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The first time I put my Street Glide up on my HF jack was the last time. Wobbled too much for my liking.
I know I'll get allot of slack for this but this is the exact reason I bought a J&S Jack.
Yes they are outrageously expensive but I've never had to worry about taking wheels off at the same time or yanking and pounding trying to get a stuck muffler off.
Heck I've removed the entire front end and never gave it a second thought. Bike is always very stable. I've never had to strap it down.
That being said, just make sure you strap in down good to your jack and that it is perfectly balanced and you should be OK.
I have a Torin Black Jack. Rated for 1500 lbs and sell new for around $200. I got mine on craigslist for $40. Very stable and handles the weight of my motorcycle no problem.
I have the old yellow HF jack and never had an issue with the VTX. I also have a U-Shaped stand I can put under the bike and lower it onto from the stand.
How does one jack up the bike while on the jiffy stand? Starting off raising at a tilt would be tricky. A second set of hands might be needed to steady the bike upright while the lifting starts?
As long as the jack's collapsed height is low enough to clear the left frame rail, there's no need to upright the bike. Each pump will slowly upright the bike until both frame rails are level. Some jack's collapsed height won't clear the left frame rail when the bike is resting on the jiffy stand. In that case, uprighting is necessary.
I have the HF MC jack, and have no issue with it at all. When I changed both tires, I did as suggested, and put my scissor jack under it also. Mine was on the rear, not sure it really matters.
Make sure you lower the bike to the safety stops if you are going to leave it. I take mine to Cyclegear and for $25 a tire they remove old tire, mount and balance new one. No issues yet.
edit: I don't remove the mufflers, I find it easier to unbolt the bottom bolt on rear shock. It lets the swingarm drop low enough to remove the axle.
How does one jack up the bike while on the jiffy stand? Starting off raising at a tilt would be tricky. A second set of hands might be needed to steady the bike upright while the lifting starts?
My jack does not clear the frame rail on the jiffy stand side. No big deal.
Run the jack under the bike while on the jiffy stand, as far as it goes. Reach over and grasp the throttle, lean the bike partially upright, while further sliding the jack under.
Now simply lift with the jack.
When lowering, simply tilt the bike towards the jiffy stand side when the wheels are on the ground. Again lift the bike up a little with the throttle grip to slide the jack out.
My HF lift is wiggly while going up on the hydraulic cylinder, but quite stable when lowered onto the locks.
While it may be a bit different than the jack the OP queried about I've used the type ( probably the same brand ) that @MotoJockey has shown for over 25 years and have never had a problem ... Changing the front tire, changing the rear tire and changing both tires at the same time along with a fork rebuild
After some investigation of jacks in 2015 I bought the J&S Jack specifically because it had the lowest profile height when collapsed allowing me to slide it under my Ultra Limited "LOW" while on the jiffy stand. Granted it only clears the frame rails by less than 1/4 inch but that's enough clearance for it to easily slide under.
I don't really use the J&S Jack to do much more than clean the cycle but most importantly, it allows me to easily move my Ultra into the far corner of my garage after riding and park the cars inside too.
My jack does not clear the frame rail on the jiffy stand side. No big deal.
Run the jack under the bike while on the jiffy stand, as far as it goes. Reach over and grasp the throttle, lean the bike partially upright, while further sliding the jack under.
Now simply lift with the jack.
When lowering, simply tilt the bike towards the jiffy stand side when the wheels are on the ground. Again lift the bike up a little with the throttle grip to slide the jack out.
My HF lift is wiggly while going up on the hydraulic cylinder, but quite stable when lowered onto the locks.
My jack clears the 14SGS just fine, but this is exactly how I have to get it under the 03 RKC. Pull on the throttle slightly and gentle push on the jack with my foot.
I cannot see a safe way to completely lift a motorcycle using a single point automotive jack. Not just no, but hellllllllll no. I wouldnt even try.
Craftsman still sells their motorcycle lift for 159 bucks. It comes with loop attachments for your safety straps and a safety bar. The ONLY downside is it take up a bit of floor space. I use this lift on my 1000LB Electra Glide with no problems whatsoever. (with both wheels off). I HATE investing in tools, but a dedicated bike lift is a must for anyone performing routine maintenance.
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