Alright, folks, gather ’round. Today, I’m gonna share a little project I tackled recently – building a motorcycle scissor jack. Yeah, you heard that right. I needed a way to lift up my bike for maintenance, and those store-bought ones can be pricey. So, what’s a guy to do? Roll up his sleeves and get to work, that’s what!
Getting Started
First things first, I needed a plan. I’m no engineer, but I figured I could put something together with a little ingenuity. I started by looking up some examples online, just to get an idea of what I was dealing with. There are a bunch of different designs out there, but I wanted something simple and sturdy. After browsing through countless images and videos I found online, I sketched out a basic design on a piece of paper, nothing fancy, just something to guide me.
Gathering Supplies
Next up, I took inventory of what I had lying around the garage. I found some scrap metal, mostly square tubing and some flat pieces. I also had an old scissor jack from a car, the kind you use to change a tire. It wasn’t in great shape, but I figured I could salvage the screw mechanism. For the rest, I made a quick trip to the local hardware store. I picked up some bolts, nuts, washers, and a few other odds and ends I thought I might need.
Cutting and Welding
With all my supplies gathered, it was time to get down to business. I started by cutting the metal tubing to the lengths I needed. I used a simple hacksaw, but if you’ve got a fancy metal saw, go for it. Once the pieces were cut, I started welding them together. Now, I’m no expert welder, but I’ve dabbled a bit over the years. I used my trusty old stick welder and just took my time, making sure each joint was solid. It wasn’t pretty, but it was strong.
Assembling the Jack
After the welding was done, I moved on to assembling the jack. I took the screw mechanism from the old car jack and attached it to my newly welded frame. This was the trickiest part, as I had to make sure everything lined up just right. I used some of those bolts and nuts I bought to secure the screw mechanism, and after a bit of tinkering, it seemed to be working smoothly. I added some support pieces to the frame to make sure it wouldn’t buckle under the weight of the bike.
Testing It Out
Finally, the moment of truth. I wheeled my motorcycle over to the jack and positioned it carefully. With a deep breath, I started turning the screw, and slowly but surely, the jack began to lift the bike. It was a bit wobbly at first, but as it got higher, it became more stable. Success! I had actually built a working motorcycle scissor jack. I gave it a good test, lifting the bike up and down a few times to make sure everything was holding up.
Final Touches
With the jack working, I added a few finishing touches. I gave the whole thing a quick coat of paint to prevent rust, and I added some rubber pads to the top of the jack to protect the bike’s frame. I also made a simple handle for the screw mechanism to make it easier to turn.
And there you have it, folks. That’s how I built my own motorcycle scissor jack. It wasn’t easy, but it was definitely rewarding. I saved myself some money, and I got the satisfaction of building something with my own two hands. Now, whenever I need to work on my bike, I’ve got a reliable jack to help me out. Not bad for a weekend project, eh?
Now this is how I did it, you can make adjustments to fit your needs.
- Safety First: Make sure your welds are strong and your jack is stable before lifting your bike.
- Customize: Feel free to modify the design to fit your specific bike and needs.
- Take Your Time: Don’t rush the process. Double-check your measurements and welds.
- Have Fun: Building things can be a real blast, so enjoy the process!
So, if you’re looking for a fun and practical project, give this a try. You might surprise yourself with what you can create. And remember, if I can do it, you can too!
