Sears Craftsman Red Motorcycle Lift Modification for H-D Dyna models
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.ย. 2024
- Modded my Sears Craftsman Red Motorcycle jack to handle the irregular Dyna frame WITHOUT using the H-D dyna lift adapters (which are junk) and/or rolling your bike up on 2x6's for extra height. Jack cost $119.99. (4) new bolts 1/2" x 5.5 (or 6") $10.00. Total cost: $130.00.
Update: I did space the lift pads out another 1/2" using 1/2" x 1/2" ID using nylon spacers purchased for a few cents each at a local hardware store. This added spacer at each mount point definitely adds to the mod.
Discussion thread: www.hdforums.co...
![POLYCAT - ข้อความรูปยิ้ม [Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/lBhIgPGCgbI/mqdefault.jpg)
My son bought me that very jack,it was quite useless because of it's instability, but thanks to your mod. that has change! Thanks for taking the time to post.
Glad it worked out for ya, Jim.
12 years later and still helping people out, thanks for the vid!
I just bought a Sears Craftsman motorcycle jack that was several years old as there are no new Craftsman jacks in any inventory anymore. I chose the old Craftsman because many of the current models are cheezed down on quality. The new ones have much less metal, and the designs have shrunk down the heavy gage main frame with less bracing and no metal around the front wheels. The Craftsman jack is a beast and weighs probably 10 to 30 pounds more than the Harbor Freight and all the other knock offs. So, this gave me the opportunity to buy the best at less costs and clean it up and refurbish it which I've done. I first sanded all the rust off the frame with small wire wheels and flap wheels on my drill. Then use Rust-Oleum (Rusty Metal Primer) on the whole frame followed by the Rust-Oleum Semi-Gloss Black brush on topcoat. The red parts I bought a spray can of "Cherry Red" Rust-Oleum metal paint and sanded down all the rust and sprayed that on. Next a lot of the hardware was working but looked bad - especially the Acorn Nuts used on all the pivot points. I bought new stainless Acorn Nuts and some lock and flat washers and got rid of all the rusty bits. On the platform top where the motorcycle sits, I replaced the rusty Acorn nuts with some stainless-steel lifting triangle shaped eyelet nuts. The Craftsman has all M12 heavy duty fasteners. The triangle (eyelets) can be attached to the bike at first contact and the bike will not go anywhere during the lifting process unlike the loops down on the base cannot be used until the bike is fully up in the air. I've posted the final assembly build and modified skid plate on a Kawasaki Versys X300 to allow it to be lifted up in the air. The video is on my channel - LINK: th-cam.com/video/ZOFhH2zYQyM/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=trekOCLVone
Just did this mod yesterday..works really well. Have a Machine Mart lift(am in the UK) and did the same-removed the center bar,longer bolts on the end furthest from the pump.
After acquiring the jack and necessary hardware, total mod time was less than a half hour. Afterwards I was amazed to see how it fits under the bike and lines up with the lift points! You'd think it was made for it. Now I can lift my 2010 FXDC easily and safely.
Thanks!
I went down to the Sears in town to buy one of those jacks, but the store was locked up tighter than a Bull's ass. I knocked and I knocked but nobody came to the damned door. I'll go get my Sears catalog and order it up by phone. Thanks for your help!
Genius!!!!! I have my old Craftsman lift from 2004 when I used it with my 4 wheeler. Was trying to figure out the best way to use it with my Dyna. Saw Vic's vid and 15 minutes later, done...
It is worth noting that I wouldn't try cutting the center tube out with a hacksaw. It would be pretty tough. Just use a cutoff wheel and done.
Thanks for the tip Vic...
rca1070 Yeah, hacksaw would be rough. Sawzall would be better. Cut off wheel (which is what I used) was quickest option.
People complain it's cheap chinese made...but I remember trying to cut that support bar with a hacksaw first. Yeah, I don't think so. :)
Glad it worked out for ya.
