Harbor Freight lift on sale next weekend

[Lumpy Idle]

just got back in from a sojourn to h. freight. the guy at the register stuck a sales brochure for next week's (8th 9th, 10th) "parking lot sale" into my cart. it appears that the standard red motorcycle lift will be on sale then for $289.99.  i haven't seen it that low for a while. no, i do not work for them and don't own any of their stock. i do have the standard red lift though and it works just fine.  the brochure says the item # 69904 is the one on sale but then qualifies the advertizement by stating that  item # "68892 shown." i have never figured out what that's all about with them. they often list an item with two different part numbers. as far as i can tell they are the same piece of equipment. if not it begs the question - why would they make two nearly identical tools, give them separate part numbers and then do nothing to describe the difference. weird.

anywho - this is a good price for a decent lift.

[n3303j]

A bit of research shows the two different part numbers are about 30 pounds different in weight.
Some reviews commented that the lighter unit buckled or bent in use.
The advert picture is the heavier unit.
The sale item is the lighter unit.

[Lumpy Idle]

damn! that just seems downright sneaky and disreputable.

[Goosed_Again]

Haven't used it yet but got the yellow one off CL this week for $30... hope it works just as well for a dramatic savings over the red one!

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I bought this one last Saturday for $200. It'll be a nice addition to the three HF lifts I already have.

[fotoguzzi]

I bought this one last Saturday for $200. 

wow, how can I get that kind of deal?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

wow, how can I get that kind of deal?

You gotta' know people!  I got it that cheap, because I bought it from my buddy Leo who has moved to Tucson.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Score.. 

[Lumpy Idle]

A bit of research shows the two different part numbers are about 30 pounds different in weight.
Some reviews commented that the lighter unit buckled or bent in use. ...

anyone have an idea about where the 30 pounds comes from? what is the physical difference between the two? maybe a couple of angle iron braces will strengthen the bendable one?

ry

[rodekyll]

Did you see the pictures I posted last week with the bike strapped to the collapsed lift?  It's a heavy duty lift and went over when the piston air valve failed. Had it been a HF special it would have been twisted like tin foil and the bike would have hit the floor with force, probably taking the bike beside it too.   Nothing you can do will make a flimsy lift strong except replacing it.   Get the best you can afford.   Always chock and strap the bike to it,  and never rely on the hydraulic post to hold pressure.

[sidecarnutz]

My wife bought me a HF bike lift for Fathers Day three years ago. All I can say is that it was a heavy bastard for one guy to deal with and set up in the shop. Maybe I got the heavy one? It has worked perfectly and I'm grateful for it.

[Lumpy Idle]

Did you see the pictures I posted last week with the bike strapped to the collapsed lift?  It's a heavy duty lift and went over when the piston air valve failed. Had it been a HF special it would have been twisted like tin foil and the bike would have hit the floor with force, probably taking the bike beside it too.   Nothing you can do will make a flimsy lift strong except replacing it.   Get the best you can afford.   Always chock and strap the bike to it,  and never rely on the hydraulic post to hold pressure.

no, i missed that post. i'll look for it. the h. freight models come with a pin that acts as a stop. it takes the pressure off of the pump and also acts as a safety to prevent (?) collapse catastrophe in the event of a pump failure post-positioning. i have never had any trouble with my h.f. lift but it doesn't get a lot of use - i mean its either down or its up with the locking pin in place. i added some metal rings to mine to give me more options for strapping up front.  i have yet to change out the chock for a better one - its on the list and may wind up being a nice weekend welding project. "nothing you can do to make a flimsy lift strong" sounds like good advice as is the old saw "get the best you can afford."

as i recall they loaded mine up with a fork lift. it was a beast to unbox and move into place. seemed more than heavy enough at the time but now i worry. i have to figure out whether mine is the 30 lbs heavier unit or not. still and all it would be nice to know what particular components make up that extra 30 pounds. charlie?

