Sears red jack modification
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 406
Likes: 13
From: Langley, BC. Canada
Welcome aboard.
My concern for the bolts carrying much more weight is the reason I upgraded them to 1/2".
This may ease your mind:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts..._strength.html
My concern for the bolts carrying much more weight is the reason I upgraded them to 1/2".
This may ease your mind:
http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/bolts..._strength.html
The jack plates are held on with four bolts and if a bike weighs 800 pounds, it looks like even a 5/16" bolt would be strong enough because the weight of the bike is distributed over the 4 bolts. Do you see it that way too?
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,070
Likes: 1
From: Orygun
I finally got around to doing the mod last weekend on my Sears jack, and went with Grade 8 6" bolts with nylock locking nuts. I also used some PVC schedule 120 tubing cut in 1/2" sections as spacers. Everything bolted up nicely and can't wait to give it a try during winter maintenance and mods. Thanks again, Vic, great innovation.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 577
Likes: 2
From: Brampton, Ontario, Canada
well, turns out I actually dont have a craftsman lift. sounds dumb that I didnt realize that, but up in canada, most of the craftsman stuff is sold under a different name at canadian tire (where I bought my jack) when I added the pads to the outside, it was still far too narrow. I moved them even further along the 6 inch bolt which made them long enough, still didnt work because the inside lift bars (the ones that lift the pads) were coming into to contact with the oil pan/guard.
so I added 2 hunks of wood cut to the size of the pads and 1 inch high so that the lifter bar wouldn't touch. It worked. It didnt go as smooth as the longhair's lift, but I eventually got it after a couple hours.
so I added 2 hunks of wood cut to the size of the pads and 1 inch high so that the lifter bar wouldn't touch. It worked. It didnt go as smooth as the longhair's lift, but I eventually got it after a couple hours.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 406
Likes: 13
From: Langley, BC. Canada
Thanks for the excellent idea and guidance SC. I finally did the modification to my jack, which is a Torin, Black Jack jack that is similar in design to yours - with some minor differences. It has 2 round cross braces, which I had to cut and it had 1/2" spacers inside the rails. They came in handy because I needed to use them to space the rails further outside the lifting arms.
I caution readers to measure the rails and spacers (if needed) and lifting arms to determine what length bolts they will need. I just went by one of the posts that said 6" and I had to return them for 5". My original bolts were 12mm and they are really hard to get, so I just went with 1/2" and the holes were fine with them. I was prepared to do some drilling, but did not need to. Although my bolts are grade 8 I wouldn't care if they were hardware store grade, because the shear force on each bolt is 1/4 the weight of my 2001 Wide Glide.612 lbs dry. So let's say an even 640 lbs. That makes a load of 160 lbs on each bolt. That is not bending moment, that is shear force. Certainly not any concern at all.
The jack works awesome. I can now jack my bike up straight from sitting on the jiffy stand. Before I had to screw around with a 2x4 on the front and have someone hold it vertical until I got the jack holding it up.
Also, I can easily put it back to the original configuration for my son's Yamaha Warrior as it fit it perfectly in original form.
Thanks again SC-Longhair. My life is now a better place because of you. :-)
I caution readers to measure the rails and spacers (if needed) and lifting arms to determine what length bolts they will need. I just went by one of the posts that said 6" and I had to return them for 5". My original bolts were 12mm and they are really hard to get, so I just went with 1/2" and the holes were fine with them. I was prepared to do some drilling, but did not need to. Although my bolts are grade 8 I wouldn't care if they were hardware store grade, because the shear force on each bolt is 1/4 the weight of my 2001 Wide Glide.612 lbs dry. So let's say an even 640 lbs. That makes a load of 160 lbs on each bolt. That is not bending moment, that is shear force. Certainly not any concern at all.
The jack works awesome. I can now jack my bike up straight from sitting on the jiffy stand. Before I had to screw around with a 2x4 on the front and have someone hold it vertical until I got the jack holding it up.
Also, I can easily put it back to the original configuration for my son's Yamaha Warrior as it fit it perfectly in original form.
Thanks again SC-Longhair. My life is now a better place because of you. :-)
Thanks Vic! Excellent post, & saved a bunch of us $$ & headaches. If you only knew how may times I looked at those darn HD plastic pieces-o-crap after several frustrating trys -
I like you idea of using them for a marshmellow roast! Mine are going on craigs list - cheap!
I like you idea of using them for a marshmellow roast! Mine are going on craigs list - cheap!
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
From: Florida
I think the only difference in the mods between the Sears Red and the Harbor Freight Yellow (which I bought) is on the Sears you have to cut the cross brace off if I remember correctly. There is no brace on the H.F. one. The H.F. one usually sells for around $80 (the steel one, not the aluminum one). I did the similar mod on H.F. and have been very pleased using it. Very Sturdy etc, I use 1/2" plywood pads just to give the clutch cable extra clearance.
One day when I win the lottery I want one of the drive on's that go up to 30 in's.
One day when I win the lottery I want one of the drive on's that go up to 30 in's.
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Banned
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,494
Likes: 5
well, turns out I actually dont have a craftsman lift. sounds dumb that I didnt realize that, but up in canada, most of the craftsman stuff is sold under a different name at canadian tire (where I bought my jack) when I added the pads to the outside, it was still far too narrow. I moved them even further along the 6 inch bolt which made them long enough, still didnt work because the inside lift bars (the ones that lift the pads) were coming into to contact with the oil pan/guard.
so I added 2 hunks of wood cut to the size of the pads and 1 inch high so that the lifter bar wouldn't touch. It worked. It didnt go as smooth as the longhair's lift, but I eventually got it after a couple hours.
so I added 2 hunks of wood cut to the size of the pads and 1 inch high so that the lifter bar wouldn't touch. It worked. It didnt go as smooth as the longhair's lift, but I eventually got it after a couple hours.
I don't think you should be having a problem with modding this jack. Are you lifting from the rt side?
Looks to be pretty close to the Sears jack?