I just bought the Sears jack. saw the underside of Dyna and realized I need a adapter. harley didn't have the $25 adapter so I ordered one. Not here yet! Saw your video and, WOW, what a great way to make the lift work. Thanks a bunch. Pete A
Thanks Vic for the clever Mod. I just purchased a similar jack and found out it didn't work on my Fat Bob. Did the Mod today and works great.
It would have worked with the use of the harley lift adapters to compensate for the irregular frame.. If you never used them you can't really appreciate the mod. :) Glad it worked out for ya.
You can look them up to see what I'm talking about: harley davidson lift adapters. Biggest piece of junk ever.
Worked just as advertised. Great idea! Has really helped out a lot, even with small maintenance so you're not breaking your back.
Hey Vic this worked fantastic. The longest part of the whole project was driving up to the tractor store to buy the bolts. Thanks for the mod.
Thanks for the idea. I bought a Strongway Jack from Northern Tool and adapted your mod for it. It's a bit narrower than the Sears jack, and so needed a couple of longer bolts and spacers, but it works like a charm.
I used your great modification idea to modify my brand new Craftsman motorcycle jack, except I used two pieces of 1/2" all thread about 20" long each through to both sides to hold everything together. I used crown nuts with lock thread on the outside and regular nuts with lock washers on the inside. (8) nuts in all. The 20" long pieces of all thread holds everything nice and tight and makes the jack much stronger. than using (4) six inch bolts, but not sure the extra long all thread was necessary, but I already had some lying around so I used it. As you said, I did have to open the holes up a little to make the 1/2" all thread fit through everything. Thanks, for the tip...
Very cool. As long as it works for ya, that's all that matters. Keep the shiny side up.
Just wanted to say Thanks for sharing this great idea, Got my jack today and within 15 minutes I had the mod done. I have not tried to lift the bike yet. I went ahead and added spacers and checked all the measurements so it should work great. Thanks brother.
Thank you so much. I have a HD Iron and there was no way to get the jack under. When I rolled the bike over pieces of wood to fit the jack it still didn't work out. The kickstand bracket and frame rails would be in the way. So there was way of placing it. Thanks to your video I did the same mods and works like a dream. Thanks again.
man thanks for the net.. i searched for a jack and being that i cannot afford a bigger
"pro" jack i went with the craftsman red... this vid came in handy and i thank you for posting it.
Thanks for posting the jack mods.I have a similar jack that I bought and it would never go under my Nightrain without rolling onto a 2x4 first.Time to work on the jack..
I used this jack on my 06 Ultra last week when I washed it. I had to pull the bike off the kickstand but it slid under it well and lifted it just fine. I didn't lift it all the way up but i did pick it up enough to spin and clean the wheels.
Thanks Vic, I used your modification to lift my 06 Wideglide and it works perfect.
Rock on!
a friend of mine has the same jack but he owns a roadking so it works just fine he has owned that jack sinse buying the bike back in 2005 and never had any problems he stores the bike summer fall and winter on that thing the only time its on the ground is when we ride i just bought the same jack
Brilliant. This same mod works with Harbor Freight's 1500lb lift. Thanks!
Thats a great job with modifying the jack to work with your bike. I don't know why a company as big as Craftsman wouldn't have adapters for their jack to be able to allow the jack to pick up bikes that had shocks or other obstacles under the frame of the bike. If you like that jack and want to, you can check out our motorcycle lift at Ultimate Cycle Lifts. Only if you are interested.
Vic, thank you for this, I did it to my jack for my Dyna, and it work just fine.
Glad that worked out for ya, Eddie. Keep the shiny side up. :)
Thank you, man for this tip. I modified my jack this evening using .55" threaded rod. Had to make the holes bigger, but no big deal really. I am a bit worried if the jack when modified will carry the Fatboy weight through winter so I put some wooden support in case it should brake or something. Anyway, great tip. Thank you.
Vic thanks for the video. I bought the lift 6 months ago for my dyna and it did not work. I now modified it with 4 stainless bolts 12mm and 6 inches long. Works great. Would like to enlarge the holes but that is too much work. Project took 15 minutes.
