Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge fell off the lift

I don’t know how it happened. I mean there it was up on my sears lift where it’s been dozens of times. I walked around to the left side to get to the battery I just touched it with my fingertips just the slightest touch and over it went. It didn’t go all the way down it got hung up on the lift at about a 45 degree angle the front wheel up in the air and the back wheel on the ground.
The safety bar was under the bike so I had to disassemble it to get the bike down. I have a dent in my right muffler now the size of a fist, and a tiny dent in my tank. I’m sick. I wanted to take it to the local bike shop to see if anything could be done about the muffler. When I got to the corner of my block for some reason I leaned over and looked under my bike. I don’t know why I looked and what I saw was a steady stream of oil squirting out. I turned around and followed the oil streak back home. The back tire was covered with oil which I cleaned with brake cleaner and I spun on a new filter. The guys at the bike shop said muffler could be fixed but it would cost too much. So does anyone have a bub slash cut right muffler they want to sell? Not likely. I"m sick.

Dang Kenny I hate that. I always have that fear when shes on the lift. Just be thankful you did not get hurt.
Chin up bro.
Mike

I wonder if Dent Doctor or Dent Wizard could help you out any. Those guys do some pretty impressive stuff with minor car dents.

I'm sorry that happened Kenny. It makes me want to go get the straps you are supposed to use with the jack. It could happen to anyone.

Eh...a little character never hurt anybody!

Kenny,
As you may have heard, I laid my bike down on her left side. Now that I am out of the hospital, I will be talking with my insurance company about restoring her. I've not seen the estimate but the dealer said something about replacing left silencer. They are Bub slash cuts. If you can be patient with me, let me find out if they will have to get the pair. I might have a spare right one then. Or if they replace my right Bub as well, we can work out something for my used (~3800 miles) Bub that will come off the right side.
I hope this makes sense. Just woke up and am on pain medication.
Steve

Sorry to hear that Kenny.
Steve, hope you're feeling better.
Ride - and wrench! - safe guys.

Sorry to hear that. I use the Sears lift, too. First use I noticed the bike could slide pretty easily on the rubber pads. Decided to use the straps if I plan to do much work, even though it's a hassle. Hearing your experience tells me I should probably use the straps every time.

I got the craftman lift too. I had it on last year and thought I had it on the holding pegs...WRONG! I didn't of course. When I went in the house to get some rags...BANG! ran out and she was on her side. Bent the light bar (fixable)broke off the brake lever and right side peg. Felt like a bad parent! Stuff happens.

Hey Kenny.Maybe you can fix the tank dent with the dry ice trick.I know it was posted here some time ago but I forget the procedure.I'm sure somebody here will chime in.Hope it works.

DANG!!! It had to be the tank too, didn't it?! That's what I always fear happening in something like this.

Sorry drgnslyr, but I think I remember reading in some old threads around here that the dry ice method of tank dent removal has been mostly discredited.

But, I think I remember reading a few people around here going to one of those paintless dent removal places such as Dent Doctor or Dent Wizard, as JB suggested above, with some success.

Good luck, Kenny.

Slightly off-topic, but where do you secure the straps that come with the jack? I haven't figured that part out yet!

dangit. At least it didn't bust you up. And it didn't fall on the geezerwing.

Sorry to hear this Kenny, at least you weren't hurt.

There's a lesson here for all of us:
Use the straps!

Sorry to hear this Kenny. glad you wereen't hurt and the damage is minimal.

BTW there is a set of D&D mufflers on ebay right now....

Good thing it didnt fall off the back of the truck!!! Glad you are ok.

You just converted me. She gets the strap from now on. Thanks for posting. This is the first post I can remember of this actually happening to someone.

Wish I could help with the bike.

Regards,

Tom

Dang that is scary. Glad it did not land on you. Had mine up for chain lube tonight and just bungees, next time will use the tie downs.

...those Rivco centre stands are starting to look relatively inexpensive.....and easier to use....

