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Jon H


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All you welders, I need your input...
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Last year I bought a new lift from Harbor Freight for my motorcycle. I don't have the greatest faith in a lot of products from them but I thought I would try this one.  From the pictures you can see that it is a hydraulic lift with what I will call a three sided "fork" to actually lift the bike. The lift is rated at 1100# and the bike is a little over 800#. The two extension sides of the fork are 2" tubular steel 1/8" thick and I am not sure if the center piece that is welded is solid or hollow, I suspect it is not solid.My concern is that this fork is only attached to the lift base by one weld although it is welded on all four sides.  It seems to be working fine but it really makes me nervous and I don't know if this weld is strong enough to trust or not. Opinions?

 

Lift 001.JPG

Lift 006.JPG

 

 

 

Lift 005.JPG



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
John D


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I'll guess that the weld in question/worry is the one in the bottom picture, that attaches the lifting "fork" to the vertical tube?

From the looks of the weld puddle & surrounding metal flow, it was done with a stick-welder, and the guy knew what he was doing. There appears to be good penetration between pieces.

For peace of mind, take a look up the bottom of the vertical piece and inspect the weld. You should see distortion/heat traces/melting inside the tube. This would assure good penetration and a weld that's stronger than the parent metal.

My point of concern would be failure/cracking that radiates outward from the top corners of this weld (bottom pic, just below the bolt head & nut). This is the point of greatest stress. All forces from the fork come back to this point. The tube metal would fail at this point, not the weld.

Keep an eye on this point and you should be good.

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John D. - St. Louis Park, MN.

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Lost in the 60s


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Jon, does it flex much with the weight of the bike ?? If so, I would reinforce the fork and verticle bar with more angle iron at the corners and flat stock on the bottom of the verticle bar to fork bar.
As John pointed out, it looks OK now but may fatigue over time from inadaquate strength at those points. I can help you with that, if you want.

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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

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Jon H


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Lost in the 60s wrote:

Jon, does it flex much with the weight of the bike ?? If so, I would reinforce the fork and verticle bar with more angle iron at the corners and flat stock on the bottom of the verticle bar to fork bar.
As John pointed out, it looks OK now but may fatigue over time from inadaquate strength at those points. I can help you with that, if you want.

There does not appear to be much flex of the joint left to right when the bike is on the lift. When I do "touch" the bike it does rock front to back which I believe creates a great deal of stress on this joint.  I was thinking some kind of reinforcement would be a good idea.

 

Yes Mitch at some point in the future I would take you up on your offer to help reinforce it. We can talk, thank you!



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Scott Parkhurst


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It's probably fine, but a gusset never hurts!

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Scott Parkhurst

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Enganeer


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Jon,

I would do as Frank suggested and support the bike with jack stand(s) once you have it in the air. You have a lift, not a stand. Or let me phrase it this way, would you work under a car supported by only a bumper jack or would you put jack stands underneath and place the load on them?





-- Edited by Enganeer on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 12:48:35 PM

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John E - Rogers, MN

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frank


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if it were me i would put a jack stand with a bar across or two jack stands to take some of the weight off lift. transfer the weight directly to the floor. in other words those two bars that the bike sits on give them a little help . might stop the rocking too.


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Jon H


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Enganeer wrote:

Jon,

I would do as Frank suggested and support the bike with jack stand(s) once you have it in the air. You have a lift, not a stand. Or let me phrase it this way, would you work under a car supported by only a bumper jack or would you put jack stands underneath and place the load on them?



Great suggestion.  I am going to reinforce it on the lift side but I like the idea of outside support also.



-- Edited by Enganeer on Wednesday 4th of September 2013 12:48:35 PM

 



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Jon H


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Another cry for help answered, Thanks Mitch!!!

 

lift 001.JPG

 

 



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'69 Convertible,  Lemans Blue, 454, 200 4R, 12 Bolt. 

Jon H.  Lino Lakes
Lost in the 60s


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Nice paint job !!



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Mitch D.   River Falls, WI

Lifetime member of the "Cars apart Club"

1966 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1970 Chevelle SS 396 M20

1967 Camaro SS/RS 350 M20
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