bike lift use

I just assembled my new craftsman bike lift....hope this is not indicative of how my tear down is going to go! Can't figure out how to mount my 78 650 on the darn thing...the way I'm reading it, even if I remove the exhaust system, the lift pads will press against the oil pan, and not the frame...doesn't seem like a good idea to me...feedback? Edit: added pic of lift.

You might need to get blocks of wood and build you a frame to lift your bike. If this is the only bike you are going to lift on the thing you could make a permanent adapter.

I bought the one up from yours......it was yellow and black......might be a industrial version.

It hits funny on the oil filter bolt and bike will be rocky or unstable at times. Roy is right, you will nee to use some wood for shims or weld up a mount bracket that will mount to bike or engine with a flat base to ride on jack pads.

I would hope you can find a fix with spacers......if you do, try to permanently affix them to lift base for safety.

Once or twice.....I thought bike might fall over, not the best feeling is it?

ya you will want some way to fasten the bike to the lift. It would be bad if it fell over.

I use old seat rubber cushions. Like these with wood spacers connected to the jack.

That lift works best with a Harley because their frame tubes are lower then the engine cases and exhaust. I have made brackets that attach to the centerstand frame tabs and frame down tubes to use a lift like this on a UJM. Can you fab some brackets?

Thanx for the feedback, all! I got spend an unseasonably warm Ohio afternoon riding instead of wrenching but took some time after to think about an adapter, now that the concesus is in, and I know I'm going need one. I am approaching this very carefully...I do not like the thought of baby landing on either the floor or myself! No wobbles, please! I doodled up something that might work...I. hope the pic is sufficiently legible...dimensions yet to be taken, just for my visualization aid...no art critics! LOL! really like the seat bumper idea, but the exhaust would have to come off first. Not a big deal, I guess, but if this channel/hook confabulation would be strong enough, one could work them between the frame and exhaust tubes....still kinda like the idea of building a table lift out of this little thing...seems like it might be a lot more stable..thanx again, all!

Just curious - is there some specific task you are planning that will require both wheels to be removed at the same time? I have always found it easy to remove anything behind the engine (swingarm, wheel, etc.) just using the centerstand OR anything forward of the engine (front forks, steering stem, etc.) by using the centerstand and a bottle jack under the front of the engine. Of course, I could not remove both the rear and front stuff at the same time that way. Ed

Fair question, ed...other than possibly sending wheels out for relacing, I can't thinkn n nonnfnmy desire is to elevate and make it all somewhat easier on my back, I don't hunker nearly as well as I used to! Lol!n

Ah - that I definitely understand! My back isn't exactly the same as when I was young. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Ed