Lifting the bike with a floor jack, something I am doing is not right. Help?

[jimbart]

First time removing rear tire and I have to raise the bike up with a craftsman floor jack. The tire is flat and the bike leans back a bit.

When I start jacking the bike up, the front raises up but not the back, in fact the bike tilts further and further backwards as I jack it higher. I have the jack positioned under the engine (appears to be the only place it can go) but I am doing something wrong.

Should I have somebody lean on the front and then strap the front down to the jack?

Suggestions or advice welcome. Jim in SC

 

[Ransom]

A standard floor jack (with a single 6" lift pad) will not work. You need a motorcycle or ATV jack with 2 lift arms. Search on here there are several pictures of lift brackets taht fit in frame holes and lift rear of bike higher than front.

 

[tdragger]

A jack like the one below will work. You do, however, need to strap the front end to the attachments on the jack. Use common sense when you lift to keep it balanced right. Works just fine.

 

[Willtill]

Here is an example of Hell On Wheels levitated:



Sears Aluminum motorcycle jack; using a piece of 2x4 on the left lift arm; which contacts the two lower frame lugs behind the oil sump. Using thin scrap wood on the right lift arm, just to protect contact with the drain plugs of the sump.

The bike should balance fine in this manner. Just no horsing around with it. I can easily clean my wheels with it (spin with no issues while on the lift.

Jack stands are just there (just in case while the bike was on the lift overnight), but not needed. And of course I had to tied down the front since the rear wheel was off.

 

[jimbart]

OK I get what I was doing wrong and I now have a plan. Thank you very much for your help everybody.