HowTo: HF lift extension for sway bar install

[EdMat]

My Harbor Freight lift would only go about 16" in the air so I was a bit short when installing BajaRon's sway bar. Less than $5 and a quick trip to Home Depot for a 2 x 6 for a home built extension. Works great. Shook it pretty good while about 6" off the floor for a test. Here is a drawing of what i made. Held together with 3" long drywall screws.

 

[Estes]

Pictures

 

[spyder01]

So you jack it up then put it on jackstands,drop it down and put your extension on?

 

[EdMat]

Jack it up about 10" or drive it up on a set of ramps, add the extension go up to 21 + inches if needed.

And here are a couple of pics for Estes

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Our yellow craftsman jack has extenders that come with it, so we do a two part lift, once into small jack stands, then add the extensions and bring it back up on the tall jack stands

Now on a few occasions, when we are working on the road, I have forgotten to pack the extensions and we have had to make do with whatever scraps we could find. The extensions are much easier!

 

[Don60]

Thanks, great idea! Will have to build one before I order new sway bar!

 

[Snoking1127]

Got it ready to slide the old bar out and new one in and had a friend come by with his side by side ramps. Then back on the blocks to put it back together. Just a minute or two on the ramps.

 

[Don60]

That’s a great picture! So glad you had the friend with the right ramps, nice and wide! Let us know what you think of the sway bar upgrade! I have a base F3, Have heard so much about how great it is, but am apprehensive at the improvement and price! Thanks

 

[Snoking1127]

Between the Federal Formoza AZ01 car tires and the sway bar, I am really impressed with the increase cornering and steady feel on the road now.

 

[Valkrocket]

That's a great idea Ed. Will use it for my Craftsman lift when I do my install. Thanks for sharing. :2thumbs:

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

That's a great idea Ed. Will use it for my Craftsman lift when I do my install. Thanks for sharing. :2thumbs:

Works slicker than what I did. Raised the Spyder, set it on blocks, took the jack out, slid a pallet with the jack on top of it back under, and finished raising the Spyder.

 

[pegasus1300]

I just drive mine part way up on my car ramps and block the rear wheel. I have an old HR lift I used to use with my RSTD/RSV but have not used it with the Spyder. I think I will build this extension and try it. Thanks for the idea.

 

[K80Shooter]

Just wondering, has anyone tried an ATV/Lawnmower lift. I have one and it lifts real high but I'm not sure if the mechanism/lift itself would be in the way.

 

[Snoking1127]

Just wondering, has anyone tried an ATV/Lawnmower lift. I have one and it lifts real high but I'm not sure if the mechanism/lift itself would be in the way.

You need a clear path below the sway bar to slide it to one side and swing it straight down with 22"+ to the ground to get the old one out and the new one back in place. As it passes over the top of the central rib that runs along the lower frame. It only needs to be that high a minute or two. The prep getting ready for rermoval and the final installation of the new one can be done at a lower height.

 

[WilcoJunoHotel]

I would also add that one needs to be careful about how it is lifted: AFAIK, and I haven't tested this, the emergency brake only works on the rear wheel. So if you have the front end lifted and then you decide to lift the rear end while the front end is in the air, the Spyder is going to go backwards.

My understanding (correct me if I am wrong) is you either lift the entire bike from underneath the main frame and get the entire bike lifted up (front and rear at same time) or you lift the front end by itself (brake on) or you lift the rear end by itself (chock front wheels).

 

[PW2013STL]

Jack it up about 10" or drive it up on a set of ramps, add the extension go up to 21 + inches if needed.

And here are a couple of pics for Estes

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View attachment 180503

Great idea!

You could make it more secure by contact cementing a rubber pad to the wood serfaces. I did that to a 2x6 board I use. This makes the contact serface non slippery.

 

[EdMat]

Great idea!

You could make it more secure by contact cementing a rubber pad to the wood serfaces. I did that to a 2x6 board I use. This makes the contact serface non slippery.

That would make a nice addition.