Harbor Freight Cycle Jack - the yellow one!
Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 142
Likes: 1
I was doing an oil change on my buddies ultra and got a chance to use his yellow harbor freight jack. I was actually surprised how decent it was! The one thing i didn't like was the lowering speed! That bike dropped to fast for me and it has two speeds! I used the slower one and it was a little scary so it was time for me to perform some surgery. I removed the the jack drained the **** oil out and replaced it with some harley hd fork oil! An hour later and what a difference it made. Im thinking about going to an even heavier weight next time just to see how slow i can get it to lower. For all you guys that use this jack try replacing the oil to something heavier im sure you will be happy.
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 901
Likes: 5
From: Springfield, MO
Excellent suggestion.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 576
Likes: 20
From: Eau Claire, WI
Holy crap i'd be a twitchy nervous wreck with that bike on that lift with no tie downs. I'm sure you've had no issues, i'm not bashing you, but myself, i'd never be able to work on it and apply any preassure to the bike, i'd be to worried i'd knock it off the jack somehow.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 285
Likes: 3
From: Parkton,MD.
I guess I'm in the minority but I bought a Pit Bull about 7 years ago. I never tie my bike down to the jack and I've moved it all over my garage with the bike on it. The only problem that I have had with the Pit Bull is I had to purge the jack twice to remove the air in the jack. After calling tech support in TN, I found it was my fault for not closing the jack release valve when not in use. Even after using my PB all these years, I release jack valve and allow bike to come down just fast enough for me to get up and around to kickstand side of bike so I am sure kickstand is down and that it settles down on the garage floor okay. As far as what jack is best, I think it's up to the individual to buy the one he wants and he is happy with. There are a lot of HF & Sears jack owners with only positive comments on them so they must be right dependable jacks.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 5,092
Likes: 2
From: Wenatchee, WA
Tie downs? (??)
Concur that for oil changes it's a bargain and I wouldn't condemn it especially at the price. ($100).
On the other hand doing more challenging work that requires stability, mobility and height it might be a good idea to go with something like J&S.
Concur that for oil changes it's a bargain and I wouldn't condemn it especially at the price. ($100).
On the other hand doing more challenging work that requires stability, mobility and height it might be a good idea to go with something like J&S.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,893
From: Oklahoma
I was doing an oil change on my buddies ultra and got a chance to use his yellow harbor freight jack. I was actually surprised how decent it was! The one thing i didn't like was the lowering speed! That bike dropped to fast for me and it has two speeds! I used the slower one and it was a little scary so it was time for me to perform some surgery. I removed the the jack drained the **** oil out and replaced it with some harley hd fork oil! An hour later and what a difference it made. Im thinking about going to an even heavier weight next time just to see how slow i can get it to lower. For all you guys that use this jack try replacing the oil to something heavier im sure you will be happy.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 661
Likes: 2
Appreciate all the comments... I am looking at the TITAN 1,500# Jack... Not as inexpensive as the HF and not as expensive as the J&S... Looks to me to be a good 'bang-for-the-buck'... I have one of their 'BullDog' wheel chocks and love it...
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HF Jack
Great idea regarding the oil, I've not had a problem with the speed, but adding a heavier weight oil would make it even better. I've had no problems with the jack, I store my bike on it all winter in my garage. Works great!
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Advanced
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
Been using the same for 7 years now. Here's how I lift mine (my Glide is also lowered).
1. With the bike on the jiffy stand I position the jack on the right side with the rear foot of the jack under the area near the thick wire tie on the frame rail.
2. With my right hand I get a GOOD grip on the handlebar just in front of the front brake master cylinder.
3. I then grab the handle of the jack and in one smooth action I pull on the handlebar to bring the bike up level at the same time I shove the jack under the bike.
4. I then immediately start pumping on the pump pedal. You can tell if the bike is weight biased front to rear. I just lower the bike and shift the jack accordingly. I then raise it a few inches off the ground then set the safety lock!
1. With the bike on the jiffy stand I position the jack on the right side with the rear foot of the jack under the area near the thick wire tie on the frame rail.
2. With my right hand I get a GOOD grip on the handlebar just in front of the front brake master cylinder.
3. I then grab the handle of the jack and in one smooth action I pull on the handlebar to bring the bike up level at the same time I shove the jack under the bike.
4. I then immediately start pumping on the pump pedal. You can tell if the bike is weight biased front to rear. I just lower the bike and shift the jack accordingly. I then raise it a few inches off the ground then set the safety lock!