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Message started by Ruttly on 07/12/20 at 01:08:53

Title: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/12/20 at 01:08:53

In the end of May I ordered a Harbor Freight motorcycle lift/table , well it finally showed up Friday. Uncrated & assembled it today. Haven’t put a bike on it yet. It’s ok but I’m not sure if its 1000 lb rating Is totally accurate ! I’ll start with a small bike then work my way up to my sportster. I’m pretty sure the sporty at 505 lbs would be pushing the limit of the lift. Price was $449 if you order online there is a coupon for $100 off , so lift ,tax & shipping was $475 delivered to the door , not bad considering the one I wanted would have been $2k delivered so now I have $1525 to build bikes , Right ! ;D

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 07/12/20 at 03:16:06

I got one for somewhere around $299 with their sales and coupons about 7 years ago - it took a while to wait for it to go on sale and for them to have one in stock when it was on sale. It works fine for smaller bikes. The clamping front wheel chock is a joke, and I never even bolted it up. The lift works fine for the Savage and bikes around 400 pounds - but with heavy bikes it gets really scary. I had a 610 pound bike on it......and I didn't lift it up very far as it as was really easy to make the lift wiggle right/left with the heavy bike on top. It may not have tipped over - but it just felt too wiggly. I believe the metal just starts flexing with a bike that heavy.

I bought some of the silver colored diamond plate floor runner and put it on top to keep from scratching the paint off with center stands and tools.

I am well satisfied that it is worth what I paid - it helped considerably when I was building the Savage Cafe' and Ninja Cafe' bikes, as I could get the bike up at a convenient level for cutting/welding/fitting pieces.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/12/20 at 07:08:46

Yeah I’m not gonna use the wheel clamp either. I got wheel chock for a trailer or p/u bed to use , just roll it in and strap it down. I figure if it’s tied down the same as when I’m hauling it down the road it should be just fine. I’m sure i will find a mod or 2 to make it better or easier to use. But I’m definitely nervous about putting the Sportster up on it. A 505 lb bike on a 325 lb lift thats made in Pittsburg , China. Maybe if I like using a lift , I can always sell it and upgrade to a better one in time.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/13/20 at 04:40:42

So I had finished assembly, ripped the garage apart to get my 86 Honda tlr200 Reflex out of mothballs to go up on the new lift. What a mess people were stopping asking if I was having a garage sale and if the bikes were for sale. So I had raised the lift during assembly and now ready to put the tlr200 up on it and this fine Chinese product wouldn't go down , messed with it and finally it went down and now it won't go up. Oh did I say it's 105 degrees here today even hotter in the garage maybe 110. After reworking the lowering valve linkage and 6 gatorades got it back together and adjusted it , 4 hours later it's working good up & down. Yeah I regret not buying the American made one with the little flag sticker on it , but I saved $1525 , what a dumbas$ ! Need I say it , Buy American !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/13/20 at 04:47:31

Did it lift the bike ? Don't know couldn't find my tie down straps ! ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by ohiomoto on 07/13/20 at 06:35:42

Someone probably "picked" them up at your garage sale!

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/14/20 at 16:55:49

Alright finally found my tie downs , Ohiomoto had me goin , I thought someone walked off with them. They were in the truck. Installed a led light above the lift. Maybe tomorrow I’ll get to put the Reflex on the lift. It seems fine now just a tiny dribble when lowering at the lowering valve , but I got my handy H/F magnetic tray catching the drops. More regret for not buying American !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/14/20 at 18:45:23

I'm still wanting a lift. I have two to get going and I'm crippled up some. I know I can't justify two grand for a lift. I appreciate your evaluation, please keep it coming

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/14/20 at 22:44:29

Yeah my days of working on my knees is done , ok for a short time but that’s the main reason for getting a lift. It should motivate me to finish some bikes , six bikes and only the sporty running. Have to get 2 running here quick !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 07/15/20 at 17:35:14

725554544C59200 wrote:

Did it lift the bike ? Don't know couldn't find my tie down straps ! ;D ;D ;D

Years ago I helped a friend haul a very rusty car on a trailer. A few days later while the car was still on the trailer he decided to jack the car up to fix a flat tire. He started jacking and the car started bending and the jack started to push through the rusty frame.........it was then he remembered that he had not yet loosened the chains that were holding the car on the trailer.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/15/20 at 17:52:08

On the trailer
New destination
Junkyard?

