Harbor Freight lift

[Benmannino]

Looking at the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh $99 lift any good? Better ones? Will it get it off the ground high enough to put on a sway bar? 22” I heard was the best for removal and install.

[EdMat]

I like it, I use it every chance I get. It will not raise but about 16 1/2". Plenty for normal work, not enuf for sway bar. I built an extension and do a 2 stage lift.

Take a look at this thread. https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ay-bar-install

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I like it, I use it every chance I get. It will not raise but about 16 1/2". Plenty for normal work, not enuf for sway bar. I built an extension and do a 2 stage lift.

Take a look at this thread. https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ay-bar-install

I think you could lift it 15"s .... set the tires on stands .... lower jack - remove it put an 8" high block of wood or construct a sturdy platform, put the jack back and lift the rest of the way ....... Mike

[cobraswinger]

I bought one and installed a sway bar last week. I lifted the bike up and placed it on cinder blocks. Then I put the lift on boards to get the bike up high enough to put the sway bar in. It only takes a minute to pull the old bar out and put the new one in. .. For what I needed for I am happy with saving $$

[P.W.]

I have a J&S jack that was fairly expensive and now I wish I would have looked at other jacks.
Not sure I would go with the cheapest jack I could find to lift your bike though.....

My two cents,
P.W.

[JayBros]

My son has a HF lift; I didn't like its performance and he had problems with the hydraulic jack, more than once. I paid more for the Craftsman and, IMO, the quality and performance are superior to the HF one.

[bluewoo]

I got one, But you'll need to run the front up on 2x4s to get the underside high enough.
I works just fine for me!
*Craigs LIST $40.00 WAS A NO BRAINER!!!

[Bfromla]

Heard several have done sway bar just using car ramps

[EdMat]

Heard several have done sway bar just using car ramps

Not sure how. It fits up in a channel and there is solid lower section in the middle. Since there is a 90 degree bend in either end of the sway bar you have to rotate it almost straight down to have clearance to remove it. Then you have to have the same amount of clearance to install the new one.

[spyder01]

Ive still got the craftsman jack that I used on my 03GW and it works great but theres no way it goes high enuf to do a sway bar.I had to set up blocks a lift in 2 stages.Also that jack wont fit under RT without lifting the frame about an inch first or riding up on some wood.I hate lifting that thing.

[Pandy]

I'm not sure about what you consider better ones. What I am sure about is in no way shape or form in this life would I ever trust a Harbor Freight product in any load bearing capacity.

[EdMat]

I'm not sure about what you consider better ones. What I am sure about is in no way shape or form in this life would I ever trust a Harbor Freight product in any load bearing capacity.

And just what brand would you feel comfortable crawling under without additional jack stands or other support?

[troop]

I have a 12 year old lift, similar to the $99 HF unit, that I bought for my H-D from the local farm & Fleet store. Still works great to this day.

[h0gr1der]

I bought this one. It is Chinese junk, but probably made in the same factory as the Craftsman stuff. For as infrequently as I'll use it, and not trusting it for a second (see the alternate support), it serves it's purpose. I bought it before the Chinese virus. Today, given the same choice, I wouldn't but it. Give all that, it does work flawlessly. Won't lift to the required 22", but I don't think any of the cheap lifts do. I think the Big Blue lift does, but it's expensive. This one does roll under the Spyder without the use of 2x6 or other pre-lift devices.
Lighting Install (4).jpg

Lighting Install (5).jpg
Attached wrong pic.

[Mazo EMS2]

I've got the HF lift and it works fine. When I'm under the bike, it is on jack stands. I wouldn't trust any lift out there without a set of jack stands as back up. The lift does just that, lifts it up just long enough to get other means of support under it..ie.. jackstands

[Pandy]

And just what brand would you feel comfortable crawling under without additional jack stands or other support?

