jacking point

[jake6470]

OK, all you who have replaced your front tires yourself, I'd like your advice. My 2014 RT-SE6 has 23,000 on my Kenda fronts, so it's time to replace them. The plan is to take the old wheels and tires into my local tire dealer where he'll remove the old and install the new (going with Khumo Solus KH16 175/55/15). The thing is, I don't know where to position the two-rail jack I have to safely raise the trike in order to remove the front wheels. Is there a specific jacking point, or am I OK sliding the rails under from the side at about the center of mass?
Jake

 

[quasi]

I jack mine from the side directly on the main frame rail under the center of the bike. just be sure you don't jack against the premuffler/cat converter.

 

[Bensonoid]

Try this.

 

[jake6470]

Thanks guys, and nice touch with the pics, that'll help.

 

[Ramg66]

Try this.

Is that the Craftsman jack? If so how do you like it? I think I have been looking at that one.

 

[ricford]

Recently at the Pittbull Spyderfest in Springfield, I had a couple of lights installed so spent some time on the floor of the hall watching the goings on. I noted the folks from Spyderpops had the Craftsman jack and they simply ran it in from the front and heaved it up. Didn't seem to affect anything. On that recommendation, I bought the aluminum ATV jack sold by Craftsman, just shy of 2 bills (we have 11% sales tax). And I've lifted the bike with no ill effect. I got down and looked across under the middle. My cat delete pipe does hang a bit lower than the frame. Don't want to mess that alignment up. But, maybe that's just MY bike. Maybe take a really good look at what's hangin' and do what's best for you. I'm just sayin', I really like the jack. I saw a simUlar jack at Harbor Freight where cheap is King. Didn't like the finish. And I trust Sears more. Just because something 'looks' the same.......

 

[Bensonoid]

Is that the Craftsman jack? If so how do you like it? I think I have been looking at that one.

I really like it. I struggled with a regular floor jack for a while when I first got the spyder. I should have gotten the Craftsman right away.

 

[SpyderSteveFL]

My cat delete pipe does hang a bit lower than the frame. Don't want to mess that alignment up. But, maybe that's just MY bike. Maybe take a really good look at what's hangin' and do what's best for you.

Be vey careful, I personally wouldn't lift from the frunk. At the very least get under the crossmember where the bottom of the frunk bolts in. But with an ATV/Cycle jack I would lift from the center frame if possible.

Eyes can be deceiving, when I looked under I said the same thing, the exhaust pipe hangs below the frame. So I took a short piece of 2x4 to simulate the rail on the jack and lo and behold the pipe is about an 1/8" higher than the frame so jack would be fine. It was an optical illusion of sorts. You may want to check yours and ensure its below.

 

[UtahPete]

Try this.

Thanks for the pics.

 

[2dogs]

Oop's

If you jack your spyder up under the center of the frame and then remove the two front wheels and tires you will quickly change the center of gravity.

 

[canamjhb]

I have the Harbor Freight jack and it works good for me when lifting the entire bike. When I needed to just lift just the front tires, I used my regular old 2 ton floor jack under the outside of the A arms. Did one wheel at a time and 2 wheels stayed on the ground for stability. Easy and uncomplicated.....