Harbor Freight recalls 42,000 motorcycle lifts

[steven c]

PSA
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/recalls/harbor-freight-recalls-42000-motorcycle-lifts-041323.html?utm_campaign=coschedule&utm_source=facebook_page&utm_medium=Adventure%20Motorcycle%20Magazine%20(ADVMoto)&fbclid=IwAR3n1M_L0qVqnC49Y1-A3WgsW-IVl7D_1qvef-XBlaC8kq0iAWsaZ5RZU5Y

[Tom]

I wonder if the same company made them for Sears?    Thanks for the info. 

[bad Chad]

Retribution in the form of a HF gift card???  What kind of BS is that?  Seems like they should have to offer a cash refund as an option, what if I don't want to do business with them anymore?  Not that I personally would have a problem, just seems slimy.

I have a Craftsman M/C lift, which I must have had for at least 20 years, and it still works great.   I'm not worried about it failing, but it makes sense to be cautious for sure.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

It's this lift, not the table type or any other.

[vintage53]

Thanks Charlie,

for the clarification.

[n3303j]

Surprises me that the recalls weren't on any of the table lifts. Maybe 10 years back there were two versions of the table lift. Whenever HF had a $199 lift sale the image was the heavy duty product but the item being delivered was of less quality (discrepancy was mentioned in the fine print,  bait & switch?). On the chat groups a number of users documented partial collapses of the $199 lift table. Glad I didn't buy one.

Can't imagine that a cash refund (or structurally sound product replacement) wouldn't be a requirement as remedy to a potential major safety hazard?

[Dr. Enzo Toma]

The whole item is not returned, just the hydraulic ram. I guess you're left having to dispose of the rest yourself. Between that and the gift card refund it sounds like a half baked idea and a bad experience for the consumer.

More details can be found here: https://static.oemdtc.com/Recall/23E016/RCLRPT-23E016-1051.PDF

Chronology :
As a result of a customer claim alleging that the lift arm on the Central Hydraulics High Position Motorcycle Lift
(SKU 99887) dropped from its highest position while holding a motorcycle, allegedly causing damage to the
motorcycle (but caused no injuries), HFT engineers conducted an internal investigation including by
requesting that the customer return the product to be returned for analysis. HFT engineers reviewed reports
alleging similar malfunctions of the same product, with one claim alleging bodily injury (extent unknown). For
its investigation, HFT performed visual, integrity, and performance tests on new product from its inventory.
HFT’s investigation showed that certain of the tested products dropped the load during load testing due to
weld fatigue cracking or the deformation of the product’s tubes.
On February 23, 2023, HFT implemented a stop sale to prevent any further sales of the product and HFT
cancelled the shipment of future orders from the manufacturer. On February 24, 2023, HFT confirmed the
cancellation of future orders.
HFT received a total of 7 claims alleging that the product dropped a motorcycle while in the elevated position.
In certain of those instances, a weld was alleged to have broken. Of the 7 claims, 1 claim alleged bodily injury,
although the extent of the injury is unknown. HFT did not receive any claims alleging death due to the recall
condition. HFT received notice of those 7 claims between February 1, 2015, and June 10, 2022.

[moto-uno]

 One incident per year for 7 years , If only the auto or motorcycle industry was so good  . Peter

[Bulldog9]

It's this lift, not the table type or any other.

They sold 42,000 of those?!?!                     

[s1120]

They sold 42,000 of those?!?!                   

Thats the first thing I thought. Doesnt really seem like a great setup, and a table, or even a small mower/atv lift might be more useful. Cant see 42K people thinking thats bettter then other options.

[guzziart]

Cant see 42K people thinking thats bettter then other options.

    Yeah, now that you mention it.  Maybe a couple extra zeroes were added by mistake or the 42k number represents the grand total of all the different types of lifts HF sells.  idk.
Art

[s1120]

   Yeah, now that you mention it.  Maybe a couple extra zeroes were added by mistake or the 42k number represents the grand total of all the different types of lifts HF sells.  idk.
Art

Ive been around a lot of bike forums, and facebook groups and the like. Ive seen a ton of the HF tables in use, Ive never seen one of those. Not everyone post lift pict's...  but you would think you would see one of two.

[OldMojo]

I have one. Couldn't find a better way to get the back of a 1400 in the air to get the wheel off. The big attraction is its wide stance and range of lift. The 1400 has considerable weight bias to the rear and lacks any decent lift points at the center of balance. An ATV type lift would topple over easily.

I know some folks here will chock down the front wheel and lift the rear with straps and an overhead winch or something. My garage isn't really set up for that.

I'm certainly going to give mine a good look over. It's utter BS that I can't just get my money back and find something else.

[guzziart]

I'm certainly going to give mine a good look over. It's utter BS that I can't just get my money back and find something else.

Agreed.  Or maybe somone out there has figured out how to reinforce the thing so it doen't fail in service.  I imagine if you've gotten used to using it, it would be difficult to go to a conventional lift table.

I was using HF crappie little atv/mc lifts since mid '90's and finally was able to find room for a full blown lift table in 2010, haven't used the small ones since.

Art

[Stretch]

Couldn't find a better way to get the back of a 1400 in the air to get the wheel off. The big attraction is its wide stance and range of lift. The 1400 has considerable weight bias to the rear and lacks any decent lift points at the center of balance.

I found some decent lift points on mine. Here's how I do it:

I chock the front wheel in a Baxley L.A. chock.

