PitBull motorcycle lifts, HF tables, etc....

[billz410]

Here's yet another topic that's been covered about 147 times, but I was just wondering if anyone is familiar with the PitBull brand of motorcycle lift, and why a person would pay that big money vs the typical Harbour Freight lift. (Other than for patriotic reasons.)

For those of you that use a jack and some sort of an adaptor, are you satisfied, or do you wish you'd spent some extra coin and got a motorcycle table?

Why would you want one style as opposed to another? It seems to me that if you were doing an oil change with a jack and an adaptor you'd have the ol' where-do-I-set-the-oil-pan routine going on, with half of the oil ending upon the floor, and the rest slobbered all over your jack....

What works for you guys??

[diveboatcaptain]

I saw the PitBull demonstrated here during Thunder Beach. The guy put a Harley on it, jacked it up as high as it would go. He then climbed up on the bike and sat on the seat talking about the lift. The bike was not strapped down to the jack. He then got off the bike and spun the jack around in a circle and pushed it around the parking lot with the bike still on it. The bike never moved. If I had the money, that is what I would buy.

[macmac]

I have not seen the Pit Bull, but will go search it. Sounds good..

I own the HF and it works ok, as expected I guess. Mine has a very sensitive release, and the first time I used it, it scared me! After that I can lower the bike slow, by heeling the ground and just barely touching the release pedal.

I don't have any adapter and shim the rear lifting tabs with 2 squares of 3/8" ply wood apx 2x2 square. The forward pad hits the lug on the engine oil pan, and I get a fairly stable 3 point lift this way.

Still I strap the bike down and support which ever other wheel is coming off.

I don't use any lift to change oil, so nothing is in my way.

Sears makes a somewhat better quaility lift for more money of course... It works the exact same way. but has better hydralics user wise.

[chief]

Macmac, I wondered about lifting the bike that way. I have done it myself , but I always wondered if I was just lucky that I didn't bust the engine case wide open. I'm usually by myself when I'm working on my bike. Last week I put a new front tire on , and had to carefully position all the blocks of wood on the craftsman jack, and It scarred the crap out of me. I strapped it down, but I reckon if it started to go, I ain't gonna stop it. It felt way more secure on the two rear tabs and the front engine case.

[macmac]

Pretty steep money, but very nice stuff. I work mostly on my own bike and have no need for a pro lift. Mine does what I need, just basics, and is rated for 1,500 pounds which is a lot more than the Nomad needs.

If you have bucks, and like nice stuff you don't use much, then that lift is for you, unless you are a full time pro tech.

On a Nomad there are 3 main things you need a lift for, rear tire, ft tire and lowering the engine. Anything else just about can be done off the side stand, and most any lift could be in the way.

No lift that goes to 25 inches will stop you from stooping and or bending.

I have the back from hell and so I squat, sit and kneel, but don't stoop to bend over other than very short amounts of time.

And if I do I pay for it..

[chief]

With a table type jack wouldn't you still need to lift the bike up with the frame to get a wheel off? Seems kinda redundant to me, but I have a nice concrete garage fllor that is level, so the craftsman lift has worked for me on my last two bikes. The Nomad is harder because the dang engine is below the frame rails as you have already noticed.

[borto1990]

I have the harbor freight motorcycle table lift. the cheap foot pedal one and I LOVE it!!! If you have a local store by you, sign up to their website. I got a 40% emailed coupon for any one item in stock. so the lift was on sale at 329 with 40% off. I hear most are 20% ers.. I LOVE this lift.. it does not take much, maybe 20 pumps of the foot and it's raised like 30 inches. Has the drop out rear tail. I did ditch that cheap wheel chock and for 29 bucks added the HF drive on wheel chock. I drive the bike on the lift and get off and leave it there. no straps. having a full table it nice, you can raise it up, put your tools or cleaning stuff on the table as you work. for the money, I don't think you can beat this lift at all.. it's in my opinion the best purchase I made!!

[macmac]

Most table lifts that go to 30 inches or so have a removable section, that pulls out or drops out.

I rent and so share a house that has a barn made for horses... The barn is my work shop and it has a clay sand floor.. I use sheets of ply wood with the HF lift, and don't really need straps..

I like being safe over hurt and sorry and would use straps on any lift, not giving a whit about how so called secure a sales man makes a lift look.

A wheel weighs enough to up set most any bike if the other wheel isn't supported.. (other than a table type lift bolted to the floor.)

The fact the Nomad has a lower engine than other bike makes a very stable 3 point lift on a HF lift.

Old milk stools have 3 legs for a reason .....

[billz410]

All very good points. It's true that even with a table, you'll need an additional support device to secure the ol' Nomad when removing a tire. I guess it's kind of like buying a phonograph, first it's one record, then another, and another. It's the table, the lift, some more tools, a tool chest, a three-car garage.