Thanks for the video. I appreciate when someone that figures out a trick shares it because I try to do the same thing!
Hi Vic, found your video. Thanks for the tip! I just did this mod for my stock 2013 FXDWG. Only issue I have now is height clearance.
@senatornewton Thanks, man. I had always wondered why I had to use those lift blocks and people with J&S or Pitbull jacks didn't. I then had the pleasure of using a J&S jack once and realized it was because the lift pads were farther apart to handle that lip on the frame that protects the oil pan.
Hope it works out for you. If you have a late model Dyna, you may need to just pop the jiffy stand stop connected to the frame off. Piece of hardened black rubber.
I don't see why it wouldn't. The only thing I'd strongly suggest is strapping your bike snugly to the jack before you start removing both wheels.
I can say that someone on the forum I originally posted this video on has utilized the modded lift to work on their sportster and said it definitely made the bike more stable while lifted.
Thanks, Steve. To be honest, I don't usually lift my bike to change the fluids. However, I think you might fit a small drain pan in there if you chose to lift your bike. I can't be sure though. TH-cam won't let me add the link to the adapters from HD. If you google "dyna lift adapters", you'll find the link to the HD site quickly.
On my way to the garage to make the mod. Thanks!
How'd it work out for ya?
Very cool mod. Was looking at getting this lift but heard it made it a pain to lift a Harley. Looking forward to trying this out myself.
Great how too, gonna head out to the shop and mod my lift right now.
I like what you did. I just bought the jack. I'm going try your idea to my jack for my Kawasaki.
@duchy1957 Don't feel bad. I used my lift in stock form (including those horrible dyna lift adapters from HD for almost two years before I had a chance to use a higher end lift and that's when it hit me...the high end lift was built wider than the irregular dyna frame and was able to lift the bike at the flat points. The bike will definitely be much more stable on the lift. You'll enjoy it. :)
The one thing I did also was cut the front cross piece & re-weld it back about 3"-4" so it doesn't hit the jiffy stand when you slide it under.
I've always thought about doing that too but I'm no welder and don't have the tools for the mod. I'm sure it helps a lot.
Thx Vic you saved me some cash with your great vid, the mod works excellent and only cost me 7 bucks. You are right the HD adapter stuff are junk!
Sick bike man, and a great mod! I'll be looking into this for my lift. Right now its a PITA to get it up...
Thanks for posting!
Old video - New comment.. 03 Dyna with that damn thing in the way lol.. This will save me $400 !! Good stuff !!
@cybrtori If they haven't been replaced, I would also replace the two bushings on the bottom of the fork tube. There is a coating on them that over time will rub off, and that may cause some issues. Might as well replace them while you have it all apart. A service manual along with a parts manual for your bike is truly some of the best money you can spend on your bike. Check ebay, as you can usually find them cheaper than if you went to your local dealer and ordered them. Good luck.
@scvic2006 To continue my suggestion, granny....modding the jack will more than likely make it more stable for your bike to be on. The lift pads are quite narrow in my book so moving them to the outside should help keep your bike stable. Of course, I would suggest strapping the bike down while lifted for safety.
No problem at all. Hope it works out for you.
@Grannyhauenstein I have had my jack for about 18mos, I have not had any leaking issues with it at all. From sitting outside it did get quite stiff, but some wd-40 took care of it.
As far as the mod and your softail, I don't believe you need the mod, or the adapters. Your frame is tubular all the way across, whereas the dyna has some irregularities that require the adapters or the mod. You should take a peak under your bike to make sure.
@jang6969 You're welcome, Jang. This mod will not affect the height of the pads so you will not see any change in your lifting procedure.
@sheddski Good for your friend. This video is about modding the jack for the Dyna frame which is irregular.
Thanks for posting I have the same jack and will give it a go.
Dude, the sniffing was throwing me off. Butt thanks to this video I will probably be getting a lift now and using your mod. Thanks for the tip.
-Failz
@DenverCompDoc I'm out of town right now and don't have my jack handy. I can tell you that with the mod, the lift pads will clear the irregular dyna frame and pick it up at the flat spots very nicely.