There's a frame cross member just in front of the swing arm pivot. I jack that up with a
scissors jack - Black Widow  brand - but there are lots out there that are identical. I used
a piece of 2x4 as a pad on the jack so that the jack isn't actually touching any protuberances
under there.

Remove the mufflers, bags and guards, LH shock, brake caliper, and then unscrew the license plate holder -  you
have to cut a cable tie or two back there as well.

When the bike is high enough, just roll the rear wheel out the back.

Mine was very stable, but I DID flip the passenger pegs out and put some automotive
jackstands underneath 'em. Just in case....      Dead stable.

(Or you can use the Harbor Freight gizmo....      )

If you can't find the right size metric socket to fit the rear axle nut, a 1-1/4" socket works
perfectly - it's actually just a couple of thou' smaller than the metric socket, so it fits a
smidge tighter. (For God's sake, don't bugger the axle nut! It's an aluminum nyloc nut,
and you AIN'T gonna find a replacement at the local hardware store!    )

More than one way to skin a cat, eh?   

I put the scissors jack under cross member at the front of the frame with a wooden pad to get the front wheel off.
(Rear wheel on the ground.)

                                                              -Stretch

 

[OldMojo]

Thanks for that alternative method. I've done 2 tire changes with it and it was nice to be able to adjust the height at a single point during different stages of the job.

My guess is that the "fork assembly" that actually contacts the bike is the weak point. Specifically the horizontal tie bar that attaches to the vertical bar.



That "T" intersection probably has mad torsional force trying to peel it off the vertical. So some 3/16" wall tube along with some triangular gussets may be the ticket.
We'll see once I get a chance to inspect.

[Tom]

That's a good guess on the weakness of that lift.  Definitely check for weld cracks.     Good luck. 

[Stretch]

Specifically the horizontal tie bar that attaches to the vertical bar.

Oh, yeah - one little Chinese weld holding the whole bike up  - what could possibly go wrong?!


A little triangulation as you suggested might be just the ticket.

                                            -Stretch

[Bulldog9]

I have one. Couldn't find a better way to get the back of a 1400 in the air to get the wheel off. The big attraction is its wide stance and range of lift. The 1400 has considerable weight bias to the rear and lacks any decent lift points at the center of balance. An ATV type lift would topple over easily.

I know some folks here will chock down the front wheel and lift the rear with straps and an overhead winch or something. My garage isn't really set up for that.

I'm certainly going to give mine a good look over. It's utter BS that I can't just get my money back and find something else.

When I had the MGX-21 I used one of those elcheapo garage wheel chocks 



on the front tire, tied down with straps, and then one of my floor jacks to lift the rear of the bike. Went well. I then also used the chock on the rear to lift the front. What an interesting and irritating bike that was. Other than fantastic performance and comfort in the 35-75MPH speed range, I really did not like that bike.

HF is hit and miss for me as far as quality, but you cant argue with their prices normally. That lift though............. .......

[sidecarnutz]

OK. I'm relieved. Mine is the old $299 table lift. Its been terrific to use for the over ten years I've had it.

That one being recalled looks like a sketchy construction!

Thank you Charlie!

[Tom]

Oh, yeah - one little Chinese weld holding the whole bike up  - what could possibly go wrong?!


A little triangulation as you suggested might be just the ticket.

                                            -Stretch

I didn't know welds had an ethnicity.  If it's bad it's bad.  😂  Remember the Ford fiasco with the Pinto. 

[OldMojo]

I gave it a good look over, and it appears fine. The welds go all the way around the intersections of the tubing. I was planning to do some modifications on it anyway in order to use it on the frame-less Griso, so some fortifying and re-engineering will occur.

[Perazzimx14]

It's interesting that people complain about not getting their money back and only a store credit. How much were these lifts new? Did you use the at the time omnipresent 20% off coupon to get it to probably around $100. Then use it for years and then complain that they will only give you store credit. I mean if they gave you your money back would you actually use it to go out and buy an quality lift or just pocket it and continue to use the HF lift?

If you are that concerned about it failing and not being able to get a full refund why not take it to a local weld shop and spend a few dollars and have then gusset the weak point and be done with it.

[kidsmoke]

They sold 42,000 of those?!?!                   

Right? Hard to imagine something tens of thousands of motorcyclists find value in that I just cant find of interest.


oh, wait....

[Perazzimx14]

Right? Hard to imagine something tens of thousands of motorcyclists find value in that I just cant find of interest.


oh, wait....

Where the overwhelming number of the 42,000 buyers probably found value was a low cost of entry not the actual quality of the tool.

[Tom]

It's interesting that people complain about not getting their money back and only a store credit. How much were these lifts new? Did you use the at the time omnipresent 20% off coupon to get it to probably around $100. Then use it for years and then complain that they will only give you store credit. I mean if they gave you your money back would you actually use it to go out and buy an quality lift or just pocket it and continue to use the HF lift?

If you are that concerned about it failing and not being able to get a full refund why not take it to a local weld shop and spend a few dollars and have then gusset the weak point and be done with it.

+1 My thoughts completely. 

[Moparnut72]

I have a HF cycle carrier which I got to carry a small trail bike. I sold that bike and decided I wanted to carry my V7 on it. However it isn't rated for that much weight. I beefed it up and lowered it some to make loading and unloading easier. I wanted to use it on the back of the 5th wheel. Then I discovered the hitch on the back of the coach is only rated for 350 lbs tongue weight. I am thinking of beefing up the hitch but as soon as I crawl under the trailer with my welder the head office will be all over my case. I may have to move into the modified 2nd home.
kk