No brand on earth qualifies for that. My HF lift keeled over sideways with my Goldwing upon it damn near pinning me between it and my workbench. That was my experience,YMMV and all that, all I have to say.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

My son has a HF lift; I didn't like its performance and he had problems with the hydraulic jack, more than once. I paid more for the Craftsman and, IMO, the quality and performance are superior to the HF one.

If the HF and Craftsman both look like the one here, they are the same jack. Just different paint and label. Interestingly, the Craftsman version of this jack is no longer available. Sears shows a few other brand names for the same jack on their website. Doesn't come up at all on the Craftsman website. Amazon says not available.

Harbor Freight jack.jpg

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I got one, But you'll need to run the front up on 2x4s to get the underside high enough.
I works just fine for me!
*Craigs LIST $40.00 WAS A NO BRAINER!!!

I just pump up the rear shock air bag. That lifts the bike high enough to get the jack under.

[EdMat]

I just pump up the rear shock air bag. That lifts the bike high enough to get the jack under.

Interesting, mine fits under my 2019 RTL with a little room to spare. If I think about it will get an actual measurement from the top of the rubber runners down to the floor. Maybe the specs on the jack have changed a bit, or, could my RTL just be jacked up in the air too much?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Interesting, mine fits under my 2019 RTL with a little room to spare. If I think about it will get an actual measurement from the top of the rubber runners down to the floor. Maybe the specs on the jack have changed a bit, or, could my RTL just be jacked up in the air too much?

The weight of the rider has an affect. The ACS keeps the Spyder at a particular level regardless of the passenger load. Heavier load, more pressure. Less load, lower pressure. Then when you park it there is no load, so higher the pressure while riding the higher the bike will set with no load.

[h0gr1der]

I can attest to this style jack fitting under the Spyder RTL without any manipulation to the bike, and as to lifting, the one I got from Harbor Freight (I think they are both the same) lifts and lowers just fine.

https://www.searsoutlet.com/br/pdp/c...atv-jack/16395

https://www.harborfreight.com/1500-l...ift-63397.html

[Eviltwin]

I bought this one. It is Chinese junk, but probably made in the same factory as the Craftsman stuff. For as infrequently as I'll use it, and not trusting it for a second (see the alternate support), it serves it's purpose. I bought it before the Chinese virus. Today, given the same choice, I wouldn't but it. Give all that, it does work flawlessly. Won't lift to the required 22", but I don't think any of the cheap lifts do. I think the Big Blue lift does, but it's expensive. This one does roll under the Spyder without the use of 2x6 or other pre-lift devices.
Lighting Install (4).jpg

Lighting Install (5).jpg
Attached wrong pic.

I have the cheaper version, the all steel one, if I were to do it over again, I would opt for this one <points up> which is the aluminum version for about 50 more. Either way they work fine if you know how to position them so the bike is balanced and take normal precautions when working on a jacked vehicle (jack stands).

[Lew L]

I've got the HF lift and it works fine. When I'm under the bike, it is on jack stands. I wouldn't trust any lift out there without a set of jack stands as back up. The lift does just that, lifts it up just long enough to get other means of support under it..ie.. jackstands

A decade ago I was forced to teach auto shop at the High school where I taught Metal shop. The first semester was small motors and the second sem was basic, beginning auto. I stressed with the students that a car only falls on you once. I had a full assortment of Jack Stands

Not in my shop, but have you ever seen a car or truck fall off a rack??? It's bad!!!!

Lew L

[h0gr1der]

I have the cheaper version, the all steel one, if I were to do it over again, I would opt for this one <points up> which is the aluminum version for about 50 more. Either way they work fine if you know how to position them so the bike is balanced and take normal precautions when working on a jacked vehicle (jack stands).

Note the car ramp under the rear. I didn't drive it up there, it was placed. I feel if you don't have to rotate the wheel (belt alignment/tensioning) or remove the rear wheel, this provides more stability than a jack stand on the rear shock bolt.