Thank you,will work on my '09 FXDC
Excellent vid amigo. Will have to try this myself in the near future!
Great mod Vic. Perfect demo, I have the same bike.
I have a simular Jack coming and I was trying around the world to get those lift adapters for Dyna.
I'll check my Switchbacks measurements..I hope this mod will work.
The adapters are not that expensive..but try to find them !
Thanks again...I will leg you know if it works on a Switchback too...
The adapters are junk unless they redesigned them. The "mod" only makes the lift pads a bit spread wider apart. Don't see why it wouldn't work on your switchback.
Vic, great video!! I have the jack but couldn't even find the adapters. One question, you have full access to the oil/trans plugs underneath? No blockage by the jack?
Steve
hei.
yep, its a great and simple mod.great ideas often are.keep it up.and thanks again.
@desgolf Glad it helped you out. I wonder if it ticks off the high end jack manufacturers. :)
@TheHd03roadking I'm well aware that the touring models use a regular frame but this video is regarding the dyna frame and it's irregularities.
@ChgoSTrider I could see you're point if this video were geared towards ALL motorcycles. Since it's geared for the Dyna family of harleys and none of them exceed 700lbs, the modification and it's capabilities are well within spec.. I certainly made no claim that this modification was safe to handle the weight of a GW. We could do a follow up video using a goldwing you supply, if you want to fully test it out. :)
I posted a link in the description to a message board thread. Check it out if you'd like better confirmation.
i will try this as soon as i get home
Awesome! Worked like a charm
@RikoBikerfromHell Life without those damn lift adapters is GREAT! :)
Excellent that it worked out for you.
hey there.
you are a genius,got one 75 euro,and did the mod.
thanks,great idea.
klaus,denmark.
ps.its for my virago,do you now what a harley cost in dk.you dont wanna now.
I do know a few guys local that have the Craftsman red jack and ride older electraglides (80's models w/ evo motor).
Honestly, I don't see why the jack wouldn't be able to handle your bike. I might be able to swindle one of them into allowing me to lift their bikes with my modded jack just for shits and giggles. :)
I am sure the harbor freight grey $69 (sale) motorcycle jack is exactly the same as the sears but cheaper.
Ahh...yup. This will work out good for you.
But I still needed to put kickstand on block to clear the lip of the spring under bike.
Thanks for the video. I have a 2006 Dyna and I was wondering what the inside distance is between the two pads now? On the lifts at Harbor Frieght, the pads are too close together to fit the bike properly - it would press on the aluminum case...
Thanks! Very helpful.
Cool, thanks very much love your video.
@ChgoSTrider Do you really think that a 650lbs motorcycle being lifted by 4 grade 8 1/2" thick x 6" long bolts is going to cause a catastrophic failure? I highly doubt it. I have left the bike sitting on the jack fully lifted, not strapped down for 2+ weeks while doing some major upgrades. Not one issue. The bike is also much more stable on the lift, compared to how flimsy it feels when using the jack in stock setup with the required HD lift adapters.
I went with grade 5 bolts and the spacers
@scvic2006, Thank you for your great incite on this mod. I have an 06 Low Ryder and need to change the fork seals. A job I have not had the pleasure of doing before. I saw your vid on the pvc tube which is great as well. Any further advice?
@streittk Glad that worked out for you. :)
I did this too, it works great on my fatboy and Dyna.
Very useful!
Outstanding
@Gino8451 To be honest, I can't say. I don't own nor have I ever owned a road king or tested a road king on the Sears jack. My suggestion is to visit some popular HD forums and see what the majority say. You can try: hdforums (.com)
and find the touring subforum.
Excellent video, thanks. Do you think it would work for my 2000 FXDWG? I need new tires. I would like to jack the bike up and and take both wheels off so I can take them to the shop for tire change and balance?
@scoopnisker Yes it does. :) Best wishes.
Great idea.
Excellent. Glad it worked for you. :) Does your Virago feel more stable while lifted?
