Harbor Freight Lift 1000 lb Lift - Fatal Flaw - Read This

[robin1731]

Does this kind of lift make any sense? Northern tool sells this a $99, rated 1500 lb

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I have something similar to that (just a different brand). It is ok for changing tires and cleaning. But I use my table lift 99% of the time.

[wingrider]

DocRoot, you may want to start a new thread on this, but I will give my take on what you posted...the little bit that I have used my little lift, it worked out great, but does lend to being certain you have tied down very well. They are good for getting wheels off, and things like that.

I really would have liked a table lift, but with my current situation, I just don't have the room for one.

I ended up getting on that looked like this one,

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which I felt was a touch sturdier than the one you pictured. I happened to get mine from Northern tool when it was on sale, so I was able to compare them side by side.

[CYBORG]

i use a small one for everything. i have no space for a large table type. hard to store when not in use. the small one also gets high enough that i can sit on a stool while working on the bike, instead of standing

[DocRoot]

i have no space for a large table type. hard to store when not in use.

LOL, if I keep getting "barn finds" I won't have room to turn around

'75 mostly there
'75 to ride: working on carbs today
'76 in pieces, don't know about that one
'77 (my son's ride to CA)
'77 for sale

plus a '79 CX500 and a 400 yammer '82 that doesn't get to hang out with the big boys. I did make more space by hanging some extra engines from the rafters (the engine of Damoclese), and welding and painting goes to the hay loft.

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[Fred Camper]

Those smaller lifts can fit in my garage, not really the big ones until the kids all move out. The issue with the small ones is stability so you will need some floor ties downs. But seems like a good solution for tight garage space.

[Recycled Roadkill]

Does this kind of lift make any sense? Northern tool sells this a $99, rated 1500 lb

Many of us use these type of lifts. Available at Northern as you've said, less expensive at Harbor Freight but it's the same jack. They have an 18" lift and are reasonably stable lifting GWs without tying it down and works well for most of us old guys.

[Bufobufo]

plus a '79 CX500 and a 400 yammer '82 that doesn't get to hang out with the big boys. I did make more space by hanging some extra engines from the rafters (the engine of Damoclese), and welding and painting goes to the hay loft.

"The engine of Damoclese" Quite brilliant, who said the classics were useless?
Err, well me in a former life actually, but I changed my mind.

On a lower level, literally, my 77 400/4 now has a big dent in its previously immaculate chrome front mudguard from something falling on it in our crowded garage. Its tank paintwork also suffered from the kids BMX bikes.

[DocRoot]

who said the classics were useless?

LOL
Actually, I am more likely to terminate with painting and welding in close proximity (my son did a great job of removing the hay residue)... kind of the Hendryx solution without the lost genius. But if Sprout comes back from his XC odyssey to CA (24 year olds have a propensity for finding young lovelies that make them stay) we will do something about this agrarian tribute to the classics

[ericheath]

I like the small ones for ease of moving around. For stability, I strap to the roof. They are teeter-y with a Wing on them.

[Sidecar Bob]

Does this kind of lift make any sense? Northern tool sells this a $99, rated 1500 lb

TSC had them on sale here for $70 last spring so I finally broke down & bought one. Its OK but I am not overly impressed with it at least for working on my machines.

- The safety mechanism consists of arms with pointed ends that engage with pressed ridges (really like louvers) in the frame and I had to (adjust) the length of the arms to get it to lock at a height that is suitable for holding my 'Wing's front wheel off the ground at a reasonable height. It was nice to be able to raise & lower it easily when I was experimenting with fork springs & preload spacers but it I was just changing a tire it would have been just as easy to use the old trolley jack and jackstand as I have done in the past (or centrestand & jackstand before I added the sidecar).
- I used it for removing & reinstalling the 650's engine. The lift has casters at one end and wheels at the other so jockeying the engine out of the frame was tricky. The lifting pads are not parallel to the floor so I had to tip the engine up to vertical while putting the bolts in after jockeying it back into place. It was nice to be able to adjust the height so easily but considering the jockying & tipping the job would have been easy if I had used the furniture dolly as I have done in the past.

And now I have to find a place to store it when I am not using it.

[CYBORG]

the down side for me would be the casters on one end. one my jack, all four corners swivel. makes moving the bike while on the lift a breeze.

[wingrider]

the down side for me would be the casters on one end. one my jack, all four corners swivel. makes moving the bike while on the lift a breeze.

That is one thing I wish mine had...as long as you have room you can move mine, but if you are in tight quarters, it does make it difficult, being I have only 2 wheels that swivel.

[Sidecar Bob]

I am contemplating welding a piece of angle across the front so I can mount casters there instead of the wheels. But it won't happen this year and I would have to figure out how to make the lifting pads level first.

[abert51]

Yeah, Placer.. and a carpet? under the GL, love the sink and cabs too. High marks from a guy who likes things neat,...but it's cleaner than my living room. Hmm, maybe I can get my GL in there on Christmas eve and blame the fat guy in the red suit.

[rcmatt007]

the down side for me would be the casters on one end. one my jack, all four corners swivel. makes moving the bike while on the lift a breeze.

mine only has swivel casters on one end.... but now that I think about it, there is no reason I cannot switch out the fixed ones with swivels