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

no, i missed that post. i'll look for it. the h. freight models come with a pin that acts as a stop. it takes the pressure off of the pump and also acts as a safety to prevent (?) collapse catastrophe in the event of a pump failure post-positioning. i have never had any trouble with my h.f. lift but it doesn't get a lot of use - i mean its either down or its up with the locking pin in place. i added some metal rings to mine to give me more options for strapping up front.  i have yet to change out the chock for a better one - its on the list and may wind up being a nice weekend welding project. "nothing you can do to make a flimsy lift strong" sounds like good advice as is the old saw "get the best you can afford."

as i recall they loaded mine up with a fork lift. it was a beast to unbox and move into place. seemed more than heavy enough at the time but now i worry. i have to figure out whether mine is the 30 lbs heavier unit or not. still and all it would be nice to know what particular components make up that extra 30 pounds. charlie?

Never had any doubt whether any of my three would hold the load. All three are stable, even when I climb up on the raised lift with a bike on occasion. I did go over the two I bought new and tightened fasteners, greased moving parts, etc. I too added extra tie-down points.

I've seen both supposed variations in different HF stores and I can't really see any difference other than one has "L" shaped base beams and the other has "C" shaped beams. The latter would seem to be stronger, but my newest HF lift has the "L" shaped ones and is still plenty sturdy. 

[rodekyll]

no, i missed that post. i'll look for it. the h. freight models come with a pin that acts as a stop. it takes the pressure off of the pump and also acts as a safety to prevent (?) collapse catastrophe in the event of a pump failure post-positioning. i have never had any trouble with my h.f. lift but it doesn't get a lot of use - i mean its either down or its up with the locking pin in place. i added some metal rings to mine to give me more options for strapping up front.  i have yet to change out the chock for a better one - its on the list and may wind up being a nice weekend welding project. "nothing you can do to make a flimsy lift strong" sounds like good advice as is the old saw "get the best you can afford."

as i recall they loaded mine up with a fork lift. it was a beast to unbox and move into place. seemed more than heavy enough at the time but now i worry. i have to figure out whether mine is the 30 lbs heavier unit or not. still and all it would be nice to know what particular components make up that extra 30 pounds. charlie?

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=96173.0

This one had the safety bar too.  It was a freak thing.  I didn't have it up far enough to use the bar when it happened.  I hope to take a peek underneath to see what all happened this coming week.

[Lumpy Idle]

[quote
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=96173.0

quote]

is this a h. freight lift? it doesn't look like mine. its not just the difference in paint color, the construction is a bit different as well.

[5154guzzi]

I bought 3 HF lifts several years back , have had no problems with any of them, save the wheel chock design is fairly lame. One of them is much heavier duty than the other two, larger hydraulic ram and the supporting scissors structures are much thicker and wider. I think it could easily be 30#s heavier .  I remember the difference being that the lighter two are rated for 750# where the extra hd version is rated at 1000 #s,  but I could be mistaken by now. They are all the non air assist type , Recommend upgrade to a better chock for the front tire and always use the safety bar and then take the load off the jack.

[rodekyll]

[quote
http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=96173.0

quote]

is this a h. freight lift? it doesn't look like mine. its not just the difference in paint color, the construction is a bit different as well.

No, it's an industrial model of some brand.  My point being it's more substantial than anything HD offers and it's still not perfect.  So mind the safety steps.

[Lumpy Idle]

... One of them is much heavier duty than the other two, larger hydraulic ram and the supporting scissors structures are much thicker and wider. I think it could easily be 30#s heavier .  I remember the difference being that the lighter two are rated for 750# where the extra hd version is rated at 1000 #s,...

ahhh, thanks. that's exactly what i wanted to know.

[Luap McKeever]

anyone have an idea about where the 30 pounds comes from? what is the physical difference between the two? maybe a couple of angle iron braces will strengthen the bendable one?

ry

I do know that the access hole that the rear wheel sits on bent on mine, so I had to weld a brace around the outer edges of the panel.  Problem solved. I wonder if that's the difference? If so, a $2 piece of angle iron and a welding rod fixed mine up in no time.

[Rough Edge racing]

 I bought the 68892 lift on sale a few years ago for about $290.. It's always in use  , I build and service my race junk on it ..And it also works well for snowblowers, a welding table, work table for rebuilding  truck transmissions or axles, or use for cutting lumber..With slight jury rigging it becomes an ATV lift...Minor complaint about the small castor wheels makes it difficult to roll around on my shop floor littered with cast off junk....And it leaks a drop of hydraulic oil from time to time...