I bought the below pictured Black Jack base unit at a yard sale for $20 today. My question is, is there more that I need to be able to put my LT on it? Seems like there ought to be a table for the wheels to sit on if I were going to change oil tranny gear oil. Anyone have one like this that can advise me on what else I need to make it useable? Can't find anything like it on the web! Thanks

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The base unit may not even be what I was needing at all! Without the wheels being supported I don't think you could even lift the LT.

I believe what you have there is a standard motorcycle/atv lift designed for frame contact lifting. That will not work on the LT. You need a table lift where the bike is driven onto the table, secured, and then the entire table work surface elevates.

Ron,

Looks a lot like one of these, base is a little different but otherwise seems the same.

http://www.harborfreight.com/1500-lb...lift-2792.html

This one will not work for you ;you have to get the 1000 pound table lift harbor freight has ;;Gary

Didn't say it would work, just that it looks like the one he bought.

Sorry about that John;your right I looked at your thread wrong.
Gary

Maybe I could buy something like the pic below and weld it on or affix it some way or another. What ya think? It's on sale for $180 plus shipping.

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Suicide, at best. The front and rear wheels will overhang the jack and it'll be like balancing a fat woman on a Popsicle stick. Sell that jack lift and get yourself a table lift.

Well it may not be exactly the correct way to do this, but I had a Sears lift that looks much like the H.F. lift only it's a little beefier and it's red.

It does fine on the GoldWing and the KLR and with a bit of tinkering works fine on the '99 LT.

I measured what space I had against the engine bottom under the bike without hitting any of the fairing. I cut two pieces of 2x4 the correct length and then two pieces to go across and sit on the arms of the lift. I lower the lift all the way and slide it under the bike and then sit the 2x4 piece on the lift and raise the bike. Sometimes I have to move the lift until I get it right but then I tie down the bike to the lift with the supplied straps and then lift it up to where I need it.

Works for me and I've even rolled the bike around a bit using the handle and the wheels on the lift.

I have what looks like an identical one to that posted by the OP. It barely handles my R1100RT with a ~12" by 12" wood platform adapter but no way could it handle my K1200LT.

Here's one that's just like my BlackJack and they are selling it for the BMW bike. Here's a couple of pics. They say for the LT you need a wood 2x4 to support the engine and make it level and to keep the jack off the exhaust pipes.

This is what Pitbull Lifts says about the BMW bikes:
BMW K1200LT (NO ADAPTOR = MUST USE BOARD UNDER ENGINE TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD PIPES ON THE LEFT SIDE OF BIKE, ALSO MUST REMOVE SKID BAR BACK BY CENTERSTAND AND ANY PLASTIC HANGING DOWN IF THE BOARD DOESN’T SHIM UP PAST THIS.)

BMW R1200C (THIS BIKE DOES NOT HAVE CENTERSTAND, NEEDS SINGLE ADAPTOR PLATE THAT COMES UP & MAKES CONTACT WITH THE BOTTOM OF THE TRANNY )

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I had one like this made by "Pit Bull". I used it on my 2300cc Triumph Rocket. I sold it because there's no way I'd feel comfy with the LT on it, loosening and tightening bolts.

I guess I'd tether the bike to two stationary parts of my building as well as to the jack lift itself. I will have to give it a try when I get a chance because I already own the jack lift and see just how safe it is for my LT. If I need to do some "nuts & bolt twisting" then I would be doing it on my front porch. On the picture, you'll notice that I have a post on the left and a corner wall on the right. I would tether it between the two points with the bike straight towards the window.

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The HF 1,000 lb lift is currently on sale for $299.00. I have one and it works great for my LT. I also have one of the Craftsman lifts...it is great for ATV's but not recommended for the LT.

I agree that it would be pretty good for my use. (On sale for $369) However, it's large in size and for ocassional use storage would be a problem cause I have no garage. (It's now a dining room per orders from higher headquarters! LoL) I think the one I bought for $20 will work my use. Plus it folds down low profile and can be stood on it's end for ease of storage. It's also wide at the bottom for stability and think it's probably 1500 lb rated.

Barring (a) a strict budget or (b) a lack of storage space for a lift - which is your situtation - I'd definitely do as some have advised, and go with a lift of sufficient size and capacity for your K1200LT. Many people use the Harbor Freight lift successfully; others have any of several brands' full-size lift; a few have pro-grade lifts like the Handy lift.

I fall in the middle: I have a Direct Lift model, and I got the side extensions with it. I have space in a garage to store the lift but if you don't you could park the bike on top of it when it's not on the road. This way, the bike and the lift take one space in your garage.

If I had to do it over again I'd go with a Handy lift - the model that has drop-out panels for both wheels. That is a really convenient feature, and it costs only a bit more than I paid for the cheaper Asian-made Direct Lift.

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Right now I don't even need a lift at all. Even though my bike is a 2002 it only has 42K miles on her. Only maintenance I've had to do, in the four months I've owned it, is changed the final drive lube, eng oil and gear case oil. Two of the three required grouveling around on my back. I also changed the rear brakes and pads which was easy. Soooo with luck I won't really even need a lift until clutch time and right now my bike really runs sweeeeeeet with no problems.

I just noticed the one pictured below at HF on sale for $179. It's aluminium but really looks sturdy as well as being a 1500l lb jack. Maybe mine is only 1000 lb rated after all.

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