| Author | Message | ||
     Northernyankee |
I am tired of sitting on the floor when I have to work on the bikes so I finally broke down and bought a lift.  Its a Derek Weaver Lift which is pretty much a Handy Lift clone. http://www.derekweaver.com/bikers-garage/motorcycl e-lifts/tx-1000/ Ordered my lift on a Monday and it arrived at the local Warehouse the next day...can't ask for much more then that. Overall the lift is great and I am confident that it will last for many, many years. I did have some small issues but nothing major, the threads on the foot pedal are very tight and I was only able to get a few threads in...if it causes issues in the future I will re-tap it. The second issue was a little larger but easily rectified in about 15 minutes. After assembling the unit I did a test lift and was unable to get the locking arm to drop, so after looking under the lift I found that the crossbar that attaches the Ram to the frame had backed out and was blocking the locking arm. It seems that when the lift was assembled the set screw on the crossbar was not tightened and the bar had backed out during shipping. I was able to get the bar back in place by myself but would have been a 5 minute fix if I had a second set of hands to help align everything. Overall I am extremely satisfied with the lift its very solid and sturdy and at half the price of a Handy lift. (Message edited by Northernyankee on January 29, 2014) | ||
| D_adams |
Nice lift, very nice indeed. At first glance, I'd have thought it was a Handy lift, I've used several and was happy with them all. I found I prefer the electric version vs. air operated. | ||
| Crowley |
Probably THE best tool you'll EVER buy. I'll bet you're already wondering how you've managed upto now without one  | ||
| Northernyankee |
@D_adams Yeah I would have liked electric but couldn't find anything in my price range. MAybe I can find a retrofit kit somewhere. @Crowley...I think it will be my best tool, just took me a while to justify the cost. I Looked at the HF one but all the reviews said on the way home pick up this that and the other to make it work better. Well I am of the mind that pay a little more up front and have a tool that lasts a lifetime. | ||
| 09cr |
I have an extremely similar lift I bought two years ago. Easily the best thing I have bought in a long time. I'm kicking myself for not ponying up earlier for it, but I do a lot of motorcycle builds and stuff so it gets used constantly. Couldn't be happier with mine and I'm sure you will feel the same way. I am also very glad I did not settle for the harbor freight one, there is a massive difference in sturdiness and quality. | ||
| Duggram |
I've had the Harbor Freight for 7 years now. It's $499. It is constantly in use. It is air and foot operated, which is really nice when you don't otherwise need to turn on the air compressor. As far as sturdy goes, I use it for my Yamaha Grizzly 4wheeler with no problems, my almost 700 pound Harley Sportster, Yamaha FJR 580+, and of course my 1125R. It barely notices my WR450 or EX250. I understand the lift snobs wouldn't touch this, but it is very effective and I like the diamond surface. My neighbor has a Snapon that also looks like the Handy and I do like the fact that it is electric, however the last time it was available it was $2300. Nice. And, he did make fun of mine when I first got it, but he stopped that as soon as he saw how well it worked. For something that is this useful in the garage, money was not a concern. But why waste the money? | ||
| Northernyankee |
Duggram, I looked at a lot of different lifts and I gave the HF lift a good long look. Ultimately I thought this was the most bang for the buck...and it didnt break the bank at $700. | ||
| Duggram |
NY, I agree with you. I think you made a good buy. I didn't even know about Handy lifts when I got mine. Compared to a $2300 Snapon lift the HF was great deal. | ||
| 09cr |
I think anything is a great value when compared to snap-on stuff. I'm a certified dodge mechanic for a living and the "name brand" tools like snapon mac Matco Cornwell ect... have really dropped off in quality, and yet the price has increased! Wasn't trying to denigrate the hf lift, just was really happy what you could get for about double the price. | ||
| Stevel |
I have a lift like this. It's not the best or worst and it works very well for every bike I have put on it, except the Buell. As the engine is a structural member and the exhaust is underneath, there is nothing to support the bike from for wheel or suspension work. Quite often you see dealers hanging the bike from some overhead support. I would love to see the method used to assemble these bikes at the factory. Do they use an engine stand of some description and then bolt everything to it, or do they hang the frame and then bolt the engine and bits on it? I don't want to reinvent the wheel here, but clearly conventional elevating tables are almost useless. Whatever that solution is, I need one. | ||
| Ducbsa |
The 1190RX assembly line pix show an engine cradle, I think. | ||
| Northernyankee |
I am going to fab up something like this.  There was a discussion about it here. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/729658.html?1390244598 | ||
| Froggy |
Harbor freight one is currently on sale for $339 http://widgets.harborfreight.com/wswidgets/common/ displayCoupon.do?week=0514&campaign=c&page=coupon5 0.html&cust=60529116783&keycode=1053&single=true | ||
| Ratbuell |
I have a Handy that I got on sale, love it. Been using it for a few years now. It has a front wheel vise, and I had to block the "stopper" to keep the bikes from rolling "too far" into it because it kept wanting to clamp the brake rotors. Bolted a piece of 1x4 to the stopper arm as a spacer, fixed that. My lift has the rear tire drop-out, and strap-holes at all four corners. I use PitBull stands if I have to do "both wheel" services, but I could clamp a bike in the vise; support it with an engine jack / flat jack; strap it to all four corners; and remove the wheel vise / both wheels if I needed to strip it completely. You can see the holes in the OP's photo; most lifts have them. | ||
| Redbat |
I bought the Harbor Freight lift and absolutely love it. I paid only $299 for mine. Just buy any cycle magazine that has HF coupons and take it with you when you purchase the lift. Smokin deal! |
