Has anyone noticed how the dealer's raise a Rocket? I would assume that they use standard m/c jacks since they must raise a variety of bikes in any one day. I bought a Craftsman jack the other day but haven't tried it out yet. I'd be interested what others think.
For the rear wheel they have the bike on the lift, tie the handlebars down with straps, then put a floor jack under the the swing arm. They dont lift from the oil pan. I have used the Harbor freight lift with just a couple of pieces of wood to spread the load, but that makes it impossible to change the oil. I was changing the shocks. I have changed the oil, but not conveniently enough to make me want to do it again! :lol: :lol:
doug meek---to lift all 3 bikes w/ the pit bull jack you'll need to build a rack like jeff 1 suggested-then temp. bolt it to jack. using the holes in bottom of frame used for reference when bike was built seems to me to be the best long term way to lift it. i used cycle jack--2 or 3 car jacks--straps-etc. to completely dis-assemble the r3 by myself. i found the bike jack very wobbly when completely raised enuff to remove rear tire. eventually i used ceiling mounted eye-bolts and readily available cargo ratchet straps (see center mount thread) to better balance it all--especially if my skinny ass was under bike. just make sure you "over-kill" the added "scabs" onto ceiling joists! don't just screw eyebolt into current joist---drill and thru bolt!(put 2 up front for handlebars--2 in rear --about 2 feet apart) i spent hours working on r3--not an oil change or rear tire change. if any of you ever decide to remove motor--cheap 4 caster oak furniture units work well w/ modification in concert w/ ceiling mounts. for oil change and tinkering, the jacklilly type seems to work really well vs. bike jack.you have no obstructions under pan and bike is stable.i'm no good at explaining this so maybe a good writer who understands what i'm trying to describe can rewrite this. which is exactly why i don't try to put any how to on site.
How did you jack up the bike? Did you put the jack rail directly under the motor? Isn't that a very bad thing to do (risk of cracking the crankcase), or am I mistaken?