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by MMRanch on 07/16/20 at 06:39:54

picture ?

:-?

This is what I'm using now , its abut 10 years old and works good for one end of the bike at a time. The other end gets strapped to the concrete floor

https://youtu.be/8CW5liV37UI

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 07/16/20 at 07:26:24

While a lift that picks up the entire bike is costly and does require a lot of floor space - they are handy if you do a lot of work. At the bike shop when you are doing maintenance work all day long, crawling around on the floor really isn't a good option.

This lift is what we are talking about and it is affordable and works for most of us who have 500 pound or less motorcycles. Professional air lift models are very expensive.....but far sturdier and they can pick up really heavy bikes and hold them securely.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNGs1l5ixao

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNGs1l5ixao[/media]

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/16/20 at 14:15:23

Friend of mine just picked up a used one for $150. Doesn't have an idea how old it is but it still works fine. Guess maybe their quality has gone down some.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/20 at 08:57:57

Well , my 210lb Honda tlr200 is up on the table. It's pretty stable and jack only leaks if I leave the weight on it instead of the safety stop rod , but once it's on the rod with no weight on jack it doesn't leak. If I give it a good shake it doesn't budge but you can see the deck flex a bit. I installed a led light from Walmart directly over the lift. The u-bolts they use for tiedowns are in the way when not in use so I removed upper nuts on all four U-bolts and used a flat washer and nylon nuts on the bottom so when not in use they drop down out of the way. The lower locking position is at a good working height for me , the upper position would be good for a taller person. Overall I'm liking this lift , now I'm gonna see if H/F will warranty the jack for the leak.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by LANCER on 07/19/20 at 10:29:25

The jack is part of the system so they should replace the whole unit.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/20 at 14:23:01

I'll settle for a seal kit for the jack and do it myself.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/19/20 at 14:25:33

What? And void the warranty!??

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 07/19/20 at 15:38:17

My HF lift is 7 years old and has never leaked a drop.....or failed to lift or lower normally. Maybe I should not admit this - I had my Cafe bike in the air for months at a time, and never once installed the safety rod. The pump/jack kept the pressure and the bike stayed up in the air for extended periods. The only thing I have ever had a problem with was lowering the table....while a box was hidden underneath - which resulted in a crushed cardboard box.

Call and talk to Harbor Freight and I bet they will warranty it. If you do it soon they will likely just exchange it for a new one. How far is it for you to drive to a HF store?

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/19/20 at 15:55:12

It's only a 90 day warranty , I better get on it. I'll send out a email today. Maybe 2 miles away , but I bought it on line. The linkages to the jack were all loose not closing or opening the valve properly, but I fixed all that. All that works fine , just the leak and leaks never fix themselves. Yeah now the wife says I should have bought the American made one. :-/

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/20/20 at 18:15:10

Well , I sent them a email and am waiting for a response.in the mean time I’m continuing with repairs on the TLR200. Guess I got carried away buying parts. Found a few boxes in the attic box #1 has a rebuilt cylinder head with rocker box,a new Wiesco piston,a new cam,a new gasket set and box#2 new sprockets, Delkevic exhaust system,2 carb kits,rear brake pedal, new turn signals,tapered roller bearing kit for steering head,aluminum bars, Betor rear shocks,new rear tire & tube And a bunch of other small stuff.. Crap I gotta get busy,not doing the engine yet(head,piston,cam) but all this other stuff is getting used. So when it’s done it will still be a street legal trials bike with mirrors,horn turn signals,head & tail lights somewhere between 190 to 195 lbs. The kind of bike that will go anywhere it can get traction ! Should be a great play toy/camping bike , crap gotta put 2 new springs in my trailer too !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/21/20 at 14:07:37

