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Just look at the photo more carefully. The engine is the heaviest individual assembly on the bike. Look how far BACK he placed that lift. Of course the llft buckled. When using any lift, but especially any lift with any of the following attributes:
- small platform
- Small foot print
- Aluminum versus steel
You MUST pay attention to placement of the lift with regard to center of gravity of the bike.
It's pretty clear that the pittsburgh aluminum lift probably should not be sold at Harbor Freight, not because it is inherently bad quality, but rather because it requires more mechanical knowledge and experience than some HF customers maybe have.
But despite that, look at the reported review FACTS. The average review was close to a full 5 stars. 95% of users would recommend the product. So despite user misapplications and errors, the lift still got THOSE actual scores. That implies that the vast majority of users find the lift to be just fine, and that the above photo situation is actually quite rare.
Just look at the photo more carefully. The engine is the heaviest individual assembly on the bike. Look how far BACK he placed that lift. Of course the llft buckled. When using any lift, but especially any lift with any of the following attributes:
- small platform
- Small foot print
- Aluminum versus steel
You MUST pay attention to placement of the lift with regard to center of gravity of the bike.
It's pretty clear that the pittsburgh aluminum lift probably should not be sold at Harbor Freight, not because it is inherently bad quality, but rather because it requires more mechanical knowledge and experience than some HF customers maybe have.
But despite that, look at the reported review FACTS. The average review was close to a full 5 stars. 95% of users would recommend the product. So despite user misapplications and errors, the lift still got THOSE actual scores. That implies that the vast majority of users find the lift to be just fine, and that the above photo situation is actually quite rare.
Jim G
You are aware that there are companies that get paid to load reviews of items for sellers? Advertising and selling is huge money.
Buy the lift you choose. Know the limitations.
Denigrating folks because they bought something from someplace is just rude. Guess you will tell me that I am stupid because the jig saw from Harbor Freight broke while cutting e metal door. It made it through 90% of the job and I threw it away. We were moving and my tools were packed and being shipped to me.
It appears to me that you are the dumb *** that cannot make a decision. And if you do your wife will tell you no. FYI - I inform my wife of most purchases, I do not ask permission.
You are aware that there are companies that get paid to load reviews of items for sellers? Advertising and selling is huge money.
Buy the lift you choose. Know the limitations.
Denigrating folks because they bought something from someplace is just rude. Guess you will tell me that I am stupid because the jig saw from Harbor Freight broke while cutting e metal door. It made it through 90% of the job and I threw it away. We were moving and my tools were packed and being shipped to me.
It appears to me that you are the dumb *** that cannot make a decision. And if you do your wife will tell you no. FYI - I inform my wife of most purchases, I do not ask permission.
No need for anyone to insult anyone else. Harbor Freight cusotmers are not dumb. The Pittsburgh product might simply be too hard for an average person to use safely if they don't understand center of gravity, balance, and stability when lifting very long & heavy items. Especially if they do not read or do not understand the provided instructions. Usually, for safety reasons, products that require special knowledge or experience are sold in more specialized retail or wholesale channels. Pittsburgh Automotive may have made a mistake wholesaling this product to Harbor Freight, where the sale people are NOT equipped to explain the issue in lifting long heavy objects safely.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jul 18, 2024 at 03:11 PM.
No need for anyone to insult anyone else. Harbor Freight cusotmers are not dumb. The Pittsburgh product might simply be too hard for an average person to use safely if they don't understand center of gravity, balance, and stability when lifting very long & heavy items. Especially if they do not read or do not understand the provided instructions. Usually, for safety reasons, products that require special knowledge or experience are sold in more specialized retail or wholesale channels. Pittsburgh Automotive may have made a mistake wholesaling this product to Harbor Freight.
Jim G
Your arrogance is showing.
I was raised to "respect my elders", and did so as a child. Into my early 20s I realized that not all my elders were actually worthy. Now that I am 63, I wonder with amusement how some folks made it to my age and older. I know lots of folks who can debate theories, and have attained degrees. But they cannot actually implement it in any technical of mechanical arena. I am beginning to see you are perhaps another example.
Just look at the photo more carefully. The engine is the heaviest individual assembly on the bike. Look how far BACK he placed that lift. Of course the llft buckled. When using any lift, but especially any lift with any of the following attributes:
- small platform
- Small foot print
- Aluminum versus steel
You MUST pay attention to placement of the lift with regard to center of gravity of the bike.
It's pretty clear that the pittsburgh aluminum lift probably should not be sold at Harbor Freight, not because it is inherently bad quality, but rather because it requires more mechanical knowledge and experience than some HF customers maybe have.
But despite that, look at the reported review FACTS. The average review was close to a full 5 stars. 95% of users would recommend the product. So despite user misapplications and errors, the lift still got THOSE actual scores. That implies that the vast majority of users find the lift to be just fine, and that the above photo situation is actually quite rare.
Jim G
I figured that would be your comeback. The guy that posted that pic said he couldn't position the jack further forward due to interference with the 2018+ Softail jiffy stand. Guys with touring models haven't reported any issues because the jiffy stand is located at the front of the primary instead of under the crankshaft like the 2018+ Softail models.
FWIW, the guy said he raised the bike to the first safety stop. He was getting ready to secure the bike with tie downs when a weld failed.
I figured that would be your comeback. The guy that posted that pic said he couldn't position the jack further forward due to interference with the 2018+ Softail jiffy stand. Guys with touring models haven't reported any issues because the jiffy stand is located at the front of the primary instead of under the crankshaft like the 2018+ Softail models.
FWIW, the guy said he raised the bike to the first safety stop. He was getting ready to secure the bike with tie downs when a weld failed.
A weld failure is indeed a serious quality flaw. Sounds like maybe the Pittsburgh lift is better in manufacturing quality than some of the cheaper, lower quality steel jack lifts, but maybe still not good ENOUGH.
Of all the non-table lifts I have Googled, the Big Blue is the ONLY one that claims on its website (presumably with its lawyer's approval) that it has an unblemished safety record after 14 years or so as I recall.
After all the Googling, forum member inputs, and customer reviews, and a side-by-side strengths / weaknesses comparison,I have concluded that the Big Blue is the least risky and highest performing non-table lift (when equipped per the manufacturer's recommended beams for each specific motorcycle type). I don't want to buy the TMG (no track record available) nor the Pittsburgh or simlar type jack lift (the design and lower price brings some known risks). So I'll have to either convince my wife to change her mind, or find another used one that is not located where shipping becomes way too high in relation to the value of the lift.
Given my physical issues, this does leave me with, at least temporarily, no good solution. But that happens in life, and you keep looking for that right solution.
Jim G
Last edited by JimGnitecki; Jul 18, 2024 at 03:28 PM.
For the fun of it, I told Facebook to search a 100 mile radius from Calgary.
No problem finding lots of lifts to chose from, new and used, often for under $100 canada.
Silly children, use a lift to get it up, sit the bike on a dolly then it doesn't make on rats f**k what brand lift you have and it's as or more stable than a table lift and nowhere near as much garage used up.
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