Our bikes don't sit on the lift well because of the oil pan. I've got to say Harley got it right on that note, two big open frame rails. Unfortunately it's difficult to strap the bike to the lift because of the exhaust. It's a conundrum. I like the big drive on air lift but then the bike's way up in the air. If it starts going over I'm throwing myself under it to break the fall.

After reading this thread I was extremely careful when I put mine on the lift today to lube the chain. I also took the chance to polish it, boy am I beat.

If it makes you feel better one of the guys helping me in the shop droped a 07 Gold Wing off the lift.. Not a jack kind of lift but a table about 3 feet off the ground. Was not his fault, the ratchet on the strap broke and the bike went over while he was getting a oil filter out of the parts room.. Cost me 1200 in plastic to fix it..

Sorry to hear that Kenny.

Looks like a good portion of us have horror stories of bikes on lifts. I've been luck so far and have had it balanced on the lift pretty good and stable, but I did find out that once you remove the rear shocks, all the weight that is typicly "hanging" off of the bike as a counter balance is now resting directly on the ground, the only way I was able to lift the bike to remove the air box was to tie the rear of the bike to the lift. But this all got me to thinking as to how tippy it actually is, and after my father ragging on me about it, I won't leave the bike on the lift unattended.

I just bought the Sears Aluminum lift and have a new Speedmaster on the way. A question.... To put the bike on the lift do I have to make any adapters/support so the bike bike will settle nicely onto the lift arms? Is there a proper area under the frame to place the lift arms? Thanks. Don

Nope just slide the jack under there and lift it up.. The frame is lower then the engine.. If your doing a oil change however, be mindfull of where the jack is, as you can block the oil drain plug.. I have found on mine it is so much easier to keep the kick stand up while trying to set it on a jack...

That stinks Kenny. One reason why I kept my homemade lift (using the two 6x6's) for oil changes, chain adjust/lubes or other minor jobs. It's much more stable and the bike is only a inch or two off the ground. Sometimes I just don't feel like digging out those straps and by the time I do, the homemade lift is under and doing its job.

I've felt relatively safe using my Craftsman lift and always raise it enough to set the lock bar. BUT, I will definitely be more mindful of a tip over possibility. I already had one bad experience on my Condor chock (I now use ONLY for trailering with it screwed down). I uncovered the bike and with my back turned, I heard it fall. By shear luck, I had a soft tool bag and and cardboard box on the side it fell which protected the tank and kept the bars off the ground. Both wheels were in the air. Only visible damage was a broken left peg and it slightly bent in the left exhaust bracket, which was easily fixed.

Since the fall, I NEVER walk away from the bike except on it's kick stand. As far as your dents, I would call some of the car dent removal companies in your yellow pages. They will come by and tell you if they can remove it or not. They've done some amazing things fixing my car dents.

I always strap mine to the lift. I had to modify the lift to do that, but I am not going to take the chance.

Fortunately never had bike fall off my lift. Unfortunately was on my own one day and made the mistake of dropping the bike off the lift without having the side stand down! . Luckily not much damage done but now try and make sure someone's around to help me steady the bike after dropping should it be needed!

I always lowwer slowly until I can straddle the bike, then I get on and finish the lowering with my foot on the stand release/lowering lever. Never had a problem. Having a big inseam helps.

I'll have to try that Pat. Another problem with my lift is that it doesn't lower slowly. Think it's not setup right, but can't see a way of adjusting that. As soon as you touch the release lever that's it, bike's in freefall, there's no cushioning. As a result, don't tend to raise it more than the minimum necessary...

I never leave my bike unattended on the jack without straps. My bike spent each of the last two winters on my Craftsman jack without incident. If I'm just doing a quickie belt adjustment, I might throw it up there for a minute or three without straps. But that's very rare. When I lower it I just hang on to the sissy bar and right handlebar grip as I lower it, just to make sure it leans towards the side stand. I've had it decide it wanted to lean to the right instead. But the jack lowers it nice and slow and controlled.