How to lift a softail?
 

I just picked up a 1500 lb bike lift from Northern Tool and if I center it under the Fatboy it hits on the shocks. What do you guys do? Thanks!

Put a piece of scrap 2x under your jiffy stand. It will give you enough room to slide the lift under.

Or just rock your bike a bit to the side opposite the jack. Mine did that too and all I had to do was put my hip against it to lift it about 1/2". Or run your front wheel up on a 1"X4" piece of lumber.

Roll the bike so the rear wheel rests on a piece of flat wide wood of the height you need to get the lift under. It's how you jack up a slammed car. ;)

Sorry, I didn't describe my problem very well. Yep, I did what oc1014 said. I put the jiffy stand on a 2X4 and was able to slide the bike lift under the bike. The problem is when I actually start lifting the bike. On softails the shocks are underneath the bike and I'm worried about pushing up on them while lifting the bike. If I put the lift in front of the shocks only the front tire lifts off the floor. Any solutions will be appreciated. Thanks!

I cut a couple pieces of 1"X4" and laid them on my jack just under the frame tubes, running front to back, not from side to side.

I do this on my Badboy because it is lowered and it works well. On my Lo I can just lean the bike to the opposite side the stand is on and I can wheel it underneath. It depends on the height of the stand I guess, but the wood trick is easy and works well.

Edit: I just read your last post. I lift both my bikes often, and have never damaged the shocks.

You are not going to hurt the shocks by lifting the bike. Been doing it with no aids on the wifes 2006 Deluxe since we got it new. NEVER a problem of any kind. Its not as if you are slamming the shock with a sledge hammer...you are just lifting on it, and it will move enough to lift with no issues.

Hell, I have even left the bike on the jack over the winter, and still had no issues...Its a bike, not a china doll.

Don't worry so much, and enjoy the bike.

Keep jacking it up the other tire will lift eventually

Good advice. I used 1x2s 'cause they were laying there. I would NEVER lift my softie with the weight on the shocks. Got a J&S jack recently: no problem clearing the shocks and so frikkin stable, it's unreal. Anybody want a POS 20 year old used jack ?????? Only $1, but $500.00 freight and/or beer! :icon_lol: