pbjman Posted December 1, 2014 #1 Posted December 1, 2014 http://www.autozone.com/shop-and-garage-tools/motorcycle-lift/duralast-1500-lbs-motorcycle-jack/838127_0_0/ I know many have used the HF or Sears lifts; is this about the same? It can be ordered w/free shipping if order total is $75. I'm going to wait for my HF dec coupons to see if theirs will go on sale, then decide which one to get. There's a used craftsman red one for sale locally but I would need him do go down to about $50.
Eck Posted December 1, 2014 #2 Posted December 1, 2014 I have never used one from AutoZone, but it appears to be a fair built lift no worse than one from Harbor Freight.. I bet it has a good warranty too being its from auto zone
Bert2006 Posted December 1, 2014 #3 Posted December 1, 2014 (edited) I would not be surprised if they were all built on the same assembly line and then branded for the different companies. I have a Motormaster (Canadian Tire) one and it looks exactly like the HF, Duralast and the Sears unit. Edited December 2, 2014 by Bert2006
Eddie Posted December 1, 2014 #4 Posted December 1, 2014 I've had good luck with parts from Auto Zone. Ever since Murray's closed I've been going there. Don't care for the O'Reilys .
rougeray Posted December 1, 2014 #5 Posted December 1, 2014 That looks exactly like the one I bought from Sears only it's blue. Check the specs between the two if they are the same jump on it.
XV1100SE Posted December 1, 2014 #6 Posted December 1, 2014 I would double check on the length of the saddle. If you are using Larry's lift adapter you need to make sure you've got the "stopper" with it and that the saddle on the lift are at least as long as the width of the lift adapter frame. My preference would be a lift with saddles longer than the width of the lift adapter and to not have to use the stopper. That way I know the adapter is sitting on pad and not hoping that I got the lift under the bike far enough. I have the Canadian Tire lift and I have to be careful that the end of the saddles are all they way against the stopper. If you don't have it far enough or are on an angle, you could drop your bike.
pbjman Posted December 1, 2014 Author #7 Posted December 1, 2014 I would double check on the length of the saddle. If you are using Larry's lift adapter you need to make sure you've got the "stopper" with it and that the saddle on the lift are at least as long as the width of the lift adapter frame. My preference would be a lift with saddles longer than the width of the lift adapter and to not have to use the stopper. That way I know the adapter is sitting on pad and not hoping that I got the lift under the bike far enough. I have the Canadian Tire lift and I have to be careful that the end of the saddles are all they way against the stopper. If you don't have it far enough or are on an angle, you could drop your bike. Do you know what the length of the bars on the jack should be at a minimum. I measured under my bike and the frame is approx 12" wide from outside to outside. (give or take a little, it was a quick measurement laying on the floor squeezing in between stuff to measure.)
XV1100SE Posted December 1, 2014 #8 Posted December 1, 2014 I think the majority of lifts have 12" pads. Mine is 12" and even though I've lifted my bike many times, I'm always triple checking to make sure the pads are secure under the rails of the adapter. I've had it slip once in four years but that was enough. I never do maintenance on the bike when it is just on the lift. I always put the adapter legs on and then lower the bike onto them. I find that to be secure. But raising and lowering the bike I'm always nervous. 12" is absolute minimum. I'm considering how I can extend my pads to 14"+.
rougeray Posted December 1, 2014 #9 Posted December 1, 2014 Carbon One's lift adapter is 12.5" The length of the saddle on the Sears jack is 13.375. That gives you .4375 or 7/16" on either side. I have never had a problem lifting my RSV with it. Go to his web site and I believe he tells you which jacks are marginal. BTW get the legs with it that way you don't take the chance of knocking the bike off plus the jack is out of the out of they way. First time you lift it the pucker factor goes way up......gets better the more times you use it.
pbjman Posted December 2, 2014 Author #10 Posted December 2, 2014 Carbon One's lift adapter is 12.5" The length of the saddle on the Sears jack is 13.375. That gives you .4375 or 7/16" on either side. I have never had a problem lifting my RSV with it. Go to his web site and I believe he tells you which jacks are marginal. BTW get the legs with it that way you don't take the chance of knocking the bike off plus the jack is out of the out of they way. First time you lift it the pucker factor goes way up......gets better the more times you use it. If carbon one's adapter is 12.5 then I think I may pass on the Duralast. See those little nubs at the ends of the lifting skids? Won't those interfere with the adapter if they are not at least 12.5" apart?
Bert2006 Posted December 2, 2014 #11 Posted December 2, 2014 I use it and have the lift adapter. No problems. Use the nubs as a stopper to ensure positioning on the lift.
djh3 Posted December 2, 2014 #12 Posted December 2, 2014 This is the one I have. Its from Sears, but I certainly did not pay $200 for it. I think closer to $125. I like that the front wheels are out side the frame and give a bit more stability in my mind.
pbjman Posted December 2, 2014 Author #13 Posted December 2, 2014 I use it and have the lift adapter. No problems. Use the nubs as a stopper to ensure positioning on the lift. I would love to see a pic of your lift with the adapter on it so I can better understand!
