Modern Vespa

I wanted to build a table lift / stand that is not expensive and take almost no space in my garage when not in use. I looked on the net and found this one: http://www.eurospares.com/bikestnd.htm
It is cheap to build but not compact, so I modified the plans to use cross halving joints (http://www.technologystudent.com/joints/crsh1.htm) for the supporting box. Will make a wheel chock later as here: http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic8548?highlight=wheel+chock
Happy with the result, was easy to change oil on it.
Cheers.

Nicely done, I like the way it can be dismantled and stored out of the way. How do you get the scooter onto it? Do you push it up or drive it up?

I pushed it up. Some care is required. Once it is up, the top board went horizontal and the end board closed into the boxed supporting position. It is better to have a second person around, of course, but I managed to do it alone just fine.

Neat idea, well done, the increased height certainly makes working on the scooter less of a chore.


Small point though - in the close up photo of the hinge (photo 7) why did you not just fit the hinge the other way around with the round bit away from the corner? Most standard hinges will fold back on themselves so I can't see a negative for the change.

Similarly on the ramp hinge, you could use a piano hinge underneath over the entire width fitted in the same way. I appreciate that this would load the hinge in compression with the ramp up but you could affix a suitable stay if you doubted the strength of the hinge.

Hopefully you'll find my comments useful & constructive (pun intended)? Thanks for bringing your design to the forum, it's a great idea.

Thank you, Ninemeister. You are correct about the photo #7 and I indeed turned them around as I disassembled the table - it did not fold correctly otherwise
For the ramp hinge I just did not want to drive to the store again to get better hinges and these were not to be trusted with the weight of a scooter, hence I did it this way.
Thank you for your comments again!

Very nice!!! One question though...how did you get your garage so clean??? Also, your cocker looks a lot like mine, except yours appears more calm.... Thanks for posting this....gives me a new plan to try!

Pushed it up yourself, OK. how'd you get the bike stand down, and the dismount from the bike stand and the wooden stand ? Thanks

The top platform is wide enough for me to stand on next to the scoot. I took it off the center stand and just kicked the end board off the vertical supporting position. I guess it's a balancing act when you do it alone and the second person could be handy. Standing next to the scooter, moved it a little back and the boards tilted into the ramp position. I was just holding scoot steady while coming back down.

Nicely done. As an ongoing refinement, a 2"x3" "rib" could be screwed and glued to the underside length of the main sheet to reinforce it and keep it from flexing.

Would require a corresponding notch in the center and forward upright, and would make a "bit" bulkier to store, but would also make a bit sturdier.

Just a thought...a nice project in any event! You'll never work on the "floor" again!

I do not believe that I would be able to push and balance my GT 200 up a ramp that steep.
Just too heavy.

sorry - an accident waiting to happen.....

I agree if only one person is doing it but definitely ok with two.

is that how you got the ding in the first piccy

Put the rib on the TOP of the main sheet. That will avoid the cutouts and stop tools from rolling off the edge.

Alternatively, fit a rib to the sides of the top sheet.

Yikes. Putting in wood screws at an angle because they are too long for the thickness of the plywood? Seems like a job for countersink nuts or T-nuts.

Those used to be called "Sex Bolts".

Oh thank goodness they still are!

https://www.mcmaster.com/sex-bolts/