Quick question.... I'm using a Sears type 2 rail lift that I've used on my old Dyna. Wanting to put the Road King up on the lift to install a rear lowering kit (LA Choppers). I'm a little worried though cuz theres a cross member under the oil tank that sits a bit lower than the frame rail and the manual says not to put the lift under there but it doesn't seem to want to line up anywhere else..... on the Dyna I had to use these little plastic things that installed on the frame rails but I don't think I need em on the RK.... any suggestions? Pics of where to position the lift rails would be great if anyone has em.....

Thanks!!

 

I had the same lift until I got tired of replacing the bottle jack. I forget what one I have now but it is American made. Regardless it works the same other than the one I have now is lower and easier to get under the bike. In any case I never had the issue you are explaining. Just gonna have to figure it out. Sorry but my Road King is an 01 so maybe there is something different.

 

I put the jack rails right in front of the crossmember, is probably not as stable as could be but I have had no problems thus far.

 

I think the caution note in the manual is just that... A caution. Just use a little common sense and you'll be fine.

With a lift like yours, and lift pads that span across the full width of the frame there is no problem with being on the crossmember. Your lift's pads are going to contact the crossmember at the ends and very near where it is welded to the frame rails... That is essentially the same as contacting the frame rail.

Now if you were using some kind of lift that didn't span across the full width of the frame, I could see damaging/bending the crossmember if you tried to lift the bike with a lifting contact point farther from the frame rail and towards the center of the crossmember.

 

I own a js jack.The instructions tell me to place the rear leg in the u channel under the oil tank and make sure that both legs contact both frame rails. So far I've had no problems jacking that way.
By the way you didn't mention the year of your rk, mine is a 03. I don't know if the new wider frames have the same u channel as mine.

 

Mine is a 2011

this is the style of lift I'm using...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

 

I have the same jack...right up tight to the crossmember and jack away

 

Cool; you look like you're quite far forward with the jack (or is that just the angle of the photo?)... are you in front of the cross member, on it or behind it?

 

Do you want to lift the front wheel, both wheels or just the rear?
The answer to the position is in the question
I use a scissor jack because of its small footprint, like this one:
http://www.easternperformance.com/pr...ic-Motorcycles