Bert2006 Posted December 2, 2014 #14 Posted December 2, 2014 I would love to see a pic of your lift with the adapter on it so I can better understand! Sorry, bike is stored for the winter. If i can find a picture I will certainly post. In the meantime, if you google search rsv lift adapter, a number of links come up with pictures.
pbjman Posted December 2, 2014 Author #15 Posted December 2, 2014 Sorry, bike is stored for the winter. If i can find a picture I will certainly post. In the meantime, if you google search rsv lift adapter, a number of links come up with pictures. Yeah, I have seen pics of the adapter on some lifts, but I should have asked you to clarify if you have the exact lift in question, the Duralast from Autozone. I think it looks different from the HF / Sears ones because they have flat saddles/skids plus other differences in the frame and how the wheels mount. Are you saying that the adapter Larry makes at 12.5" wide fits between the nubs on the Duralast? Otherwise it would sit on the tops of the nubs instead of on the saddle, right?
Bert2006 Posted December 2, 2014 #16 Posted December 2, 2014 (edited) Yeah, I have seen pics of the adapter on some lifts, but I should have asked you to clarify if you have the exact lift in question, the Duralast from Autozone. I think it looks different from the HF / Sears ones because they have flat saddles/skids plus other differences in the frame and how the wheels mount. Are you saying that the adapter Larry makes at 12.5" wide fits between the nubs on the Duralast? Otherwise it would sit on the tops of the nubs instead of on the saddle, right? [ATTACH=CONFIG]95544[/ATTACH] Mine is a motormaster but it looks exactly like the one you have in the pic. Looking towards the front of the bike, when I come in from the right side with the jack, I will use the nubs to line up the other side then I will raise the bike. So the nubs on the left (side stand) now act as stoppers while the nubs on the right side will now be between the jack and the adapter. Yes this makes me raise the bike at a slight angle, but it is stabble. What I usually have to worry about is ensuring the bike is balanced on the jack front to back, that is the though part. I made a rough drawing attached: Edited December 2, 2014 by Bert2006
XV1100SE Posted December 2, 2014 #17 Posted December 2, 2014 I painted marks on my lift adapter so I know where the balance point is. I line up the lift saddle with the marks and it is balanced each time. Another thing I did was write on the adapter the cylinder numbers. One less thing to have to remember. My concern with the positioning of the lift is that on the left side of the bike, when you push the lift under you have to make sure you are butted up against the stop. My bike sits lower in the rear now (either age of the shock or all the extra shiny stuff) so I have to pull up on the saddle bag guards to get the lift all the way under. The frame of the adapter isn't very wide so if you are off even a little bit you don't have much "meat" sitting on the lift saddle. With a longer saddle on the lift you could take the stop off and put the lift under so you could visually confirm it will sit on the lift securely.
djh3 Posted December 2, 2014 #18 Posted December 2, 2014 If they are in the way could cut them off. Or you could cut some strips of wood or something to level it off so the nubs dont mess it up.
pbjman Posted December 2, 2014 Author #19 Posted December 2, 2014 If they are in the way could cut them off. Or you could cut some strips of wood or something to level it off so the nubs dont mess it up. I thought of both, lol. But I wouldn't want to cut them off and then have the jack fail during the 1 year warranty they probably wouldn't take it back. Wood strips would be the better option until I am sure I am happy with the jack. OR....Maybe I could grind a recess into the lift adapter.....HMMM. Probably over thinking it! Oh well, gotta get back to work.
pbjman Posted December 2, 2014 Author #20 Posted December 2, 2014 Thank you Bert for taking the time to make the drawings. I'm glad you did that; it helped me decide. If I already had a Duralast, I would go ahead and use it for the RSV. But since I was looking to buy one, I wanted to look for one that will lift level. I picked up a used Craftsman with a longer, flat saddle (13-3/8" length).
BlueSky Posted December 9, 2014 #21 Posted December 9, 2014 The Autozone lift only lifts 11". I was thinking of getting the Cowpuc special, the HF high lift. High Position Motorcycle Lift But, after measuring the arms and looking under the bike I don't know how to lift it. The exhaust pipes are in the way. Does anybody make some adapters for the Gen I Ventures?
videoarizona Posted December 9, 2014 #22 Posted December 9, 2014 About four years ago, I bought the HF jack and tried it on the VStar 650 Classic. Worked well....until I went to let the bike down. It seems my lift has a strange pedal release...if you press gently, the load drops quickly. Press hard all the way and the load drops slowly. Scared the puddin out of me. I have never used it since. Will NOT use it on the 950 or the Venture....nope. My .02
pbjman Posted December 9, 2014 Author #23 Posted December 9, 2014 About four years ago, I bought the HF jack and tried it on the VStar 650 Classic. Worked well....until I went to let the bike down. It seems my lift has a strange pedal release...if you press gently, the load drops quickly. Press hard all the way and the load drops slowly. Scared the puddin out of me. I have never used it since. Will NOT use it on the 950 or the Venture....nope. My .02 When I was looking up threads about lifts I saw mentions of that several times; it's just the way they work. I guess it's one of those "once you know the trick......" kind of things.
BlueSky Posted December 9, 2014 #24 Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) The 59 reviews on the HF jack on their web site never mention that problem. By far most of the reviews are very positive. Maybe Cowpuc will chime in and tell us about his. The HF jack I looked at in the store this week looks like it has a knob on the base of the jack that releases the pressure. Edited December 10, 2014 by BlueSky
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