame is really quite light when stripped down. Of course moving the 140’ish pound motor around is another story, but managed to do that on my own as well. Used the same method to put the motor back into the frame. One obstacle you have mailman is to get the frame/motor off the lift, a two man job or one guy with a come along. I’m sure the HF come along will work just fine, just don’t put your head under the bike when hanging from the come along, you might end up being the dead load.
 
Cheeses Kay Riced, guys, you're not lifting a half ton of diesel motor, you're lifting an air cooled 2-banger that weighs less than160 lbs! Here's the drill I've followed for years, for what it's worth.

1. Strap bike down on lift. Remove all motor mounts. Insert one bolt in back of motor and one bolt in front. Put a loop of a tie down strap on each end of each bolt.

2. Throw a ratchet tie down over a rafter above each strap. That's right, kids--a cheapass ratchet tiedown with a nylon or poly strap--remember, each one is only going to lift 80 lbs. Attach a hook to each strap on the motor. Crank 'er up.

3. When the motor is a bit free, finesse it out of the frame, roll the lift with bike away, and scoot a table under the hanging motor Let the motor down and do the needful.Use wooden blocks, etc. to position and support the motor while you work: engine stands are for sissies.
 
I use a chain block, comes in handy for splitting the cases too.
Once the motor is out I rest it on an old electric blanket, they slide on the floor of my workshop easily. Then I use the chain block again to lift the motor into the work stand.
No heavy lifting involved I am not built for it.
 
If you have to remove it via the "Brute Strength and Ignorance" method (my usual go-to for any task...) I've managed it quite nicely by getting on the bike (seat and tank removed) laying forward with my chest on the back bone of the frame, grabbing the kickstarter in my right hand and the cylinder head under the exhaust port with my left hand and dead-lifting it clear of the mounts. That way your arms are doing all the lifting and you don't have to worry about wrecking your back.

A pad of some sort over the frame to keep from bruising your sternum is handy. Ibuprofen and an adult beverage afterwards is an appropriate reward.
 
yep Downeaster ......thats the way I did mine too ....cos all my neighbours are weedy 7 stone wrinklies ( senior citizens )
Easy to wrench your back though


Hey Camilo Welcome to the forums !
what part of the UK do you hail from ?
 
Downeaster has it, approaching from the left side of the bike and I leave the seat on.

The real Hokey Pokey is torquing the rear axle whilst applying the rear brake. Something about brake shoe alignment iirc lol.
 
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