The biggest problem w/ your mods are the cantilever installation of one support (due to added spacer), and the fact that you've bored many large holes which virtually destroy the integrity of the supports' vertical walls.

 

I did. And I agree. I'm not concerned that much with the shearing forces of the bolts. I guess that I'm more concerned with the lifting arms. I personally didn't like the way that the bolts had to be loose in the lifting arms with the cantilever forces. With the bolts loose, the bolts would apply lots of force to the top side of the drill holes on the inside of the lifting arms. And force to the bottom side of the outside holes on the lifting arms. I feal like that by tightening the bolts firmly, the whole right side and left side of the lifting arms will burden the load. Plus, it just feels like a more stable platform. The only play that you can feel is in the skids themselves.
Anyway, not really looking for opinions or approvals. As always, anyone has a right to make them and make their own decisions.

 

The cantilever is unavoidable without the lifting blocks.
The holes in the lifting arms were only very slightly increased to accept the 1/2" bolts. Orignaly the threads would go thru. But the sholders wouldn't.
I wouldnt recommend hanging anything from the skids upside down. But there is still plenty of metal there to lift by.

 

The holes in the support channels (to clear the spacers) very nearly wipe out the entire vertical wall.

 

Thanks for all the great info here.... I have moded a "Big Red Lift" by Torin which I guess is a lot narrower.... On the left side I dont think I can clear the bars that I think are protecting the oil pan... what do you think? Larger spacers on the left...

I used Grage 8 7/16 bolts which meant I didnt have to bore out the existing holes.

 

That looks just like the Sears red jack.

I use a small piece of 5/8" plywood on top of the left rear support, to keep the bike level.

 

It’s like the Sears, but because of what I am seeing I guess this Torin is a LOT narrower… added another half inch spacer but am still not clear of that curved bar (its right on the edge which looks pretty unsafe).The gap between the two arms is now 13 ½” (I thought someone said earlier it had to be 13 ¼”) I’m now at the limit of the 6” bolt and I think the stress (leverage) on original lift arm increases as I move further out to left, correct? I have the jack as far to the left as the jiffy will allow (per previous right side pic).

Can you tell me why you still need to use a piece of wood... watching SC's original vid the bike popped up straight and even... are some Dyna frames different then?

Bummed out, I thought I saw others earlier in this thread that had converted the Torin jack. Maybe I have to dump this one, get a Sears and start over… or am I doing something stupidly wrong here?? L

 

The photo shows the support way too far to the left. Take the spacers out and try it.

 

Can someone post a real close up pic of the bike up on the lift?

 

OK, no you've really confused me!! I thought the supports had to lift the bike via the tubular frame bars, not the flat bars that look like they are there to protect the oil pan... is that why I have this so wrong?