Jack or lift for 1950 rigid frame HD with Hack

Looking for some input here.....Is this an open forum? I hope somone has some input....

Hogghacker - 11/23/2010 2:25 AM
... I am looking for a jack or a lift that is comfortable to use while maintaining my unit. ... and look forward to hearing from YALL soon.

Hi Hogg, welcome to the forum. Where ya from? I know us folks here in Louisiana use terms such as "yall."

Sorry for not responding earlier, but I just don't have any recommendations. I have "heard" of shops placing two motorcycle lift tables side-by-side and somehow working them concurrently, I have never seen such a set-up. I've even "heard" of a fellow that designed his shop floor so that the lift was recessed into the floor resulting in a flat/level/flush platform on which to place the bike or rig. I have not looked for a wiiide lift.

Me? I've worked on our rigs crawling around on the floor, sometimes using a tarp to slide around instead of the concrete driveway or shop floor. Maybe someone else has a suggestion.

Same here - I jack up (floor jack) the cycle side or hack side , block it and use a painters's drop cloth to lay on.

I suppose you could use a cycle jack on the bike and a floor jack on the car and two people to raise the entire rig then block it.

Thanks, looking for systm to fasten to deck,probably a three point system, and be a permanant fixture Hyd/elect-pneum. May have to dig deep to buy just looking for someone with a positive reponse on a particular unit. Happy Thanksgiving to all.We have troops in the field in defense of our way of life.
MM

Moose,
welcome! 🙂
I've also been looking into this very situation. Thru Adventure Riders, I've found some very good sounding reports about the Ranger RML 750HD Lift. Here's the link for the Vendor.

http://www.asedeals.com/ATV_motorcycle_lift.html

I like the added "side extensions" and other "included features". As far as build, the sissor lift on a base pedistal is key, imho. Most lifts I see don't include a base piece. Thus, when the unit is raised on one of those type of Lifts, you loose valuable surface area to disperse and stabilize the weight of the Rig. My thoughts on this Lift would be to purchase one and have a "table" made to mount on it to accomadate My BMW/Motorvation Rig. Or I would put two together when working on the rig, linking the hydraulics for easy sync'd lifting.
Good Luck on your quest. I'd be interested to know how you solve this situation.

~ Russell

I used a pneumatic Handy lift for years. Great for solo bikes while attaching sub-frames and mounts but not with a hack attached. I tried using a small bike lift for the hack wheel in conjunction with the Handy lift but access between the bike and car was still a problem. Since I don't build bikes anymore I peddled it. I do use the small hydraulic bike lift occasionally for lifting on bikes or sidecars for wheel changes and such.
I find it easier to use a wheeled seat with a tool tray for the bike work and use heavy corregated cardboard to work between the bike and car to protect my knees, elbows and back from the concrete deck. The cardboard comes from shipping crates and I recycle it when I'm done (at my age I need the exercise).

Lonnie

I met a guy last year who made his setup by taking one of these, http://www.harborfreight.com/high-position-motorcycle-lift-99887.html

and replacing the hydraulic cylinder with an air ram. He then used a Y adapter and tapped it in to the same line as his lift table. He positions the jack so that the sidecar wheel runs up on to it as he pulls on to the lift. They raise together.

I have a handy lift with side extensions and even the fairly light Savage and Cozy car will cause it to tilt to the limits of the extended base supports. Don't know what I'll do here, in Moses Lake I have an automotive full height frame contact scissors lift and I put the tug on one rail and then use a small hydraulic jack under the car frame on the RH rail and lift it that way. Has worked on my Savage rig, brothers HD/Cal car rig and S-i-L's VS800/dauntless rig. Also Kawasaki MULEs from a 550 - 3010. Nice to be able to walk underneath them to work on exhausts, oil changes, etc when the car is attached, especially with my ostomy, illiostomy and hernias in the way of bending over. I will miss it in AZ but hopefully won't have any major repairs. I tried to give up working on the floor years ago. max

I have a 1200 lb Harbor Freight pneumatic lift that I welded square tube extensions to in order to support side ramps. It is PLENTY wide enough, it has enough capacity to lift the bike and the SC but I did the welding. No way I would put both on the lift. Now if a pro had done the welding it might be a different story.

Loren

I have two hf lifts for my rigs. Works good. Than you can get in the center to work on them. I would add pic but not good computer.
Lloyd