A motorcycle jack is a lifting device that is used to put a motorcycle into an elevated position for maintenance, repair, lubing its chain, removing the wheels or tire changes, or even doing a complete front fork rebuild.
When one is a motorcycle fanatic, it is the owner’s main concern to maintain their ride up to the mark. Though presently there are not a lot of garage options where you can get your motorcycle maintained or tuned.
Here is where the necessity arises for a bike owner to be able to work on the care and service of their motorcycles on their own. And for that, having a motorcycle jack should be an utmost priority.
From changing your bike’s tires, or fixing any faults you absolutely need to possess a motorcycle jack to be able to do that. A jack is an inexpensive, at-home device that will make working on your bike safer as well as easier.
Why is a motorcycle jack necessary in order to work under it? Well, improper lifting a bike can lead to severe damage to either your bike, yourself, or even others therefore it is important to get it right. You wouldn’t want to damage that limited edition, expensive bike of yours now would you?
Steps for Lift a Motorcycle with a jack
Now that the need for a motorcycle jack has been established.
It is important for our readers to understand how they can use these jacks safely and professionally by themselves without wasting their valuable money by paying professional mechanics. Here are some great steps that can actually help you:
1- Finding a Flat Surface:
To properly lift a motorcycle, your vehicle must be present on a flat surface. It makes your work easy as well as unnecessary adjustments are not made, which ultimately saves time and energy. Not only this, but it also makes it safe for both the bike and the user as it prevents the bike from falling.
2- Find the Center of Gravity of your Bike
In order to balance your bike properly before lifting it, find its center of gravity that is usually located around the engine, or a little to the front or back of the engine totally depending upon its model.
Once that’s done, remove any other items that might come in contact with the jack lift while working to ensure a safe working space.
3- Inspect the Underside of the Bike:
Use your bike’s shop manual that will assist you in identifying a supportive, flat surface under the engine that will help lift the bike with the jack.
An uneven surface will lift your bike unevenly which will ultimately cause a bike to fall due to imbalance making it dangerous for both the user and the bike therefore it is very important that you inspect the underside area of your bike before lifting it with the jack. If you want to have a Video tutorial watch this video to get the Guide.
4- Making Adjustments:
If your motorcycle has a side stand, it may keep your bike from standing steadily so you need to put a wooden block underneath to make your bike straight as well as upright.
To do this, you need to take help from another person who holds the bike upright while you slip the wooden block underneath it, otherwise, it is very difficult to make adjustments.
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5- Use Ratcheting Tie-Down Straps:
A good safety measure for the people who are obsessed with their bikes should buy a pair of ratcheting tie-down straps. If they were not already included when you bought the bike.
These straps prevent your bike from falling during work. Ratcheting straps are a very durable yet inexpensive product.
6- Place the Jack in Position:
Firstly, roll the floor jack under your motorcycle then vigilantly position the jack on the flat surface that you have located earlier.
If your bike has a center stand, make one thing very sure that the stand is placed in the center of two rubbers platform on the jack.
In case your bike is still not balanced you can use a piece of cloth to fill the gaps. Do not forget to lock the tires of your bike.
7- Escalate the Jack:
Use the foot pedal to rise your bike steadily and evenly. If at any point you feel that the rise of the bike isn’t steady, lower the jack and make further adjustments and start over as slow and steady wins the race.
It’s a better idea to take your time and do it right rather than crashing your bike on the floor.
It is important to make sure that you don’t raise the jack higher than what it is designed to do. Most of the jacks rise to 11.8, 14.5, and 16.5 inches above the floor.
Useful Tips:
- Make sure not to remove the jack until you are absolutely sure that the jack stands are securely in place
- Most of the times things won’t fit on the jack so you have to make few adjustments by using wooden pieces by putting them in spaces of frame rails.
- Do not rush yourself, take your time to balance the bike.
- Make sure to read the motorcycle jacks manual before you attempt to use it with your valuable motorcycle.
- Automotive ramps are really helpful when your bike is on the jack.
- When using the tie down straps, use padding of old towels or other sort of cloth material to protect the finishing of your bike from getting scratched.
- Clear your work space beforehand, Ensure not to trap any wires, cables or lines under your motorcycle jack while working.
- Even after ensuring all the safety tips in advance, still make sure to work with care and vigilance while your bike is on the lift, as it only takes one wrong push to get the motorcycle off balance and fall.
Types of motorcycle jacks:
Basically, there are two different types of motorcycle jacks available:
- First are the traditional scissor designs that depend on on mechanics or compressed air for lifting the bike.
- Second which are more popular these days are the hydraulic jacks, both can perform a perfectly good job in lifting your bike.