Engine Stand

AMT82xs650 · Full Member Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Posts: 17

Has anyone built this engine stand?
www.650motorcycles.com/XSstand.html
If so do all of the dimensions work out correctly? Anything that I should change? I understand that I should increase the vertical legs at least an inch for additional clearance

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

Yes, add 1" to the vertical legs so the starter motor will clear the base. If you look closely at the photos in your link, you'll see that guy had to cut a "V" notch in his base for clearance. All the other specs are correct although you can make the bolt holes a tad smaller as well.

I recently found an old A/V stand in the dumpster at work so now my stand has gone "mobile". The addition of an angle iron outrigger to suspend the cam chain from and it's complete. Here's my buddy's motor on it right now .....

AMT82xs650 · Full Member Joined: Dec 22, 2007 Posts: 17

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm glad that you included a picture of your stand with an engine installed. I had envisioned the engine mounted with the front installed on the tall uprights. I couldn't figure out how that was gonna work.

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

5twins -- that's a mighty nice gizmo. Looks like you use it, too. Can you tell me (just curious) what does the 650 twin weigh when you get ready to stick it back in the bike?

kingwj · Posted: April 23, 2008, 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

It's a chunk but one person can put it in the frame. I'd estimate 100 pounds.

Retiredgentleman · Posted: April 23, 2008, 10:32 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

Mobile engine stand.............thats real handy..............what happened to your friends engine?

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

I think the motors weigh more like 150 lbs. They're pretty heavy and I prefer pulling or installing them with a helper. Even then, there's really nothing good to grab onto. To remedy that, I fabbed up some pipe "handles" that allow 2 of us to pick the motor up like a stretcher and wiggle it in or out of the frame. They work pretty slick.

y buddy's motor had the usual malady for these bikes - front cam chain guide going bad. It has a bit over 20K on it so we replaced the cam chain as well - it was pretty stretched out. It also got those VW elephant's foot valve adjuster screws and a port clean-up. Rings were in spec so they got re-used. Everything got thoroughly cleaned and de-carbonized. Valves were hand lapped in to cure minor leaks on the exhaust side. The intakes were done as well even though they didn't show any signs of leaking. When removed, there was minor pitting visible on the seats so they were lightly lapped to remove those.

xsjohn · Posted: April 24, 2008, 12:16 am Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

''''Huffin Motors'''''.....can totally relate to that.........xsjohn

jimmythetrucker · Full Member Joined: Mar 12, 2008 Posts: 1283

Really nice, 5twins. I see you made the handles long enough, not only to pick up the engine but to slide it sideways, out of the frame, before you run out of arm reach and HAVE to set it down. Nice. Well thought out.

Cooltouch · Posted: April 24, 2008, 9:22 am Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

5twins wrote:

I think the motors weigh more like 150 lbs. They're pretty heavy and I prefer pulling or installing them with a helper. Even then, there's really nothing good to grab onto. To remedy that, I fabbed up some pipe "handles" that allow 2 of us to pick the motor up like a stretcher and wiggle it in or out of the frame. They work pretty slick.

I'm seldom fortunate enough to have a helper, and I have a bad back, so lifting that heavy lump is out of the question. Here's how I do it. You'll need something sturdy overhead for this, though -- I used my carport's beams.

1st -- went to Harbor Freight and bought a cheap chain hoist. 2nd -- have a nylon braided tow strap.

Laid out a couple of collapsed cardboard boxes onto the floor, and then laid the bike on its side. (I'd alread loosened the engine bolts.) Removed the bolts. Wiggled the engine out of the chassis, then moved the chassis out of the way.

Then I wrapped the towing strap around the cylinder barrels so that it was pretty snug. Clipped the strap's hooks into the hoist, and hoisted away. I have a dolly that I can convert from a two-wheeler to a four wheel horizontal one, so I just lifted the motor up high enough to get it on the dolly. I transported the motor to my work table, used the hoist once again to get it up on the table, then bolted the motor down to the engine stand and tipped it upright.

To reinstall the motor, I'll reverse the above procedure. Nice thing about doing it this way is it does not strain my back, and I'm not dependent upon the whims or capabilities of a helper.

Best,

ichael

kingwj · Posted: April 24, 2008, 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

I like that. Make gravity your friend, not the enemy.

weekendrider · Posted: June 11, 2008, 11:23 pm Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

I like to keep mine on two wheels. In the frame and out. Wink

pumps · Posted: February 24, 2009, 12:40 am Post subject: Re: Engine Stand

All of you are very inventive . 5twins, if that is an old A/V cart that outrigger thing must be the......overhead projector! Wink

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