Only took 52 years.

johnm

johnm

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So 52 years after buying my first bike at aged 15 I finally got my ideal workshop set-up.

Wish I'd got there a lot earlier but life got in the way of plan A and B .

But plan C is looking good.
 

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Where is everything - did you have to hide/sell/?? all your "stuff"?
Or is it all behind the camera? ;)
 
The tools pile.

Basically for 50 years I had my stuff spread over up to three different places.

Now it's together but needs sorting.
 

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Buying my lift table and sissor jack that fits and works so well with the lift table was the best thing I have brought for my workshop, when I went to buy the lift table I ended coming home with the lift table and a Viper Transmig weld as well, that was 4 years ago and both have had a good workout since, makes life so much easier on the old body, just wish I had one 40 years ago.

Ashley
 
AHHH! that new garage smell! Do you think it will stay that clean? Mine never did. Good job have fun in it!
 
What I did when I finished work was move about an hour out of Wellington. Fortunately just before the house prices went crazy again. The house has a small double garage attached and that's where I keep my special bikes, bike lift and clean engine work is done.

I also built a 50 m^2 outside garage workshop where the car and work bikes live. Plus welding lath etc. So I'm hoping the house "ensuite" garage will stay clean.

Both garages are lined and painted with very good lighting. I also built a small garden shed so gardening tools, oil petrol paint etc, lawnmower, ladders, spare timber and all are stored separately and away from the house.

But I have to confess on any day when it isn't raining I'm actually in the garden fixing the mess the previous owners left. I'm planting roses and repairing pagolas trellises etc.

I'll get there but I think retirement at 52 as a friend down the road did is a better plan. He grows his own food and lives on almost nothing. You can get a lot done at 52 and it gets harder as you approach 70.

I spent half a day on the chainsaw cutting firewood two days ago and I can feel it.
 
johnm said:
I'll get there but I think retirement at 52 as a friend down the road did is a better plan. He grows his own food and lives on almost nothing. You can get a lot done at 52 and it gets harder as you approach 70.
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I keep trying to get my wife to let me retire to the state to which she has become accustomed.

Something about her income...
 
52 and retired is a dream and moreso in the days to come. I retired at 62 and could have make a good bump up in my savings if I had stayed longer but "You can always make more money but you can never make more time"...keep that in mind, I did and am very glad of it.
And never let domestic chores extend past noon. Time in the shed or on the road is what you have worked for.
 
ashman said:
Buying my lift table and sissor jack that fits and works so well with the lift table was the best thing I have brought for my workshop, when I went to buy the lift table I ended coming home with the lift table and a Viper Transmig weld as well, that was 4 years ago and both have had a good workout since, makes life so much easier on the old body, just wish I had one 40 years ago.

Ashley
Click to expand...
What lift did you buy Ash? (...and where from?)
 
I will give you a call tomorrow Rob, its the same table as John's in his pic, you missed the mid year sale when I got mine from Hare and Forbs here in Brissy.
 
ashman said:
I will give you a call tomorrow Rob, its the same table as John's in his pic, you missed the mid year sale when I got mine from Hare and Forbs here in Brissy.
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Mine came from Machinery House in nz but they are in Ozzie too so I guess they will sell the same. I got it on a sale at $670 nz. Ordered it a while ago and was about 6 weeks on back order. I went with Machinery House because they are a known company here and have decent stuff.

There is a huge range in price and presumably quality on lifts. I have seen fancy ones over $3000.

This one is right at the cheap end. Will still lift 450 kg which is way enough for me. Chinese made with the normal roughish finish for that price. Only minor irritant is the handle to close the front wheel clamp hits the screw down floor locking post by a few mm when the bed is at the lowered position. A bit of filing of the plastic handle fixed it.

The table does not have a removable plate beneath the rear wheel but this option seems to be only on the lifts costing in the $1500 range in NZ.

The table is not overly long but as you can see in the photo plenty for a Commando. A huge cruiser might have an issue maybe.

But I'm happy and looking forward to years of use.

Given I live in NZ and am earthquake conscious I also plan to instal a hook from the ceiling that will act as a fall restraint.
 
