Question about tranny/motorcycle jack

[xFullThrottlex]

Hey all,

I'm about to swap trannys in my car and after doing numerous tranny swaps with a regular jack and a block of wood i've decided it's time to upgrade to a tranny jack. I've been watching the sales at harbor frieght and have finally decided to make a purchase. I originally was just going to buy the adapter that fits onto the regular jack but I have read nothing but bad things about going this route, so forget that idea. Well now I have a bit of a dilemma, I've been meaning to get a motorcycle jack as well (as my bike does not have a center stand) and I was wondering if I could use the motorcycle jack as a tranny jack and if anyone has ever gone down this road? My car is on ramps so it is higher in the air and I'm unsure if the motorcycle jack would have enough reach. Any comments, advice, and the like are greatly appericiated. Thanks!:D

P.S.

Here are the three items i'm really looking closely at...

1) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39178

2) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3185

3) http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=2792

[shoooo32]

I would buy one of each. a motorcycle jack won't go high enough so you will be back to stacking wood on it for trans. work and you can't lift a motorcycle with a transmission lift. So... buy one of each.

[deuceWI]

What kind of motorcycle?

Motorcycle / ATV jacks are more for standard style bikes with alot of frame underneath to jack it up from.

If it's a sportbike or something similar Pit Bull stands or a cheaper knock off work great. Very stable.

Google image search example:
http://www.cbr600rr.com/albums/album40/DSC00588_web_001.jpg

Dependent on what the bottom of the bike looks like, you may or may not want to just lift it up. On my 919, the exhaust runs underneath and I'd prefer not to smash it.

[deuceWI]

Another google image search example. . . (I'm sure you could find better somewhere)

http://images.channeladvisor.com/Sell/SSProfiles/60000234/Images/1/PDSAMER01.jpg

Standard style bike on a lift. Notice how the frame goes underneath. Easy to lift up, but you'd probably still want to secure it somehow.

[team beater]

What kind of motorcycle?

Motorcycle / ATV jacks are more for standard style bikes with alot of frame underneath to jack it up from.

If it's a sportbike or something similar Pit Bull stands or a cheaper knock off work great. Very stable.

Google image search example:
http://www.cbr600rr.com/albums/album40/DSC00588_web_001.jpg

Dependent on what the bottom of the bike looks like, you may or may not want to just lift it up. On my 919, the exhaust runs underneath and I'd prefer not to smash it.

x2

[4eyedstang]

i have always used a good set of ratchet straps and the celling joist in my garage to lift my bike. works great

[xFullThrottlex]

What kind of motorcycle?

Motorcycle / ATV jacks are more for standard style bikes with alot of frame underneath to jack it up from.

If it's a sportbike or something similar Pit Bull stands or a cheaper knock off work great. Very stable.


Dependent on what the bottom of the bike looks like, you may or may not want to just lift it up. On my 919, the exhaust runs underneath and I'd prefer not to smash it.


I have an 89 vtr250, so the motorcycle jack would really be more for my dads sportster, as my bike doesn't have a frame and my exhaust is underneath. I think i'll look into pit bull stands and the cheaper of the two tranny jacks at harbor freight

[0TransAm0]

i have always used a good set of ratchet straps and the celling joist in my garage to lift my bike. works great

X2:thumbsup

[xFullThrottlex]

^im jealous of you guys, i'd really like a gantry crane but they're so damn much $$$

[Feature Pony]

I would stay away form Harbor Freight stuff, a lot of there stuff is made in china, I had to test 4 jacks from there because the first 3 couldn't lift the back of my dakota and they were 2 ton floor jacks! I returned the 4th one because it would lift it but I couldn't get jack stands under the truck fast enough before it started to go down.

[-stew-]

The motorcycle jack thing only works in theory. I tried it when I yanked the AOD from my Mustang. Car was a good 18" inches off the ground, trans on the M/C jack was about 22". Worked good to lower the trans, but had to dump it on the ground and drag it out from under the car.

If you have access to a welder, thirty minutes, one or two rachet straps and some scrap steel; you could make a real basic, yet useful, transmission cradle for a standard floor jack. If your crafty you could do it with out a welder.

As far as paddock stands, I recommend T-Rex Racing stands. $120 on eBay for front and rear off ebay. I think that included shipping, too. Here is a gratuitous shot of mine on the rear only, (because it's sexy and I miss it) rear can me used with spools or without, front works with most all standard forks.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p249/stewsquarenuts/rides/100_0233.jpg

[xFullThrottlex]

thanks for the info guys, and that kawa is sick

[-stew-]

^^ I never get tired of hearing that. Thank you.