Motorcycle Jack TOO TALL?! (Or Bike too Low)

linx

linx

Active Member
Jeez, finally found someone with a motorcycle jack and the dang thing is too tall....either that or the bike is too low. The jack I borrowed is a GM Goodwrench blue motorcycle jack.

What's up with this? It's a standard jack like everyone has. It looks like it sits extremely low to the ground and other than the color is identical to the Craftsman jack.

Anyone else have this problem? Any solution other than buying a lift? I'm glad I didn't buy a jack I couldn't use!
 
mobsta

mobsta

Well-Known Member
i lift the rack part off off the hydraulic jack and slide it under,you can also kinda lean the bike away from the jack and slide it under,hope this helps linx:cheers:
 
R

Ratman

Active Member
My jack (Pitbull jack) goes under my Mastiff...but it is close. I believe some of the guys put a piece of wood (2x4) under one of the wheels (rear?) in order to get the jacks under the bikes more easily. There was some discussion on this probably over a year ago. Good luck!
 
meyerld

meyerld

Member
I believe most guys without the lift use the craftsman yellow motorcycle jack. It fits under my K9. Its important to get the yellow one though - the other motorcycle jack they sell is too tall.
 
V

V

Guru
If you have yor bike on a lift and have the front strapped down to tight it can cause interfence between the jack and the frame. On my Ridgeback I clamp the front wheel and while lifting up on the bars to extend the forks knida use my foot to slide the black jack under, but its tight.

V
 
linx

linx

Active Member
Thanks for the tips guys. I don't have it on a lift...just trying to lift it on the ground with a motorcycle jack to diagnose a potential clutch hub nut problem. I borrowed this lift from a buddy of mine to see if it would work before I bought one. Plus I wanted to use it, lol.

I'm not seeing what ya mean Mobsta or Ratman...not wanting to damage the bike or anything. Mobsta, I didn't try leaning the bike over any further than it does on the kick stand, but that's a option I didn't think of!

I didn't know this had been discussed but didn't find a thread either.

Gonna look at the yellow jack as soon as possible.
 
Brew

Brew

Troop Supporter
I usually roll my bike up a small ramp that I made and slide my jack underneath. Works great...:D
 
O

OMAR"S WELDING

Member
i have the harbor freight jack i bought for my quads it fit under my 04 mastiff just barely i have also put the back tire on a Deck board it lifts the rear just enough its hard to do by yourself but it can be done
 
S

Steve1028

Well-Known Member
I have the Craftsman red jack, and it's too tall. I had some old wheel chocks laying around that had been cut from a 4x6 that I ended up using as ramps.
 

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zombie

zombie

Member
I have a craftsman and its the same. I keep a 2x12 section about 2 foot long and roll my back tire up on it and it slides right under. Recently I started using a rubber piece that fits around one of the tall traffic dividers that I found on the side of our road. Ots about 2 and a half inches thick. It works perfect. I do put her in gear when I get her rolled back on the "riser" until I get the jack under her and get her secured. Its a cheap and easy fix
 
Splitlog

Splitlog

Well-Known Member
There is a thread I saw on here that shows how to modify the red craftsman Jack. You can also find it o. Google
 
BWG56

BWG56

Guru
I back up on a piece of 2x10, just don't forget to make sure its there when you let it down, or back up ya go.
 
linx

linx

Active Member
Well I tried the 2x4 under the back wheel and I still didn't have enough clearence. So, no-go on that.

However, I store my bike at my office (insulation company) and I keep it in our showroom to keep the bike warm and on a tender. I got to thinking, and my conclusion is...

Fuck the jack! :D


Who needs a jack when you have a perfectly working forklift with a side shifting fork positioner?! LOL



LOL, of course I only had it off the ground high enough to get the back wheel off the concrete. In an ideal situation, or if I use it any higher, I'll strap the bike off to the carriage on the forklift. The funny thing is, we have 2 lifts, and the one we use the most has a squeeze clamp on the front of it, so honestly I forgot about the lift with the forks on it...since it rarely gets used.

So take notice if anyone is contepating getting a jack...it may not work like you're wanting.

Ignore the mess in my warehouse. When you have employees that don't give a shit, it get's messy real quick.
 
T

TheDeadOne

Banned
Linx,

Most all of the standard motorcycle jacks are too tall due to our low ground clearances with the big dogs.
I think the craftsman jack is 4" or 4 1/2" at it's lowest point. :nono:

But the only way to use it it to run both the front and rear wheels up onto a block of wood or something. Sucks, I know! :down:

I saw this the other day on ebay, it's the same as one of mine for the dogs, works great and easily rolls under too. Check it out! :2thumbs:

OTC Motorcycle and ATV Lift Jack 1545 : eBay Motors (item 330425791093 end time Apr-27-10 01:28:41 PDT)

"Don't be a fool, use the right TOOL"! :D :2thumbs: :lol::lol::lol: j/k

Hope this helps! Good Luck! :2thumbs:

dead :cheers:
 
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zipsman03

zipsman03

Active Member
I too have the pitbull for my pitbull w/ 360 table, makes it even worse. I have couple extra 25 lb steel weights that I sit the rear wheel and kickstand on to get the bike up and down and I still have to lean it toward me to make it work.:loony: but it works and I can just sit and spin.
 
meyerld

meyerld

Member
Again, I have a K9 and the yellow craftsman jack does fit underneath just fine. I believe its a 3 or 3.5 inch jack. Not a lot of clearance, but enough.
 
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