Motorcycle Lift Adapter

[brianinpa]

While sitting around the fire at Joe's place we were talking about seats and then the discussion changed to motorcycle jacks. I mentioned that while searching Autozone's online catalog I found that they carry an adapter plate that will convert a standard floor jack into a motorcycle lift.

https://www.autozone.com/autozone/a.../Jack-Adapter-Plate/Duralast/_/N-2579Z1z141xg

Me being the frugal person that I am (that is spelled C-H-E-A-P B-A-S-T-A-R-D) I have been thinking about getting one of these but hesitant because of the one and only review that is on Autozone's website. I have an old Craftsman floor jack that has a 2 ton lifting capacity so I am in no way worried about blowing out the jack while lifting the Wing, I am just thinking about the stability of it. So, has anyone used one of these or seen one in action?

 

[slabghost]

Looks like a transmission lift adapter. I'm not sure how stable it will be with a heavy wing on it.

 

[AApple]

I bet you could make the same thing for much of nothing. The problem I see with the idea is the jack itself. If your jack does not have a wide enough base, stability would be pretty much non-existent. If this adapter just fits into the hole in the jack, there's not much there to keep it flat, either. The bigger the jack, the better, for that reason. I'm not really impressed with what they are calling a "stabilizer" that attaches to the bottom of the jack.....that's kinda silly, imho. It's not the bottom of the jack that would be the problem...it's the lift arms that would be at risk of failing, or flopping around once you got it raised up in the air. Plus, with that thing attached to the bottom rails of the jack, it doesn't look like you would be able to move the jack around if you needed to.
Most "normal" floor jacks are maybe 10" wide...I think one like that would flop over pretty easily with the bike jacked all the way up, if someone happened to bump into it....or was trying to work on it. Just MY opinion. :blush:

I have one of these jacks at home....the base(at the casters) is over 14" wide....and no matter how much weight I put on it, or from what angle, the lift arms have never bent, or tilted in any way...it's a dang beefy jack. I've used it to jack mine off the ground with just a 3/8" square of plywood under the engine case...and it's pretty steady, but I wouldn't want to try to roll it around much with just that. If I had an adapter similar to the AutoZone thing, I might be more inclined to move it around without worrying about it loosing balance.....and falling over. :crying:
click on image for link

 

[joedrum]

not enough spread of load bian ...even if the jack was mounted to floor ...the jack arm is a one spot angle and actually depends on other wheels on ground to keep it from sid to side stress failure ...it would be very dangerous with a wing off the ground ...and side to side trauma would or could cllasoed the arm from the east west sides of arm ...and atv jack is spread for this reason ...i wouldnt get it

 

[brianinpa]

AApple » Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:45 am[/url]":1vinkm8d]
I bet you could make the same thing for much of nothing. The problem I see with the idea is the jack itself. If your jack does not have a wide enough base, stability would be pretty much non-existent. If this adapter just fits into the hole in the jack, there's not much there to keep it flat, either. The bigger the jack, the better, for that reason. I'm not really impressed with what they are calling a "stabilizer" that attaches to the bottom of the jack.....that's kinda silly, imho. It's not the bottom of the jack that would be the problem...it's the lift arms that would be at risk of failing, or flopping around once you got it raised up in the air. Plus, with that thing attached to the bottom rails of the jack, it doesn't look like you would be able to move the jack around if you needed to.

The nice thing about jacks made in the 70's is that they were made to last. I don't have a picture of my jack, but this one is similar, just a bit smaller as I have the 2 ton version.

So in my mind, the jack really isn't my worry but rather the stability once it is in the air. That is putting a lot of faith in that "stabilizer."

 

[brianinpa]

joedrum » Thu Aug 08, 2013 11:49 am[/url]":3vzt8wwa]
not enough spread of load bian ...even if the jack was mounted to floor ...the jack arm is a one spot angle and actually depends on other wheels on ground to keep it from sid to side stress failure ...it would be very dangerous with a wing off the ground ...and side to side trauma would or could cllasoed the arm from the east west sides of arm ...and atv jack is spread for this reason ...i wouldnt get it

I hear you Joe! Just not enough contact area with the four wheels and the stabilizer.

 

[mcgovern61]

For a few dollars more, you can get an actual simple motorcycle jack from Pep Boys for $79.00:

https://www.pepboys.com/product/details/ ... quantity=1

 

[brianinpa]

I know... It's just that I am so dang cheap!