Where exactly should I place the lift under my 2009 Dyna? I have made the modifications as specified in this video.
Hey, I've been considering buying this jack and have read the reviews on it, with a lot of guys saying they've had problems with it leaking oil, and can't get replacement parts for it. Have you had any problems with it? Also, I have a Heritage Softail, so would I need to do these mods or buy the HD adapters for my bike too?
Do you know if the original jack would work on a 2011 Electra Glide Classic? Great video by the way!! I'm looking to buy a jack and don't want to spend $400+ on a J&S.
great idea
any concerns about the bolts snapping? I will be going to home depot tomorrow , trying to decide on 2 threaded rod across ........ or 4 hardnened bolts
Personally, I'd opt for the grade 8 bolts rather than the threaded rod. Grade 8 is overkill for this application but it gives me peace of mind. Also, I'd suggest buying four (4) 1/2" i.d. x 1/2" nylon spacers to be placed between lift pad and lift frame. The extra inch will help clear the kickstand and just make it easier overall.
This mod will not work on the Street Bob (2011), the pads are still to close
@rovertsystems If the jack is so unstable then explain why it was unaffected with a bike fully lifted during the DC 5.7quake? It was within 10mi of the epicenter. I've owned this jack since 08 and not had any issue with it. The mod makes it more stable if used properly. Nice try at fearmongering.
I need this for my VStar 1300.
will this work on a dyna 2006 street bob as far as spacing is concerned?
Glad it worked out for you. :)
would you elaborate on where you place the jack under the bike? I did this mod a long time ago but I still dread jacking up the wife's lowrider
awakepatriot it really only fits in a specific area because of the kickstand
I don't see why it wouldn't, 92notchny.
Ok gotcha!
Thanks
What i wan to know is how you put it down, my neighbour giveaway one of those i lifted up but i don't see how to released thank u
What's the distance between the inside of the pads?
What size bolts and strength are they? And where did you go to buy them?
Great video - thanks! I have a very similar lift (it might be the same one, but not branded "Craftsman"). I did the mod, and on my 2013 FXDWG, the front lift rail hits a piece of the left front (unused) footpeg mount. I can't slide the lift further forward, since the rear lift rail is already right next to the frame flange thingy. I am thinking about longer bolts and spacers to get around this problem. Could you let me know what your center to center lift rail width is?
And what did you do about the lift hitting the jiffy leg when trying to get the lift all the way under the bike?
Since having made this video I've added 1/2" x 1/2" nylon spacers to all four (4) bolts which added a total of 1" spread to the pads. Prior to that, I would have to angle the lift just a hair to avoid the jiffy stand.
Other than that, you shouldn't have any issues. I used my jack to lift a bud's '12 fat bob without issue. Your '13 wg is the same exact frame.
If you want, send me a private message with a photo of the problem area and I'll try to steer you in the right direction.
If you follow the linked forum thread (in the description), you can email me from there.
Vic Terraglia
I see the problem now. Your lift (Craftsman) is about an inch wider than my lift, so the mod only gets me to about 18" of width (outside-to-outside lift rail measurement). The rails have to be about 19". I removed the nuts on the bolts, and moved the rails further apart, and voila - the rails contact the frame perfectly. So I will add more spacers and use longer grade 8 bolts to get me there. I am not worried about the slight cantilever (since the lift rails aren't directly under the lift arms). Contrary to what others have said, bolts ARE engineered for shear, and the shear strength is about 60% of the tension strength. Grade 8 bolts (or even grade 5) are many times stronger than they need to be, in this application.
Thanks again, Vic, for being so patient and sharing this wonderful solution!!!!
Great idea! simple is better
Wonder how this will work on a dresser? Any feedback? Great idea Vic!
I used 1/2" x6" grade 8 bolts. I'm no engineer and accept no responsibility...but a dresser is what, 1k lbs? 1000lbs/4=250 a bolt.
I think a grade 8 bolt can handle that. I'd doublecheck that before trying.
The lift is capable of 1500lbs, and I've seen video of a modded jack picking up the front end of a Lexus.