Looking at when it was last registered fall right in line with when I bought the Savage and Ryca kit. I must have totally dropped this bike as a project and when the carb got gummed up it’s just been all covered up for the last six years. I’m in a hurry to finish the repairs so I can ride it and then get the tracker on the lift. That explains the boxes of unused parts for the tlr200. I need it up and running to get some trail time on Sunday mornings and maybe if I get my trailer fixed I can bring it on vacation. Some awesome trail riding up near where we rent a cabin near the Sierra Buttes. Fresh mountain air ,awesome views and some killer high alpine riding. And the wild blackberries are sweet and abundant , fruity pebbles with wild blackberries and a hot cup of joe for breakfast , Life doesn’t get any better ! ;D

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/22/20 at 16:57:21

Just received a email from H/F and they are going to ship me another jack/pump for the lift. But I’m guessing it might take a month or so before it gets here. Oh yeah ! Cool I can continue building bikes till it gets here. Just jack it all the way up(for better access)install safety rod and swap it out , won’t even have to remove the bike from the lift.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 07/30/20 at 22:52:26

Received my new jack/pump for the lift , delivered right to my door.
It was the wrong one for the older model. Gotta send another email !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 09/03/20 at 12:53:39

Wow a month + has gone by and 13 emails back and fourth. Today the correct jack/pump finally arrived for the lift. Hopefully I'll get it changed out on Saturday and the TLR200 is very near being finished , maybe this weekend. Clean the lift off and then put the tracker on the lift. A bunch of upgrades but mostly a lot of cleaning and polishing. Ahead of schedule on this bike and try to keep that momentum up for the tracker. Plan was 4 bikes in 2 years , basically get most of my bikes done and a few sold.
Love the lift , right next to toolbox and a bunch of good light. Bikes get done quick , everyday just do one thing even if it's just one bolt.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by springman on 09/03/20 at 15:04:50

Way to go Ruttly!

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 09/09/20 at 17:39:34

Ok , replacement pump has been installed and the lift works perfect
All said and done , with all the time wasted sending emails for six weeks and sending the wrong pump back , I probably should have bought the American made electric lift. The H/F lift works great with some minor mods I'm really pleased with it. Now H/F customer service is good but has room for improvement , but im not complaining. It still saved me about $1500.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 09/09/20 at 17:58:33

Sorry you had trouble with yours....mine has been working fine.

I think the lift is a good deal for us part time mechanics with medium weight bikes. With a 600 pound bike I get a bit nervous about raising it up very high....the darn thing looks like it leans when you get a heavy bike on it.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 09/09/20 at 18:04:26

Status on the TLR200 front tire,tube,rim strip on order , by the time it arrives most everything will be done. It will be a great camping and trail bike. Looking forward to getting some seat time on Sunday mornings riding the levees and open fields just to stay sharp and get some exercise.
Just thinking about finishing the tracker makes my heart race and gives the jitters , can't wait for it to blurr my vision.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Dave on 09/09/20 at 18:39:40

I miss owning a trials bike. I want to own an Ossa Mick Andrews Replica in a year or two.

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 09/09/20 at 19:16:54

I'm not a great trials rider but it sure is fun learning. Going fast is easy , going slow takes real skill. It's fully road legal but not speedy enough for the freeway. It will go anywhere it can get traction , it's a great little bike !

Title: Re: H/F lift
Post by Ruttly on 11/08/20 at 19:49:17

Update , Love using a lift , money well spent. If you got room for one get it.
The TLR 200 came off the lift today , runs sweet. , think I nailed the jetting ,
Still needs a few adjustments , zip ties , etc.
Next up the tracker. Dug it out , very dusty even had it covered. After looking at that 200cc thumper for the last few months I had forgotten what a monster the Savage engine is. Well 1 bike down , time to get busy with the tracker and try to finish it. Have a surgery coming soon on my hand that could delay it’s completion.