Holy cow did I just say 'phonograph'??? What a dinosaur.

Good point, macmac, on the fact that a 25-inch lift will still require some stooping/bending. Well I'm sure sometime within the next year I'll get something figured out. I've had the parts for the Caddman mod now for about three months and still haven't gotten that done.

Sounds like that HF table works pretty well.....

[cactusjack]

All very good points. It's true that even with a table, you'll need an additional support device to secure the ol' Nomad when removing a tire. I guess it's kind of like buying a phonograph, first it's one record, then another, and another. It's the table, the lift, some more tools, a tool chest, a three-car garage.

Holy cow did I just say 'phonograph'??? What a dinosaur.

Good point, macmac, on the fact that a 25-inch lift will still require some stooping/bending. Well I'm sure sometime within the next year I'll get something figured out. I've had the parts for the Caddman mod now for about three months and still haven't gotten that done.

Sounds like that HF table works pretty well.....

Phonograph?? Hey, they have these new 8-track tapes you ought to look at. It's the wave of the future. http://s2.images.proboards.com/grin.gif

[borto1990]

yea macmac, if I do any kind of wrenching on the bike I still strap her down but I have not just for polishin. AS LONG as you have the different wheel chock. I did get the black jack scissor jack also for holding the bike for tire changes but youi could do that cheaper. I like my setup though...

[phot]

I think it is all down to how much money your are happy to invest. I bought one of those small HF jacks and made some adapters to fit the frame. It did the job, but I was never happy with it. I was always concerned about the bike falling, it was never stable and when removing items like a wheel, the weight shifted and the whole thing became even more unstable. I was sure one day the whole thing would come crashing down. I know some guys have used them for years with no complaint, but not for me. I invested in a "Handy" motorcycle table lift which has a wheel vice for the front and a panel at the rear to enable the rear wheel to be "dropped" through. As mentioned you still need to put a scissor jack or something underneath for support when taking off a wheel, but boy its a pleasure working on the bike. The first job I did was the swing arm service, together with a tyre change and a load of other stuff made easy with the rear wheel off. Working on the bike with it up high was great, solid as a rock with the wheel vice, straps and a scissor under the frame lugs. I now know that all future work I do will be made easier and more importantly, much safer. Yes, it was quite a lot to spend, but it will last a lifetime, a lifetime which will now be extended as I wont have a Nomad falling on me. I have offered use of the lift to a few local friends with bikes, should they need it. I have also heard of a few guys who have clubbed together to buy one to share, as a lift is often not used for some time (might be a plan?). As I began, for some, the cost of just keeping a bike on the road is a struggle and the idea of spending a large sum on a table lift is just out of the question. However if you able to afford it I can assure you that you will not have a single regret. I don't know anyone who has bought one and afterwards said it was money wasted!

[billz410]

Phot-

After that occolade for table lifts, you may have just made up my mind! Thanks for your input based on your experiences.

[macmac]

Well for me with a royal bad back I can work best laying on my side, or sitting on the floor, so anything that raises a bike enough to drop a wheel is best for me.

I don't have any helper usually unless I beg off my wife, who isn't 'into' doing this sort of thing.

So when I installed a rear tire I had to set it up and sit with the tires on my knees.

I don't think on a table lift I could muster the energy to wrasel a tire into place, as for me I would be too far off to the side, and I can't lift and bend that way anymore.

So for me that HF lift is all I need. I got used to the fast let down, after getting scared the first time!, but once I know I just know.. And since I know i can slowly let any bike down ....

My back as it is I can walk, even run some, but I simply can not stand in one place very long.

With any lift not a table lift it is a wise idea to lock the brake and block what ever wheel isn't coming off before you drop the wheel that is.

table lifts are all different from one another, and won't work well to drop the engine on a Nomad..

[v0lusia]

I have not seen the Pit Bull, but will go search it. Sounds good..

I own the HF and it works ok, as expected I guess. Mine has a very sensitive release, and the first time I used it, it scared me! After that I can lower the bike slow, by heeling the ground and just barely touching the release pedal.

I don't have any adapter and shim the rear lifting tabs with 2 squares of 3/8" ply wood apx 2x2 square. The forward pad hits the lug on the engine oil pan, and I get a fairly stable 3 point lift this way.

Still I strap the bike down and support which ever other wheel is coming off.

I don't use any lift to change oil, so nothing is in my way.

Sears makes a somewhat better quaility lift for more money of course... It works the exact same way. but has better hydralics user wise.Someone on the VolusiaRiders site posted this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j46NwUqjM7w
He put a bolt through the release lever to limit it's movement. I may try it this summer with my HF jack