Ideas to lift a bike onto a high work stand

[plancashire]

I volunteer at a bike workshop where most of my colleagues are well into retirement. Some are not very strong or have back problems. We use maintenance stands which hold the bikes fairly high off the floor. Two people lift a bike up to a stand and fix it. If the only people in the workshop have weak backs they cannot do this. I am looking for ideas.

There are some constraints:

• We have many work stands and want to be able to lift to all or most of them, so a mobile solution would be best.

• We do not want another work stand that lifts; more something to lift to the existing stands.

• The ceiling is low-ish and we cannot fix into it. Low means that something big hanging will reduce lifting height and we will bump into it, so must be removable or could be rolled to the side.

• We could fix into the wall and install a rail, but one rail could not go over all work stand positions. Two might work OK.

• We do not want something electrically driven as it would complicate things too much.

• We do not have a huge budget, but I am not sure what it is!

• Something fixed to the floor would not be possible.

• We don't currently deal with e-bikes or cargo bikes but might in the future. These are heavy.

Ideas I have had, many half-formed:

• I found this topic but it does not contain any solutions for us: Lifting e bike to remove rear wheel.

• There are three mechanical principles that might work: ramp, lever and pulley.

• A rail with a manual block and tackle might work but only in one place or along the line of the rail.

• What about a ramp? We can buy these for steps (common in Germany) and for loading vehicles and bike racks. Some fold. We could build a supporting frame or even make our own ramp.

• Does a mobile lifting lever exist? I haven't found one. There are plenty that screw to the wall for lifting the front wheel only. A free-standing one could be unstable. From posts below, I now know about motor cranes.

• Why do maintenance stands have a telescopic main tube to adjust the height but no rack and pinion to drive it under load?

Has anyone solved this or a similar problem? Please throw in your thoughts. Some brainstorming and lateral thinking is needed here. All contributions welcome.

[Clarified slightly by request of JDSK on 4 November 2023.]

[Nearholmer]

Car engine lift?

Random example here https://automotechservices.co.uk/produc ... ine-crane/

You might be able to find a lighter one if you hunt.

[plancashire]

Car engine lift?

Random example here https://automotechservices.co.uk/produc ... ine-crane/

You might be able to find a lighter one if you hunt.

Great idea, thanks. A mate of mine where I grew up was the blacksmith's son. It was reputed that he could lift an engine out of a car. We were probably talking about Morris Minors, I never saw him do it.

Edited: yes, a 1t lift is available in red over here but otherwise very similar-looking: https://www.kaufland.de/product/357293564/. There's the 2t model lower down the page.

[Jdsk]

A motorbike scissor lift or similar.

A tilting A-frame on a wheeled base.

Something based on wire rigging that lifts the bike vertically and then allows it to run to the appropriate stand. (I used to store my Windcheetah over a car this way.)

Jonathan

[531colin]

A website called “Machine Mart” has motorcycle lifts, and car engine cranes. (Also car engine stands, but I don’t think the “stands” lift. )
No connection with the website except as a customer.

[plancashire]

A website called “Machine Mart” has motorcycle lifts, and car engine cranes. (Also car engine stands, but I don’t think the “stands” lift. )
No connection with the website except as a customer.

Thanks. The site has a useful organised collection of related bits to spark ideas. A workshop/engine crane is looking like a possible solution. I have seen prices ranging from 200€ to 4000€.

[plancashire]

A motorbike scissor lift or similar.

A tilting A-frame on a wheeled base.

Something based on wire rigging that lifts the bike vertically and then allows it to run to the appropriate stand. (I used to store my Windcheetah over a car this way.)

Jonathan

Thanks. The scissor lift is worth investigating. I'm less sure about heavy metal things flying around on wires. Jochen our safety rep might be concerned.

[Nearholmer]

Dispense with the workstands altogether, and fit mini chain hoists to the ceiling https://www.screwfix.com/p/hilka-pro-cr ... lsrc=aw.ds

Work on bikes dangling from hoists, tools on little trolleys.

[Nearholmer]

In fact, if you’re happy with bikes dangling, a simple hand pulley hoist would be very cheap - you can buy the bits to make one in a good hardware shop.

[cyclop]

I,ve only recently bought a decent workstand but ,as you say,my heavy(28-30lb) off roader is a heave and,even though I,m fairly strong for a 70yr old,old elbow injuries can rear their ugly head.Prior to this ,I,ve just tipped the bike upside down ,not ideal for longer jobs as the back is bent but ok for many tasks.One,simple option might be to employ this method but with some wooden blocks to raise the bike,maybe 12-18ins..Every bike has balance/pivot points on the fork and stay whereby,if you get it right,it can be flipped very easily onto the saddle/bars.In addition,after removing the front wheel,I flip the bike and the back end can be raised very easily,with much of the weight taken on the bars -fork dropouts,which would need a rag to protect them.I can then just rest the back end against any convenient post/wall or even a hook on the end of a piece of rope suspended of the ceiling.Drivetrain/rear wheel work can then be done in a more comfortable fashion.

[Carlton green]

I,ve only recently bought a decent workstand but ,as you say,my heavy(28-30lb) off roader is a heave and,even though I,m fairly strong for a 70yr old,old elbow injuries can rear their ugly head.

Prior to this ,I,ve just tipped the bike upside down ,not ideal for longer jobs as the back is bent but ok for many tasks.One,simple option might be to employ this method but with some wooden blocks to raise the bike,maybe 12-18ins.

I've two ways of working. One involves using a floor stand that sits on just the chain and seat stays at one side of the bike and the other sees the bike turned over and sat on wooden blocks (at handlebars and saddle). I match my height to the work by either sitting on a small stool or standing as best suits the task in hand.

As a small child my mum had a cloths airer that, via a rope and a couple pulleys, lifted a rack up to the ceiling. A similar mobile device, with suitable frame, could lift bikes up.

[PH]

Like Carlton, the mechanic at a long closed LBS used to do a lot of maintenance sat on a wheeled stool, they didn't need the bike very high, just enough for the wheels to clear the ground. If someone couldn't lift it that high, a ramp for one wheel would be enough, roll the bike up to the stand, clamp at an angle, remove ramp, level the bike. Even without a ramp, just lifting one wheel is a lot easier than the whole bike. It's probably possible to set the stand so the bike is still lowerable to the ground without a ramp or lifting.
As a novelty suggestion, something that acted like a barbers chair might work.

I've done a fair bit of manual handling, not related to bikes, the principals are the same, never lift something heavy as an entity if you can do so in segments, pivot points and leverage are always your friend.

[Nearholmer]

There are powered-lift professional bike stands, for instance https://norgrenbikestand.com/

The trouble is, they cost a lot of money.

[Brucey]

...

• What about a ramp? ....

you can buy ramps for DIY car servicing. They are easily extended [if necessary] for length using wood.
You can also get kits for suspending convertible hardtops which might be suitable.

[LittleGreyCat]

...

• What about a ramp? ....

you can buy ramps for DIY car servicing. They are easily extended [if necessary] for length using wood.
You can also get kits for suspending convertible hardtops which might be suitable.

Much as I was thinking.
Roll the bike up a car ramp and clamp it.
With a bit of juggling it can be rotated through 45 degrees, or just pull the ramp out of the way.
Then work sitting down (up thread suggestion for wheeled seat).