| Author | Message | |||
     Towpro |
Do you guys think this can be modified to safely work on our Ulys? Some day I am going to have to jack it up to change tires. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem. taf?itemnumber=2792-7VGA&Submit=Go | |||
| Ourdee |
Cut out a wooden cradle to fit your exhaust. then bolt it on the jack. then strap the cradle to the bike, and lift. Note: Check the jacks lifting capacity. Note: I always hook a safety strap from the bike to the rafter in my garage, just in case. | |||
| 88b |
I have two lifts like that and a bike table. I need to look into adapting one of my lifts to fit the Uly. as for lifting capacity mine lift my bagger with no problems so the Uly will be fine BTW that harbor Freight lift is rated at 1500 pounds (Message edited by 88b on December 12, 2009) | |||
| Oldnotbold |
I've never bolted the cradles to the lift. I just set them on the lift (carefully), jack until the muffler is on the cradles, level the bike and lift the rest up. I will use the safety straps after it's lifted, but you would be surprised at how steady it is. | |||
| Rwven |
With the X you can bolt the cradle to the jack but you have to leave them separated with the XT. | |||
| Cujo |
It absolutely will work. I have the same one and it works well. I just set the cradle on the jack and lift carefully. | |||
| Eulysses |
Talk to me about your cradles. How are you making them? | |||
| Portero72 |
Out of clay, duh........ oh, you said CRADLE.  | |||
| Oldnotbold |
Talk to me about your cradles. How are you making them? Take a look at this thread: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/356970.html It will show you the use of the cradles and at the end there is a link to a template (pdf) that you can print out. Dennis | |||
| Towpro |
Ok, so I got the idea of how to build and attach the cradles to the jack, but what stops the bike from rotating on the access point (the cradle) and falling over? I could build a system that goes up to the steel beams (it's a 2 floor garage) that holds the bars, but any better ideas that works off the ground? | |||
| Oldnotbold |
Ok, so I got the idea of how to build and attach the cradles to the jack, but what stops the bike from rotating on the access point (the cradle) and falling over? Don't worry so much (OK, I was also before the first time I used it). The bike was designed to be lifted by the muffler. If your cradle matches the muffler it's quite steady. I could build a system that goes up to the steel beams (it's a 2 floor garage) that holds the bars, but any better ideas that works off the ground? Just jack it up carefully and use the safety straps once it's up (if you're still worried about it). All of this assumes that you are using a Buell muffler. I have the Buell racing muffler and the jack points a slightly different from stock, but it works fine (the curve of the bottom is the same as stock). Dennis (Message edited by oldnotbold on December 12, 2009) | |||
| Towpro |
I guess I can try it. Problem is with Harbor Freight a lot of times when it goes on sale the stores don't have it in stock I was also thinking about how I could put some turnbuckles from the jack to the footpegs. I also have an idea on how to add the cradle to the jack so I can pull it off to use the jack on other bikes I might own  | |||
| Oldnotbold |
AFIK, it comes with safety straps, but if not it has the attachments for them. I don't have the cradles attached to my lift. I just set them on and jack away (see previous post). Sears sometimes has their's on sale at almost the same price as Harbor Freight. I bought my Craftsman at Sears. Dennis | |||
| Calamari_kid |
Ya might want to check out this lift from Craftsman. Craftsman jack It's a few extra bones, but better built in my experience. A couple buddies and I each got one of the HF jacks and all three lost pressure in the lift cylinder within six months. I picked up one of these as a replacement, and it's been going strong for four years now. YMMV | |||
| Buellerxt |
Is there any problem lifting the Uly without a cradle? What is the purpose of the cradle? Ths. | |||
| Motorbike |
I am using a Craftsman Motorcycle Jack with cradles that I built using the template found on this website. To secure the bike to the lift, I added some turnbuckles with steel rings that slip over the footpegs. After positioning the bike on the cradles, I just snug the turnbuckles very lightly by hand and the bike is perfectly secure. No tie-down straps are needed at all. I am at work right now but I will make an attempt to post pictures of this setup when I get home. I may need your help though with the pictures as I am computer illiterate! | |||
| Calamari_kid |
@Buellerxt- The cradle helps keep the bike upright. The curved surface of the exhaust on the flat lift surface can be a bit tippy. @Motorbike- That sounds intriguing. Looking forward to seeing pics of your setup. Info on how to post pics here (Message edited by calamari_kid on December 13, 2009) | |||
| Motorbike |
I know I promised you guys some pics but I just figured out how to post them. I will not have time to do this today as my wife and I are going to a Christmas party in a few minutes. I swear I will get the pics on by tomorrow night though. Sorry. | |||
| Eulysses |
Thanks for template! Anybody ever just made a plate to slide over the small plate on your floor jack (for cars etc) and use that to jack your bikes? I know we all like those new tools but my shop is pretty full! | |||
| Dio |
The issue may be a matter of how stable it would be when jacked up. The "footprint" on the bike lift jacks is nearly square compared to a regular floor jack. A fall could be expensive! | |||
| Towpro |
Dio is correct. I thought about making an attachment for my standard floor jack but I felt if I pulled one tire (front or rear), the weight change would cause the jack to fall over sideways. This jack looks pretty good. Of course I had to put it together a couple times to get the safety catch correct | |||
| Longdog_cymru |
Here's a template for a cradle. I think it may have been posted on here sometime ago, but here it is again........
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| Eulysses |
I went searching bike lifts last night and kept coming back to the $159 Craftsman. It is wider and lower...and would make a good tranny jack as it can come in from the side of a car...no upright element. Makes sense about using the car jack...they are narrow...bike would have to be centered well but when you pull the wheel...could tip to the other tire. Thinking that Craftsman is the one as far as pneumatics go...decent web evals. There are some other fork and swing arm manual...anybody use those? | |||
| Glenn |
+1 on the Craftsman jack I've had the Craftsman aluminum jack for about a year now and am real glad I bought it. It performs great and like you said, without the upright, storage is much more convenient. I keep it under a couch I have in the garage. I use the wooden cradle I made under the muffler and no straps, but probably should. It is very stable. | |||
| Buellerxt |
I like the looks of the Craftsman as well but I'm leery about pulling the trigger. I've read about bikes falling off lifts. I'm gettin' there but it's s-l-o-w! | |||
| Froggy |
Pair a Pitbull stands, no issues with falling, straps, etc. Can do 99% of what you need to do with them | |||
| Sperz1 |
I plan on buying the harbor freight stand as soon as the spare cash appears at my house. | |||
| Eulysses |
Froggy...you mean http://www.pit-bull.com/ with products bravely made in the USA, land of the controlled and regulated? A guy would need a front and rear to match the lift...so into it about 3 bills shipped. I think the lift would be useless in a rebuild (muffy off). But the rear stand would be good with the bike on a table. Time for a big lift then. | |||
| Froggy |
Yep got them from American Sport Bike. The muffler jack is useful if you need to remove something like the swingarm, but it tends to get in the way if you are dropping the motor. Different tools for different jobs. Also, it takes only seconds to prop up the bike with the stands and you would have to do something stupid to knock it over. I have had my XB on a stand since July and it hasn't fallen over yet. | |||
| Motorbike |
As promised, here are the pics of my Craftsman Motorcycle jack with Buell adapters. I use this even when washing the Uly and will store the bike on it all winter to save space. It is very stable. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have about this project. Thanks.             |
Exhaust Cradle Template