To be honest, I have really only been looking at lifts that are twice that price Gerry, so thanks for pointing that one out (not too many Pep Boy's around Lebanon).

 

[backlander]

I got the Harbor Freight one Brian and it works great. Full dress Aspy with extras sat on it for months, no problem, has a lift lock, very stable. When working on rear end I block the front wheel from being able to go down, although it never tried to. $80.00 bucks when they have them on sale and they will ship it to your door for 7.00 bucks.

 

[jpwinger]

+1 on the real deal I have a craftsman it makes a difference. I used to use a floor jack with a piece plywood. The real deal is much safer. Worth the added cost. Jerry

 

[Anonymous]

brianinpa » Thu Aug 08, 2013 12:47 pm[/url]":2l84lh86]
I know... It's just that I am so dang cheap!

To be honest, I have really only been looking at lifts that are twice that price Gerry, so thanks for pointing that one out (not too many Pep Boy's around Lebanon).

Ive got a few of them - I buy them on Kijiji all are in good shape and I did not pay more than $80 bucks for all three of them together.

 

[brianinpa]

backlander » Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:13 pm[/url]":3a725s1q]
I got the Harbor Freight one Brian and it works great. Full dress Aspy with extras sat on it for months, no problem, has a lift lock, very stable. When working on rear end I block the front wheel from being able to go down, although it never tried to. $80.00 bucks when they have them on sale and they will ship it to your door for 7.00 bucks.

Well this must have been an omen because when I got home from work their was a HF flier in the mailbox, so guess where I went with my 20% off coupon.

 

[slabghost]

brianinpa » Thu Aug 08, 2013 8:18 pm[/url]":2i0vc2pz]

backlander » Thu Aug 08, 2013 1:13 pm[/url]":2i0vc2pz]
I got the Harbor Freight one Brian and it works great. Full dress Aspy with extras sat on it for months, no problem, has a lift lock, very stable. When working on rear end I block the front wheel from being able to go down, although it never tried to. $80.00 bucks when they have them on sale and they will ship it to your door for 7.00 bucks.

Well this must have been an omen because when I got home from work their was a HF flier in the mailbox, so guess where I went with my 20% off coupon.

:smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :smilie_happy: :good:

 

[C5Performance]

We use two of the Harbor Freight variety. I can get a 1000 Wing up there but would never try a 1500.
The lift is always on sale and i like it except the hydraulics suck. Buy the added warranty cause you'll need it.

One i welded on big rotating castors so when i was done for the day i could roll it to the side. Joedrum couldn't do that because the lift would roll for a mile down his steep yard!
https://www.harborfreight.com/high-posit ... 99887.html

 

[Ansimp]

Or it would get bogged in the doghouse floor... :smilie_happy:

 

[brianinpa]

One thing I did notice about this HF lift is that there is no way to strap the bike onto the lift. Maybe it is just the thought of seeing a bike tipping over from 2 feet in the air, and having never used one before, but is it necessary to strap the bike to the stand? My thinking is better safe than sorry...

I like the idea of casters to make the entire thing mobile at the end of the day Paul, but yeah Joe would have all kinds of problems. :smilie_happy:

 

[joedrum]

well once where you want it good to stabilize ....its very easy to use tiedown strao to cinch around bike and lift or many other various ways to help the lift load be stable ...strap from above to hold center is great ....mine has a handle that easy to cinch a brace to ...its not hard just needs to be done well .....i like these lifts much better than the table lifts that bring the ground up with them ...useally this is what im trying to get away from ...these lifts do the best job in access to work on bike better than all other set ups to me :builder: :mrgreen:....concrete hard :cheeky: :mrgreen:

 

[backlander]

This is not a great picture but there should be a ring on each end of the lift to connect a strap to like this,

I use a 1500# rachet strap on each side, then I have a two ton come-along I hang from the ceiling and catch the rear most frame upper crossbar just in case something goes wrong. Just have to remember to leave enough slack in come along cable when lettting it down

 

[brianinpa]

Thanks Mike. I didn't look at that part of the lift. I was only checking the lift arms.

 

[ekvh]

There are plans floating somewhere on a decent 7 or 8 foot platform lift using a motorcycle lift or a car lift. I was going to make one but don't have the room for it now.