Motorcycle Jack

[Loopygoirish]

Thanks for the tip Terry. Greatly appreciated.

[tmassey]

i use the craftsman jack with 2x4 zip tied to the frame...works great.

terry

[Loopygoirish]

I am glad to come across this topic. I was wondering all the same about the oil pan sitting lower. I was thinking of some kind of wood cribbing to hit the frame rails as the pressure point and not the oil pan.

Loopygoirish
99' Drifter 1500

[chief]

Just saw a lift table with drop away rear... 499 at harbor freight... I really may get that one... not sure how to sneak it into the garage though!

[VN1500]

Oil changs & such I usually do on my ride-on style lift table.

When I want both wheels free,.I use a Craftsman aluminum frame jack,. but run the front tire up on a 2x4 to get the jack in place under the motorcycle. BTW my Drifter is lower than my Nomad??

Ron

[chief]

I had to remove the angle pads from the arms and screw the arms to their lowest level to get it to fit under the bike... but then you can adjust the arms to match the frame... there is wiring under there you don't want to damage.  Larin makes this one or one like it... got this one at Sam's I believe.

[plevine1]

I've never needed one for an oil change... but bought this one from Sam's Club 6 or 8 years ago. I had to take the pads off the arms for it to fit... I think a lower profile would be better, but haven't really found anything I want to spend a lot of money on... so I keep using this one. Works fine.

WOW, that's nice. I never saw one like that. I would be able to adjust the lift's arms to the frame using that model. I'll need to do some internet searching to find something similar. I was thinking of using two 2x4 boards directly under the frame. This would prevent the lift pads from hitting the oil pan.

[chief]

I've never needed one for an oil change... but bought this one from Sam's Club 6 or 8 years ago. I had to take the pads off the arms for it to fit... I think a lower profile would be better, but haven't really found anything I want to spend a lot of money on... so I keep using this one. Works fine.

[Troll]

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask....The "oil pan" which is actually the lower portion of the engine case, sits below the frame. I have a frame lift I used for years with all my H-Ds, and it hits the engine case on the drifter. I bought a scissors type motorcycle jack, and shortened the extensions on it by about 3/4 inch, so it fits under the front of the frame, right by the foot boards. I use the tire changing scissors jack from my Oldsmobile to raise the rear off the ground after I have the front up. The service manual indicates you raise the rear with a jack and then put another jack under the engine case to raise the front, but the idea of using the aluminum engine case as a jack point just makes my skin crawl.

[plevine1]

I hate asking REAL stupid questions but.......

I never needed a jack when I work on my Harley as the bike is higher then my Drifter. After doing my first oil change this weekend I realized that life will require a jack. The bike sits much lower.

Are there any special concerns or things I need to know when lifting the bike with a jack?

Thanks