DIY Motorcycle/ATV Lift

[MagnaRider]

Attached a sheet to the bottom that allows the jack to full be connected to the bottom frame. Reinforced it with some 1x1 angle and I am loving how stable this thing is now. I can jump on the end of it when fully raised and it doesn't budge a bit. Added some washers to all my pivots and there is very little movement side to side, especially when loaded unevenly. Feeling extremely confident in the design now and excited to put the top sheet on and hopefully put a bike on it this weekend!

[MagnaRider]

Got my locking mechanism complete this weekend, still have to add a few more stops for lower heights but very happy with its operation.

It rachets up as you jack up the lift and locks into a 1/2" round on the bottom. Once locked this thing has 0 flex up down or side to side. Connected both arms so you can raise the locks and pin them out of the way all from one side and doesn't get in the way of my jack! I am leaving the vise grip handle on it, I like the look to much and keeps it so I can disassemble the lock mechanism easily.

Would have liked to do more this weekend but the high of -2 yesterday and morning Church kept me from wanting to wait to heat up the shop lol.

On a side note, I am 1 week free of cigarettes! Very happy with that accomplishment and still going strong.

[Nachodaddy]

Beautiful.

[Gone in 60]

That is a cool project! When not in use and the jack is pulled out of it, looks like it’s flat enough to easily store out of the way.

[rdprdp01]

Nice work on the lift and your health! I look forward to seeing a motorcycle on your lift. David

[MagnaRider]

looks good. i would suggest a cross bar welded in at the hinged uprights since you have 4 single shear pivot points on the lower frame though. this will keep it from kicking left or right over time.

you could mig in just some square tube or brace it w gussets. will stiffen it up a LOT.

.02

Thank you for the suggestion. I was planning on doing this soon, but I am going to bolt in a gusset so I can disassemble if needed. Since this is my first one/prototype I want everything removable so I can come back to painting it when its all done and make any tweaks easier. I think I will only be able to gusset the front two pivots so I still have adequate jack clearance.

[MagnaRider]

Thanks! Always like getting suggestions, thats why I post it on here, I can't think of everything thats for sure.
I'll be curious to see how it behaves over time. Currently very rock solid I can jump/push all over it with very little flex, but that will change with my top plate on and a bike.
For reference the pivots are all 5/8" alloy steel shoulder bolts through a Oilite Bushing rated well over the capacity of my floor jack (which is 3 Tons), but I definitely never want to see a bike fall off of this thing because of a design failure!

That is a cool project! When not in use and the jack is pulled out of it, looks like it’s flat enough to easily store out of the way.

Yep that's the plan! Planning on mounting casters to the side of it so it can be flipped up and carted around!

[MagnaRider]

Got the stops welded in fully last night and set the top plate on to see how sturdy everything felt. With it up I can jump all around it with very minimal movement. I am going to put a cross brace between the front two pivot arms tonight to help with side load stability. Then finish welding the last few joints, add some D-Rings to the sides for strapping the bike down before I mock up the top plate and tack weld it in. Very excited to hopefully put a bike on it this weekend!

[peterbaron]

It's getting more and more practical and functional, good job
The red color would be fantastic IMHO

[MagnaRider]

Thank you!
I do have a lot of Candy Red from when I painted my bandsaw (see beginning pics) that I was thinking of putting to use on this once its complete, my only holdback is I don't want it to look like the Harbor Freight ones which are red.