Harbor Freight motorcycle lifts

[BoilerAnimal]

Which one of the Harbor Freight motorcycle lifts is best for a Spyder RT? Or does it even really matter? Thanks in advance!

 

[SPYD3R]

SEARCH

if you do a SEARCH on this website, you'll find a plethora of info on various lifts....
on the F3's as you can see... about the same for the RT & RS....


works gr8 on my JD as well....
Dan P
SPYD3R

 

[DGoebel]

It seems there are two different model numbers (61632/60536) for the Pittsburgh 1500lb ATV/Motorcycle lift. I drove down to our local HF outlet and they only had the one, but it's lowest height fit under my RT frame. Back then they had a sale,

 

[SteveLaoyster]

I had the motorcycle lift from HF. I used it to lift a Sportster and a Softail and found that it was very unstable. I sold it and would never use it for a spyder. JMHO

 

[UtahPete]

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I had the motorcycle lift from HF. I used it to lift a Sportster and a Softail and found that it was very unstable. I sold it and would never use it for a spyder. JMHO

:agree: I just use an aluminum hydraulic floor jack and then secure it with jack stands (at least 3). I still use the HF motorcycle for my 2-wheeler and other tasks in the garage though.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

View attachment 161162



I had the motorcycle lift from HF. I used it to lift a Sportster and a Softail and found that it was very unstable. I sold it and would never use it for a spyder. JMHO

I'm surprised you say that. I have the same model from Sears and have not had any stability concerns about the jack itself. But the Spyder is not real stable on it because the lifting is all done by the 6" wide frame member underneath in the center of the bike. So it's not the jack, it's the way the bike sits on the jack. Supports under the wheels are a must.

:agree: I just use an aluminum hydraulic floor jack and then secure it with jack stands (at least 3). I still use the HF motorcycle for my 2-wheeler and other tasks in the garage though.

This past week I drove the front wheels onto my ramp, a stepped series of 2 x 6's and then strapped the wheels to the ramps. I used the floor jack to lift under the shock mount to lift the rear tire off the floor. Go ahead and cringe but I started the bike and ran it through all the gears to spin the back tire during the process of getting the belt to track close to the center of the pulley.

 

[UtahPete]

This past week I drove the front wheels onto my ramp, a stepped series of 2 x 6's and then strapped the wheels to the ramps. I used the floor jack to lift under the shock mount to lift the rear tire off the floor. Go ahead and cringe but I started the bike and ran it through all the gears to spin the back tire during the process of getting the belt to track close to the center of the pulley.

That's the way I do it now. Except I use a set of HF plastic ramps. I hadn't thought of strapping the front wheels to the ramp but that makes sense, depending on what you're doing to the bike.

 

[UtahPete]

It seems there are two different model numbers (61632/60536) for the Pittsburgh 1500lb ATV/Motorcycle lift. I drove down to our local HF outlet and they only had the one, but it's lowest height fit under my RT frame. Back then they had a sale,

What I found is that this type of lift for a Spyder gets in the way of just about anything you might want to do on the underside of the bike because it's so bulky. And if, for instance, you're lifting it to work on the wheels, front or back, any jostling of the bike is going to set everything to rocking. nojoke So, depending on what I want to do on the bike, I will either drive it up on the HF ramps and use the floor jack to lift the rear. or use the floor jack to lift front and back in turn, replacing it with jack stands. THEN, it is stable enough to work on, although getting the jack stands to stay securely in place can be tricky; trial and error to find the sweet spot.

 

[Lew L]

I have one of the yellow HF lifts. Works just fine. Always use jack stands ( or something just as sturdy). As I informed my shop students------ a car only falls on you once.

Lew L