Anyone have a bike fall off a jack or table?
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
From: Dunstable, MA
If I am putting it up to any height for a extended period of time (i.e. not cleaning the whitewalls but changing) I strap her down, but I lift mine in between 2 cars that I would rather not damage not to mentioning the bike. I had it on the lift for 2 days while I removed my rear tire and got my flat fixed.
I am using the craftsman MC jack.
I am using the craftsman MC jack.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 30,886
Likes: 33,061
From: King George, VA
Recently I had my RG up on a Harbour Freight lift while installing a fat tire kit. I had to run out to the auto parts store for something and left the bike up on the lift, with the rear swing arm off and a floor jack holding up the tranny. When I returned, I opened the garage door and found the RG leaning at more than a 45 degree angle over to the left. The floor jack was locked but the lift had lowered a bit and I hadn't locked it in place. The jiffy stand is what kept the bike from going completely over.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Sulphur, LA
I had my sons sportster on my craftsman jack, I was working on changing the handlebars, grips and a few other things. It seemed very solid so I went inside the house for a minute. I heard a loud bang and ran outside to find the bike laying on its side. I still don't know what caused it to fall but it did $600 in damage. I was changing some things out to surprise him while he was in Iraq. He was surprised!
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 270
Likes: 25
From: Manchester, TN. & DeLand, FL.
In 1999 had a new Classic that needed warranty work. Took bike to the dealer, was only going to be a couple of hours. Wife and I go to get some breakfast using her Road King for transportation. About 15 minutes after sitting down at the restaurant the service manager walks in with a very long face. Said he has a problem. My bike had fallen off the lift. It must have been pretty high up because it basically landed upside down. I liked this dealer and this service manager. Very good people. I went back to look at the bike. About 3 or 4 mechanics standing there waiting for me to go ballastic, I think. I just looked at it and said call me when it is fixed. Had already been told they would of course take care of it with all new parts. Didn't feel good at the time but it all worked out. Since I wasn't there at the time don't know how it happened, but it can.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 45
From: Michigan
I had mine on the craftsman lift and went to florida for a long weekend. Got home looked in the garage and the bike was sitting there just as pretty as when I left.. a week later i get the call to the office from work.. permanent layoff 
.. told the wife that the next week I was gonna get the chrome wheels I bought on the bike and get that out of the way in case we needed to cut back on spending and she says ok. Got all signed up for unenjoyment and stuff and figured saturday id head to the garage and get started . Walked in to find the bike laying flat out ! I didnt use the lock on the jack!.. Now with all the other things that screwed up my life in the past week im thinking this is gonna suck.. NO damage ).. well a couple scrapes on the crash bars on the right side.. whew. I damn near pissed myself but I got lucky and it wasnt the jacks fault it was mine !
.. told the wife that the next week I was gonna get the chrome wheels I bought on the bike and get that out of the way in case we needed to cut back on spending and she says ok. Got all signed up for unenjoyment and stuff and figured saturday id head to the garage and get started . Walked in to find the bike laying flat out ! I didnt use the lock on the jack!.. Now with all the other things that screwed up my life in the past week im thinking this is gonna suck.. NO damage ).. well a couple scrapes on the crash bars on the right side.. whew. I damn near pissed myself but I got lucky and it wasnt the jacks fault it was mine !
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
I think that most of it is operator error as mentioned. The cheaper jacks don't have the span like the more expensive ones do and are less stable. In the case of using those knowing that you should strap her down. always use the locks as they are there for a reason. I have had one of the cheaper ones let the seals go on the way down and the bike came down on its wheels hard but I had a hold of it and the stand was down so no harm there.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,191
Likes: 843
I read the jack threads all the time on here, and see guys say they are worried that bikes can or will fall from lower price jacks. Just wondering if that has happened to anyone and if so how did it happen. Was it operator error or did the jack or table fail and send the bike crashing down?
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Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
Been using the red craftsman for five years now and no mishaps until recently (my fault) I some lowering brackets on the rear shocks and could not get the jack under the frame; no problem, I used a piece of 2x4 to drive the rear tire up on to raise the frame. After I preformed my maintainence, I lowered the bike forgetting that it was in neutral, it rolled off the 2x4, something knocked the jiffystand up and the bike gently rested on the contact points of the engine guard. Thankfully, no scratches. Made me realize to be more careful in the future though...