bike jack failed
bike jack failed
Well, I just got off the phone with the wife. Before I came back overseas, I put the RG up on the jack (yellow craftsman) which has the "locks" She told me tonight that she went into the garage and the bike was leaning WAAAY over toward the kickstand. She didn't know for sure how long it had been like that because she had been out of town for two weeks. It obviously bled down over time, otherwise it would have probably been on its side. She looked the bike over and didn't see anything out of the ordinary, but she is no expert. The only thing she did tell me was there was some oily residue of some kind on the belt guard. All I can think of is maybe the shock is leaking. Is that a possibility? If not, what could it be? She intends on have a dealership pick the bike up before I get home and do a service on it. Right now the bike is on the kickstand, both wheels on the ground, but she cannot get the jack to go down far enough to get it out from under the bike, so the jack is stuck under there. That sucks too because whe can't get it to Sears for a possible warranty replacement and by the time I get home, the 1 year warranty will be up. Also, I should be home in around 90 days. Is 90 days enough time to be bad on the tires with it just sitting?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 9,486
Likes: 4
From: Hico, TX (once home to Billy the Kid)
90 days will not be an issue I was in Canada over two winters and it stayed once (real long) for at least 90 days in the garage there. Relax, it will be okay sitting on the tires.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 400
Likes: 3
From: SouthWest, CA
You might want to have her try releasing the valve on the jack (if she hasn't already) then sit on the bike for a bit and see if that lowers it enough to get the jack out. She might need to keep sitting on it to keep it upright while someone else pulls it out?
I have a costco motorcycle jack that the bottlejack gave out on me and released all the hydraulic fluid all over the garage floor. Fortunately, it didn't drop the bike, I think it did what yours did and slowly let the bike down. Happened over night. Took that one part back to costco and they gave me the bottlejack out of another package. Been fine ever since.
Maybe your wife can call Sears and talk to a manager to let them know what's going on and when you are due back? They BETTER help you!
Good luck!
Ernie
I have a costco motorcycle jack that the bottlejack gave out on me and released all the hydraulic fluid all over the garage floor. Fortunately, it didn't drop the bike, I think it did what yours did and slowly let the bike down. Happened over night. Took that one part back to costco and they gave me the bottlejack out of another package. Been fine ever since.
Maybe your wife can call Sears and talk to a manager to let them know what's going on and when you are due back? They BETTER help you!
Good luck!
Ernie
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 17,547
Likes: 7,153
From: Oxford, Nc
A neighbor or friend might get a car jack under the right side frame opposite the front highway peg and lift the bike against the side stand to raise the frame up enough to get the jack out of there and back to Sears.
When you engaged the locks, the jack should have been lowered down on to them, eliminating the hydraulic mechanism for storage.
When you engaged the locks, the jack should have been lowered down on to them, eliminating the hydraulic mechanism for storage.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 731
Likes: 2
From: Montreal Quebec Canada
Good luck with everything-I store my bikes over the winter with no problem, a little extra air in the tires when u store it is good. I never leave mine on the jacks, don't think u will have an issue. 
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,806
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From: New Bern NC
I don't have any experience with the yellow Craftsmen jack but every motorcycle jack I have ever used has a mechanical safety or "lock" if you prefer. If that was set, and the pressure was released from the cylinder as it should always be once the load is secured, there is no load to cause the cylinder seal to fail and if it did the bike should no longer be relying on the cylinder for support so it shouldn't move. It sound like you left the bike supported by the cylinder rather than than mechanical "lock."
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 371
Likes: 4
If she has help, try jacking bike up again with foot pump, and than releasing the valve again. Once bike is on kickstand, have her step on the jack or put more pressure on jack. It will bleed off enough to pull out from under bike. If that makes sense.