Oh, no! Not more lift pictures.

[John Ranalletta]

A couple of guys at START asked about the lift; so, here's the last chapter: Unsatisfied with the wheel clamp, I built a new one using a lead screw instead of threaded rod (thanks @Joe Frickin' Friday) riding in a bronze bushing.  In the first edition, there was a lot of side2side slop when extending the clamp.  This edition employs a receiver hitch tube which is almost exactly 1.25" square internally with .25" tube wall thickness, so the extended piece (1.25" external) fits very snugly eliminating play.  It's rock solid.

 

Unless it breaks 🤞, it's done.

 

 

 

[John Ranalletta]

17 hours ago, TEWKS said:

Nice looking, John.  Curious and it’s just for fun, but how much would you have to price that (to make an acceptable profit) if building them to sell? 
 

PS… I have no idea what the store bought units go for. 

The Handy 1200 that this is modeled after starts at $1.6k.  Add a $272 wheel clamp and another $1k for extensions, shipping etc.  My wheel clamp material cost was under $75 and the 9" extensions cost $252/pair unpainted.  The lift top was ca. $250.  The bag was $140.  Foot pedal $60.  Including 9" extensions a side, my lift is 47" wide making it easy and safe to ride on/ride off. I've probably got $1k in this one not including shop supplies, welding gas, welding rod, misc parts & pieces. Selling lifts requires welding by a certified welder to get liability insurance and both would be expensive. 

 

There's no way to compete with Handy on price.  They use more expensive components and features like the drop out panel, grease zerks on pivot points, etc. that I didn't.  It's just a better built lift all 'round. Handy has a labor advantage vs. hand built.  They can buy, cut, machine, bend and weld with little labor input cheaper than hand built. 
 

@Boxflyer alerted me to two potential problems with this design.  First putting the bike on the center stand can unbalance the lift and the center stand feet can dent the lift's surface.  Brad welded in a support lattice under the center stand area and extended the wheel clamp forward so the m/c is further forward b4 hauling it rearward on the center stand.

 

https://dayton.craigslist.org/mpo/d/dayton-handy-motorcycle-table-lift/7738384224.html

The only reason I did this was to get out of the condo and into the garage last winter and to challenge myself.  As I wrote earlier, it was cheaper than psychotherapy for cabin fever.

[MikeB60]

Looks good

[John Ranalletta]

Looks like No Mar's going after Handy with the same air spring tech, but their prices don't make it seem like a serious effort.

 

[taylor1]

I'm just going to wait until the Ranalift goes into production  

[John Ranalletta]

5 minutes ago, Rougarou said:

If I ever got a motorcycle lift, I'd have to do something like this.

 

 

but I really dig this.

 

 

 

 

 

Motorad lift is way cool.  Looks like lead screw driven. I thought about doing the recessed thing because the garage floor needs refinishing anyway; however, I think it'd be a hassle during the winter if road salt/water pooled in the pit and it'd be too expensive to install with a drain.  You guys wouldn't have that problem.