Bike hoist?

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Triple

I used a 1,600-pound test ratchet strap as a lanyard while working on my roof this spring. The latch failed and I slid off the house, tearing the ACL, MCL, and patellar tendon in my left knee when I hit the ground. I'd been using it for days without incident when it gave out.

I'll use a ratchet strap to tie something down, but that was the last time I use one to suspend anything of value.

What gave on it? Did the strap break or did the ratchet let go?

Generally, the force to tie something down isn't much different than that of holding something up...

[derf]

Originally Posted by Rangerscott

Chains go scratchy scratchy.

Was thinking the same thing

Originally Posted by Cutty72

What gave on it? Did the strap break or did the ratchet let go?

Generally, the force to tie something down isn't much different than that of holding something up...

Yep but a lack of force could cause the strap to slip. From what he said the latch broke, but did the wheel spin freely, or did the return springs fail? Or was there a lack of tension on the strap and it slid free? Those ratchet straps rely on multiple tension wraps around the cylinder of the strap against itself for strength. The tighter the strap is tied down, the more tension teh strap places on itself

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

What gave on it? Did the strap break or did the ratchet let go?

Generally, the force to tie something down isn't much different than that of holding something up...

Yea no offense but he obviously did something wrong or they were crappy straps. I've run small cranes and Pettobones lifting items that weighed up to 10,000 lbs and I've honestly never seen a strap break. I'm not saying that it's impossible but breaking over a 400lb bike seems improbable at best.

[Cutty72]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

Yea no offense but he obviously did something wrong or they were crappy straps. I've run small cranes and Pettobones lifting items that weighed up to 10,000 lbs and I've honestly never seen a strap break. I'm not saying that it's impossible but breaking over a 400lb bike seems improbable at best.

That's why I'm asking...

[derf]

Originally Posted by Amber Lamps

Yea no offense but he obviously did something wrong or they were crappy straps. I've run small cranes and Pettobones lifting items that weighed up to 10,000 lbs and I've honestly never seen a strap break. I'm not saying that it's impossible but breaking over a 400lb bike seems improbable at best.

I got some straps on their way to breaking, I marked them and wont use them for anything important, like tying down a bike, but I will use them for holding stuff down in the back of my truck.

Generally after a few years of use and neglect the ratchets become beat up and the straps start to develop tears and frays that make them pretty much worthless.

Its very possible that they were damaged before use

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by derf

I got some straps on their way to breaking, I marked them and wont use them for anything important, like tying down a bike, but I will use them for holding stuff down in the back of my truck.

Generally after a few years of use and neglect the ratchets become beat up and the straps start to develop tears and frays that make them pretty much worthless.

Its very possible that they were damaged before use

Yea I'm thinking broken/fail as in they were new or in good condition not...

[Triple]

Originally Posted by Cutty72

What gave on it? Did the strap break or did the ratchet let go?

Something in the ratcheting/locking mechanism let go. The strap itself was fine. There was tension on the strap at all times; somehow, after three days of being in the same position, it unwound in an instant and down I went. Inspection of the strap after the fall didn't reveal any defects.

It wasn't attached directly to me; I was using it to pin a ladder to the steep incline of my roof. Perhaps me moving up and down the ladder was enough to jostle the strap loose over time. When it let go, there was no warning, and the ladder and I slid off the house like a rollercoaster.

This was one failure among thousands of times I've used ratchet straps without incident. It only takes one, however, to totally fuck up your life (or your bike), so now I just don't take the chance.

[Amber Lamps]

Originally Posted by Triple

Something in the ratcheting/locking mechanism let go. The strap itself was fine. There was tension on the strap at all times; somehow, after three days of being in the same position, it unwound in an instant and down I went. Inspection of the strap after the fall didn't reveal any defects.

It wasn't attached directly to me; I was using it to pin a ladder to the steep incline of my roof. Perhaps me moving up and down the ladder was enough to jostle the strap loose over time. When it let go, there was no warning, and the ladder and I slid off the house like a rollercoaster.

This was one failure among thousands of times I've used ratchet straps without incident. It only takes one, however, to totally fuck up your life (or your bike), so now I just don't take the chance.

I normally tie a "knot" just behind the ratchet just in case personally...

[Kerry_129]

Speaking of ridiculous overkill when hangin yer shit - I grabbed a pair similar to these on closeout @ Northern Tool:

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-4-qua...ist-96482.html

I saw they have a heavier (but less slick, w/o the ratchet-lever operation) one on sale for much cheaper:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-ton-chain-hoist-996.html


I used a ~3ft. 2x2x1/4" wall tube w/ 4x 3/8" threaded rods & a couple pieces of scrap plate to straddle a pair of the 2x10s in my old garage. Oh - and forged 1/2" eyebolts instead of the bent/un-welded ones, like Hay-Zoos said. Silly overkill, but free materials & it was a pristine ZX-11 getting strung-up.



The cheapies you find @ Lowes/Home Depot will withstand a bunch more if you can tack-weld the end (that can backfire though if done too hot, making them weaker instead) & are *probably* fine for that purpose (3/8" ones anyway, doubled-up) - but I'd just stay away from them.
Same deal with ratchet straps, which *probably* will hold fine - even if heavy & fine for the load, they can still be a pain + a hazard getting the bike back down. I used a pair in the pic a couple times before finding the small hoists, but never liked them even though heavy decent ones. And ditto on tying a little 'insurance' knot with both ratchet & friction straps - when hauling as well.


One very important point - if you're suspending the front w/ the rear on a stand, be mindful of the alignment & have it centered well so it doesn't tend to swing. It can rock off the stand fairly easily, and a little angle will allow it to do so much more easily. Some zip-ties, safety wire, straps etc. securing the stand to the spool/swingarm on both sides is cheap insurance too.


Triple - Bummer & OUCH, that had to be a lousy oh-shit moment!

[Gas Man]

Honestly.. I wouldn't have the reason to hoist.

Why not just jack it up?






If you say sportbike... I have been waiting for Mud to come over with his for a couple years now... but he's too damn lazy.