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06 Softail Standard* SE High Flow AC Kit * Progressive 422 Shocks
Vance & Hines BSS* PCIII USB / Dyno Tuned
Front End Chrome Package* Mustang Seat
I have the yellow Craftman jack as well and really never paid too close attention if the shocks were being stressed by the jack arms. I always placed the jack for the best balance.
I've just taken the bike off the lift and out of storage. I've only ridden a few miles, but it seems the same as before I put it up. But after reading these posts I'm really concerned.
What does it hurt by lifting it with the jack on the shocks?
Jim
Not absolutely sure if it hurts anything. Since the shocks are lower than the frame, I would guess the weight of the bike resting on the shocks could at least bend the outer can, possibly doing more than cosmetic damage. Is there an outside chance of bending the shock out of alignment as well? Let's hope not for the sake of some of the forum. If lifting on the shocks is a mistake, it would be an easy mistake to make. I'd be interested in seeing a mechanic's viewpoint.
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"HE DRIVES LIKE A MADMAN." -- 2 Kings 9:20
If you look at that picture of the yellow jack I'll tell you where the red one is better. See the single yellow lifting arms that come from the bottom of the jack to the rails that the frame rests on? There is one on each side of the yellow jack but the red jack has two on each side that are parallel. Having two rather than one give the jack much more rigidity - the red ones don't flex as much. The other thing that makes the red jacks much more stable than the yellow ones is that the red ones have large bolts on each side that act as 'stabs' which can be lowered to the floor which greatly increases stability by acting as a second set of fixed legs adjusted precisely to your floor, not resting on the jack's caster wheels. This is a very important feature. The next thing is that handel sticking up. The red one has a detachable handle that generally isn't needed, so you leave it off and its not in the way. Also notice that on the yellow one you have to used the handel to raise and lower the bike. With the red jack there are two foot pedals, one to raise it and one to lower it. So with the red one you can actually jack the bike up while you are sitting on it. There is this too; before I bought mine I did a search and found and read many opnions about motorcycle lifts. Frequently owners of the yellow Sears lift complained about the jack dropping the bike far far too fast, sometimes almost uncontrollably. That is not the case with the red one. The red ones drops the bike slowly and evenly. Both jacks are rated for 1500 pounds. I know the red jack comes with tie-down ratchet straps, I'm not sure about the yellow one. The yellow jack sells for around $160 and goes on sale now and then for around $150; the red one cost me about $85 as I recall.
I also have the red Sears jack. I've had both wheels off mine at the same time, and have never tied the bike to the jack. It's stable enough for anything I've done, so far. I also noticed the rear shocks, so I just place the jack ahead of them, and it's well balanced. I've even cleaned the rear wheel by running the engine in gear on it, with no "Oh, cr*p!" moments!
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Hmm... Can't think of anything bland enough to go here.
RE: Using a lift on a sofetail
