Using a lift on a sofetail
Club Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: Idaho Falls
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
Yes, get the frame protectors. They are orange semi-hard plastic and cushion the frame to allow the shocks to clear the lift. About $15 and well worth it. See this link: http://www.harley-davidson.com/gma/g...bmLocale=en_US
Banned
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 17,265
Likes: 21
From: Los Angeles, CA
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
Never needed anything but my lift. Here is how I do it. I slide the lift under from the rght side (the side you fill the oil on). If it hits a point where it will not roll under the bike any further I grab the right handgrip AND THE BRAKE. I pull the bike off the jiffy stand but make sure to leave the stand down. Very Important to leave the stand down. While the bike is balanced off the stand I slide the rest of the jack under the bike and then start pumping it up with my foot. Works great for me. I can do it with one person every time. I have also found that if I let the jack compress completely when lowering the bike I usually don't need to pull the bike off the jiffy to get the jack underneath it. I have the harbor freight yellow jack. t is quite simple once you get used to it.
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 97
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
I generally keep my bike up on the lift. I had one bikestolen out of the garage once and anything I can do to slow them down by even a second or maybe make just a little bit of noise while they try to make off with it is a good thing in my opnion.
My lift is the heavy red steelone from Sears not the yellow aluminum one. I usually rollthe liftunder the bike as far forward as possible with the jiffy stand down, then while sitting on the bike and holding it upright I simply roll the bike forward until the frame and the lift's arms contact and then I hit the foot pedal. My bike is a Deuce and its lowered in the rear - 1.75" at the moment. I don't have any problems at all with the lift fitting under the bike and the lift comes standard with protectors on the arms. Forwhatever its worth the bike balances best when the lift's forward arm is about an inch behind the jiffy stand. With it in that position and the front end strapped down to the lift it is rock solid.
My lift is the heavy red steelone from Sears not the yellow aluminum one. I usually rollthe liftunder the bike as far forward as possible with the jiffy stand down, then while sitting on the bike and holding it upright I simply roll the bike forward until the frame and the lift's arms contact and then I hit the foot pedal. My bike is a Deuce and its lowered in the rear - 1.75" at the moment. I don't have any problems at all with the lift fitting under the bike and the lift comes standard with protectors on the arms. Forwhatever its worth the bike balances best when the lift's forward arm is about an inch behind the jiffy stand. With it in that position and the front end strapped down to the lift it is rock solid.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 3
From: Brick NJ
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
ORIGINAL: anubisss
Never needed anything but my lift. Here is how I do it. I slide the lift under from the rght side (the side you fill the oil on). If it hits a point where it will not roll under the bike any further I grab the right handgrip AND THE BRAKE. I pull the bike off the jiffy stand but make sure to leave the stand down. Very Important to leave the stand down. While the bike is balanced off the stand I slide the rest of the jack under the bike and then start pumping it up with my foot. Works great for me. I can do it with one person every time. I have also found that if I let the jack compress completely when lowering the bike I usually don't need to pull the bike off the jiffy to get the jack underneath it. I have the harbor freight yellow jack. t is quite simple once you get used to it.
Never needed anything but my lift. Here is how I do it. I slide the lift under from the rght side (the side you fill the oil on). If it hits a point where it will not roll under the bike any further I grab the right handgrip AND THE BRAKE. I pull the bike off the jiffy stand but make sure to leave the stand down. Very Important to leave the stand down. While the bike is balanced off the stand I slide the rest of the jack under the bike and then start pumping it up with my foot. Works great for me. I can do it with one person every time. I have also found that if I let the jack compress completely when lowering the bike I usually don't need to pull the bike off the jiffy to get the jack underneath it. I have the harbor freight yellow jack. t is quite simple once you get used to it.
i also have the same lift and use the exact procedure you described.........
except since my bike is lowered so far down in the rear i roll it up on some wood to get the clearnace i need
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
I have the Sears Craftsman aluminum jack...very nice, very smooth. Depending on what maintenance task I'm doing (need the front end up...need the back end up) determines where I locate the jack under the beast for balancing purposes.
anubisss is right...keep your jiffy stand down at all times! When you are lowering your bike back to the ground and the motorcycle finally lands on both tires it is very easy to have it off-center and the possibility ofthe bikefalling over. That's why it's important to have a good jack with a smooth action. My buddy has an old no-name jack that leaks fluid all over the place and makes my heart skip a beat everytime he's lowering hisscooter...the jack just seems to drop an inch or so at a time! Too damn nerve racking for me! Anyway...don't be a statistic when doing something as simple as jacking your bike up or down!
Good luck!
Steve
anubisss is right...keep your jiffy stand down at all times! When you are lowering your bike back to the ground and the motorcycle finally lands on both tires it is very easy to have it off-center and the possibility ofthe bikefalling over. That's why it's important to have a good jack with a smooth action. My buddy has an old no-name jack that leaks fluid all over the place and makes my heart skip a beat everytime he's lowering hisscooter...the jack just seems to drop an inch or so at a time! Too damn nerve racking for me! Anyway...don't be a statistic when doing something as simple as jacking your bike up or down!
Good luck!
Steve
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Tourer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 442
Likes: 3
From: Warren, Ohio
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
ORIGINAL: OneBlackFly
Yes, get the frame protectors. They are orange semi-hard plastic and cushion the frame to allow the shocks to clear the lift. About $15 and well worth it. See this link: www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444184791 5&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302289555&A SSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302289555&bmUID=1 173211320480&bmLocale=en_US
Yes, get the frame protectors. They are orange semi-hard plastic and cushion the frame to allow the shocks to clear the lift. About $15 and well worth it. See this link: www.harley-davidson.com/gma/gma_product.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444184791 5&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302289555&A SSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302289555&bmUID=1 173211320480&bmLocale=en_US
I spoke witha friend who never gave his shocks a second thought. He just shoveshis jack under the bike where it balances best and raises it up. I had previously ridden his Softail and the suspension felt very lethargic to me. Hmmm.
And yes... Keep the jiffy stand down...and be careful the bike doesn't start leaning to the opposite side when lowering! I had a very close call and had to use a football block to get it over onto its stand. That's one reason I've found it best to insert the jack on the right side ofmy bike.
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 72
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From:
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
I have the yellow aluminum jack from Sears as well that I use on my Springer. Have never noticed it lifting up on the shocks- maybe I need to pay more attention, but I think I position it far enough forwad it only hits the frame. Anyway, I position it from the left side of the bike- have never tried the right side- might be better. Everytime I lift it just so the tires are off the ground, then give it a little shake to make sure it's stable. Haven't had any trouble so far. It seems like it would take a lot of shaking to knock it off balance. Thats how I do it anyway.