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When you use the lift table and is in the raised position always use the locking bar and pins and lower it to the locking bar to take the pressure off the jack pump, I have had a few friends who have used these tables without using the locking bar and after some time the pump fails, has lost pressure and blown seals in the pump, so if you want long life out of the pump always use the locking bar and take the pressure off the pump.
 
ashman said:
When you use the lift table and is in the raised position always use the locking bar and pins and lower it to the locking bar to take the pressure off the jack pump, I have had a few friends who have used these tables without using the locking bar and after some time the pump fails, has lost pressure and blown seals in the pump, so if you want long life out of the pump always use the locking bar and take the pressure off the pump.
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Thanks for that info. I was using the locking bar but did not take the pressure off the jack.

Your advice is very sensible and I shall go do that right now.

Cheers John
 
I have the same MH table that is about 5 years old now. Very good value, and when I bought it it was ~$450 NZ. Best part ever for the rebuild I did and I dont regret it for a second. Mine has a cheesy smallish round wheel crank on it - yours looks better with more leverage.

You do need to use the locking bar, I didnt at the start and now regret it. Dont rely on the the pin, as I used it once without the bar and it bent the roller axle and I havent been bothered to take it apart.

A couple other things that help - a small quick grip bar clamp across the top-front of the wheel chock helps keep the front wheel more secure. I always put ratchet straps on the handlebars to the lift deck, just tight enough to barely compress the forks. This helps greatly when wrenching.

Always lower it when done for the day. I always left mine up, but better safe than sorry. You would need a beefy hook into a big beam. A ceiling joist wont really do much with a hook in a quake.
 
gortnipper said:
I have the same MH table that is about 5 years old now. Very good value, and when I bought it it was ~$450 NZ. Best part ever for the rebuild I did and I dont regret it for a second. Mine has a cheesy smallish round wheel crank on it - yours looks better with more leverage.

You do need to use the locking bar, I didnt at the start and now regret it. Dont rely on the the pin, as I used it once without the bar and it bent the roller axle and I havent been bothered to take it apart.

A couple other things that help - a small quick grip bar clamp across the top-front of the wheel chock helps keep the front wheel more secure. I always put ratchet straps on the handlebars to the lift deck, just tight enough to barely compress the forks. This helps greatly when wrenching.

Always lower it when done for the day. I always left mine up, but better safe than sorry. You would need a beefy hook into a big beam. A ceiling joist wont really do much with a hook in a quake.
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All very helpful advice thanks.

The handles are OK. What you get for the price. If I have any issues I can fit something more substantial.

I can get up in my roof so I will put a heavy cross beam across the joists and hang off that. It will also be useful for lifting.

Thanks for all the help.

Cheers John
 
ashman said:
Buying my lift table and sissor jack that fits and works so well with the lift table was the best thing I have brought for my workshop, when I went to buy the lift table I ended coming home with the lift table and a Viper Transmig weld as well, that was 4 years ago and both have had a good workout since, makes life so much easier on the old body, just wish I had one 40 years ago.

Ashley
Click to expand...
Which brand & model of lift table did you buy Ash?
I'm currently looking at a Tufflift electric one
 
robs ss said:
Which brand & model of lift table did you buy Ash?
I'm currently looking at a Tufflift electric one
Click to expand...
Just a cheap Chinese one Rob, it was on special at Hare and Forbs Machinery House and just under $500 at the time but that was 4 years ago they still sell them but think they are over $600 now, the real good ones are up and over $1500 and delivery is also expensive as they are very heavy, mine was loaded on my Land Rove with a forklift and when home I had my very big fridge trolly to get it up the back to the shed, it comes in a wooden crate.
For home use its all I need and if used right will give good service life, but if you have the tools and time be easy to build one.


Only took 52 years.

It has a ramp but I take it off when the bike is on it.

Ashley
 
ashman said:
Just a cheap Chinese one Rob, it was on special at Hare and Forbs Machinery House and just under $500 at the time but that was 4 years ago they still sell them but think they are over $600 now, the real good ones are up and over $1500 ...., but if you have the tools and time be easy to build one.

Ashley
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Thanks Ash - I'm looking at an electric/hydraulic one at the moment - but, I'll let you know how I go!
Cheers
 
Well, @johnm gave me the push I needed, I've ordered a manual hydraulic one.
2000 x 750mm, 160 to 780mm lift, easy wheel clamp and removable ramp and rear wheel change opening.

A question for other forum members - has anyone fitted an electric hydraulic power pack to their lift? I see on ebay
you can buy a 220V, 10L, 4.5L/min, 3000psi wall mounted pack.
Is this a good or bad idea?

Cheers
 

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