Supporting and lifting bike with headers

Hi,
I have a 78 kz650b with aftermarket headers/exhaust. The center stand has been removed and the exhaust runs under the motor/chassis. How can I support the bike to take the wheels off and/or change the oil and filter? Do I have to remove the exhaust? If I do remove the exhaust can I reuse the manifold gaskets? Im new to this site and this is my first KZ. Thanks for any help!

Let me just ask a few questions. Can you see the tangs underneath the bike where the center stand fits? Are they blocked from being able to put one on? LTDs don't have center stands but still have the place for them. And second do you still have the center stand? It isn't too hard or expensive to find one. I have a header on my bike too and I can still put a center stand on the bike although I don't keep it on but I use it to lift the bike with the center stand changing the oil. If you have to remove the header. I had to with my zr1100 to change the oil you can just remove the latter part thus not worrying about the gaskets. I would assume that if the header is any good you should be able to do this. I am sure you should have no problems with this. But.....

It might be easier/cheaper to spend maybe $60 on one of those floor lift devices that lift the frame from underneat. I see them for sale all the time.

:laugh:

Thanks saxjonz, I do have the tangs still. I'm going to try to find a center stand. As for removing the header, it looks like the muffler can be removed? Does that sound right?

chefrob78 wrote:

Hi,
I have a 78 kz650b with aftermarket headers/exhaust. The center stand has been removed and the exhaust runs under the motor/chassis. How can I support the bike to take the wheels off and/or change the oil and filter? Do I have to remove the exhaust? If I do remove the exhaust can I reuse the manifold gaskets? Im new to this site and this is my first KZ. Thanks for any help!

Hello, chefrob, and WELCOME to KZR!
We're glad you're here!

If can access the oil drain plug without removing exhaust, just prop bike upright while it drains.

Some exhaust systems must be removed to access the oil filter (bummer).

Whenever removing the exhaust system, I prefer replacing the copper o-ring gaskets with new ones, and not re-using the old ones or attempting to rehabilitate them by torching.

Many folks fit a temporary centerstand for maintenance chores, wheel removals, etc.

There are special stands to suspend the rear end for wheel removal.

Jack stands may also be used to suspend the rear end.

Also, a standard floor jack may be used while the bike is on the sidestand under the bike's rear right side to raise the bike's rear wheel off the floor. Whereby the bike is leaning supported at three points (jack, sidestand, and front wheel) allowing removal of the rear wheel.

Of course, during any of these maneuvers, be very careful to position things so everthing remains ultra-stable and nothing apt to slip out of place.

Good Luck!

bountyhunter wrote:

It might be easier/cheaper to spend maybe $60 on one of those floor lift devices that lift the frame from underneat. I see them for sale all the time.

Yes but...on my 79 I used one of those to take the wheels off and I had to remove my header completely.

The wheel chock thing that the racebikers use might be easier and about the same price to find. I have never used one before. I always use a center stand OEM. Try and see if you can take off the stuff without the necessity of removing the can if you can...:huh: anyway I think you will figure it out. I like using the center stand to change my oil that way I can let her drip dry before I put the clean stuff in it. Maybe that is a bit far but I figure the cleaner the better.

Seems to me I remember reading a thread about someone removing the gas tank and suspending the front of the bike with a strap around the backbone and a garage rafter. Maybe I dreamed it...:blink:

Oh, and both of my LTD's have centerstands...

PLUMMEN wrote:

:laugh:

lol.

got one of these (little girl not included)
got these for Christmas (not the bike)

Vter Bob wrote:

Seems to me I remember reading a thread about someone removing the gas tank and suspending the front of the bike with a strap around the backbone and a garage rafter. Maybe I dreamed it...:blink:

Oh, and both of my LTD's have centerstands...

What year is yours? I have a 79 that I bought with 5k miles when it was 7 years old and I asked what happened to the center stand and the guy said that he bought it new like that and the bike I bought from cali didn't have one either and it is an 80. I just figured they didn't come with them stock because they were the ltd models.
I had the center stand from my 76 and kept it but I don't think it fit well with the stock pipes or something. At any rate I just use it to prop the bike up when it's stored and to change the oil. It's a heavy piece to be on the bike IMO.
So the question is did these bikes come stock with them or without. Plummen dude?

my 81 has a center stand.

My 550 LTD is an 81 and my 1000 LTD is an 82.