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I position 4 hockey pucks on the jack where they'll make contact with frame so the jack arms won't hit anything below frame level including wiring and brake lines.
I think your picture perspective is off just a little. I don't think anything sticks below the frame rails.
In any case, that is how I remember my 2012. I never gave it a second thought and using a jack that reaches from one frame rail to the other, I never had an issue.
FWIW..... Harley made lifting adapters for the Dyna models (a small piece of wood was just as effective) and lifting adapters for the softail models (to keep the jack from pushing about 1/8-1/4" on the shock bodies and flexing the shock) when using a jack on these models.
They never made/sold lifting adapters for the touring bikes that I am aware of...
Also FWIW... here are a few of my bikes with the adapters and two of my baggers w/o adapters. Totally anecdotal, but I've never had an issue. These are all Twin Cams, no M8s.
Softaill lifting adapters
Dyna lifting adapters
Dyna w/ a piece of wood after I stopped messing with the adapters
2016 Bagger w/o any lifting adapters
2012 bagger w/o any lifting adapters
Again, all anecdotal.... just sharing my experience....
Last edited by hattitude; Sep 2, 2025 at 06:43 PM.
Looks like you are using a Jack just under the swing arm I was going to use a Jack that slides under the bike maybe I will build it up so it clears all. All good Dont wanna make it too complicated
Looks like you are using a Jack just under the swing arm I was going to use a Jack that slides under the bike maybe I will build it up so it clears all. All good Dont wanna make it too complicated
If you mean me, it's just to the rear portion of the frame... I do that when I plan to dump fluids. I have on numerous occasions put it right across the frame plate, and another one across the frame just aft of the jiffy stand mount, especially when removing both wheels for new rubber...
I just made up some wood strips and I routed out the edges of the wood and cleared the crossmember so I can jack up the bike without touching the crossmember worked fine. I did see that warning in the manual about jacking up on the crossmember and also motor
I put my jack in front of the cross bar. I don't recall ever putting lift under the cross bar I suspect you would have trouble getting back end off the ground if you do that.
Mine might be wider I guess the forks that lift up the bike might be the problem. But work for my Dyna. All good now. I guess as time goes on bikes change on the frames
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