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Posted by John Hopkins
- October 29, 2013, 11:30:19 AMI don't know what your chances are of getting one but you can convert an old hospital bed to a hydrolic lift.
I got a free one from my local hospital because they upgraded theirs.
You said you like to build things and there are plenty of instructions on youtube.
John.
Posted by DC
- October 29, 2013, 07:42:30 AMQuote from: DC on March 02, 2013, 06:53:24 AMWell, I did end up going with the Harbor Freight lift.I think that's the Harbor Freight one. I looked at that several weeks ago. What I hear from others is that the bike won't lift perfectly level to the ground. Meaning, the lift arms have a bit of sag and the bike will be leaning to the outer side of the stand. The other thing I heard is that it's a little wobbly, but it works okay. Some people have added extra bushing/washers/spacers, etc. to take the slop out of the fittings. Bear in mind you will have unrestricted access to the bike only on one side. You also have to consider the distance between the lift arms and if they are properly spaced will to fit under and lift a Drifter. I don't know. Maybe someone here has one and can give us some first hand info and experience.
For the price, you are about $100 shy of the sale price of the lift table. But consider which will work better for your specific needs.
The guy at Harbor Freight told me to wait until the first or second week of March to buy anything big-ticket, as they will be having a killer sale then.
It suits my needs well, doesn't take up much space, and I got a great deal on it, with it being on sale and applying the 20% coupon. Out the door for less than $150.
I have to say, they could have done a better job in cleaning off the media blast material. Lots of loose shot in the box. HA! But after cleaning that up, you have yourself a pretty nice lift. I used it for the oil change some months ago, and it worked fine. Yes, it's a lot of weight being suspended, and there's a bit of swaying going on, but the lift can handle it. There are some vids on Youtube of people using it. Remember, support the back tire if removing the front tire, and vice versa, just for added stability and weight distribution. The adapter I got on FleaBay worked just fine with the lift.
There's some assembly required, but nothing earth-shattering. You do have to fill the lift cylinder with hydraulic fluid, before using it. Naturally, I got more fluid on me than in the cylinder. There are also some of those "C" clips that have to be installed to hold things in place. . . you know the ones that go flying off the C clip tool. To this day, there are probably still two or three of them orbiting the earth from when I was trying to put the stand together. I had to go and buy more locally, since some of them were "launched" during assembly.
I'm really glad I got this unit. A table would have been nice, but you still need a separate lift, if you plan to remove either wheel. I looked at tables and after pricing the separate lift into the equation, it just made more sense to go with the HF lift at this point in time, and save the difference for other things.
Posted by Drift1
- October 27, 2013, 14:02:17 PMGreenbarn I just use the floor jack I purchased last year , similar to the one ratman uses . It would be nice to have the table type , but the floor jack suites me just fine for the time being . With all the costly upgrades this winter I'm going to hold off on a lift . I'm interested in the replies on the " must haves " though , concerning the table lift . Keep us posted .
Posted by CDNRatMan
- October 27, 2013, 13:04:56 PMOk I too would like on but the living room is too small for a decent table, but if you can build a nice one with wheels on it so I cam move it around does not need to go very high only up about 24" so I can sit comfortable in my roller chair that is acceptable, in red would be nice. also needs to be able to be man handled through a normal house door ..32" wide. I have a Birthday coming in the new year and that would be an awesome gift from you to me......thanks buddy
Posted by greenbarn
- October 27, 2013, 11:59:50 AMOK it's been almost a year since this topic has been discussed. How about an update. I still don't have a lift table, but would like very much to have one by spring. I found plans to build one, and it looks simple, and would be somewhere around $300 in materials. I like to build stuff so that may be fine. However, the plans don't have any drop-out panels, so those would need to fabricated as well, IMO.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121200926731?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
SO how many of you now have a lift table, and what are the features you think are "must have", and what features do you wish you had, maybe that you don't have?? There are numerous manufactured units available "somewhat" locally, ranging from $429 (harbor freight) to as much as you want- over $1500. Several REAL NICE tables are around $800, namely Titan, and ProCycle DT.
Rear Drop panel - this seems like it would be really handy. - available on most $800 models
Front Drop Panel - does anybody have this on your table? Do you need it? Wish you had it??
Wheel Clamp- looks like a GOOD clamp is really important - standard on Titan, extra on some, have to purchase or design on DIY
Wheels on unit- at minimum I want to be able to move this thing inside or outside easily w/o a forklift. Does anybody out there have wheels where they can move the unit around after the bike is on it? Do you need it?
Side Panels/extensions - this would be great to make the table a little for lots of things - quad, mower, putting cab mounts on the cab of my 66 F250, etc. Anybody have side-panels? Use them? need them??
SO WHO HAS a new lift table they want to share the details on? Looks like Chief got one. Drift1 find anything? DC?
Posted by Drift1
- March 21, 2013, 04:47:23 AMI like that one my friend.I'm sure Aidan and I could work out some type of rent agreement.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- March 20, 2013, 20:35:32 PMI'll build Aidan a garage for his Drifter and if he wants to rent you space so be it......lol
Posted by Drift1
- March 20, 2013, 19:17:27 PMThat's the same thing that steered me away from the table lift.It just takes up to much room.Like Ratman I just used my modified jack from Harbor Freight,unfortunately I didn't have one of those fancy tractor seats(dual purpose 
)I might add.Soon as my good buddie wins that lotto,maybe he'll buy an extra lift and leave me space in that big garage so I can use his toolbox as well.
Posted by CDNRatMan
- March 20, 2013, 17:40:26 PMwell my modified Canadian Tire motorcycle jack and Ikea tractor roller stool worked out really good in the living room, and very comfortable to be working in the house rather then the small shed, perhaps after I win the lottery and move to BC or Indiana I'll buy a house with a garage.....then put in a lift, and all.
Posted by greenbarn
- March 20, 2013, 16:35:34 PMI'm drooling... over the table (the bike is nice too, but I have one of those)....
I have a local guy who wants $250 for a used table. I think I might go look at it. My biggest problem is what to do with it when we're not using it - I hate to think of it taking up all that space, and don't like the idea of having to move it out of the way, either.
Posted by KEN.
- March 19, 2013, 23:46:25 PMJust yesterday I had my Dixon zero turn on the lift.....so nice to be able to sit on a chair to work on it....I guess it would depend on the width of the wheels more than anything.....Like I have said once you get one you will be saying why didn't I do this before!.....KEN.
Posted by DC
- March 18, 2013, 06:47:11 AMA friend of mine also has a Hustler. Great machines! 
Posted by greenbarn
- March 15, 2013, 12:05:44 PMKen do you think you could easily lift the front of a zero-turn mower? That's another possible use I would have. like the one in the pic.
One of the advantages (for me) of the other lift is that I think it would easily be used to lift up mowers to service the blades. My son has a landscaping business, and we're all the time lifting up a mower and cleaning/sharpening...
Posted by KEN.
- March 15, 2013, 09:31:38 AMThe beauty of a lift table is......you can use it for more than just a M/C lift,....I use mine for
lots of things...hey its an adjustable table a multi use table at that!...Once you have one you'll wonder how you got along without it....KEN.
Posted by chief
- March 02, 2013, 20:56:24 PMNope, too many other projects took up the funds. I am looking again - but also looking at getting my reloading bench upgraded...