"If you want a good, reliable, classic feeling motorcycle, it's tough to beat a Sportster."
--Colorado Jeff
From the Boutique:
Fixing the Craftsman Motorcycle Lift Quick Drop Problem
TWA December 4, 2003
This worked for me; I can't guarantee it
will work for everyone
Remove the jack from the stand. Get some newspapers and work in a clean
well-lit area.
Here is the setup. Note the Shell 30W non-detergent oil. I used the turkey
baster to fill the jack with the oil. The jack is up on a wooden platform so
I could drain the oil into a pickle jar. Looks like a lot did not make it
into the jar. Most went onto my shirt and pants before I learned to cover
the flippin' holes with a rag.
To drain the jack:
Remove the rubber oil fill plug (see picture below).
Remove the relief valve screw. It has a funky feel to if as it has a small
shaft on it that is surrounded by a cylindrical seal. The seal stays in the
threaded bore.
Remove the drain hole cap plug. Behind it is another screw. Remove that
screw also. CAUTION: behind the second screw is a spring, a small metal
plunger AND a ball bearing. DON'T LOOSE THE BALL BEARING!
Some oil will flow out. But not much. To remove the rest, cover both holes
with an absorbent rag and pump the pump handle until no more comes out.
The fill plug is a rubber dome shaped plug on the side of the jack. Remove
the spring before trying to get the plug out. Be careful when removing the
plug as it has an integral molded in ring behind the jack wall to hold it in
place. If you try to pry it out with a sharp blade, the plug may be damaged.
Wiggle it out.
FILLING THE JACK WITH OIL
1. Reinsert the relief valve screw and screw it down moderately tight.
2. Reassemble the drain hole parts in reverse order…ball bearing…small metal
plunger with cupped recess toward the ball bearing…spring…screw, (screw it
about halfway down the hole…and finally the drain hole cap screw. Tighten
that.
3. Tip the jack on its' side and fill the oil chamber with oil. Fill it
until oil runs out the filler hole when the jack is tipped into a vertical
position. Fill some, tip up, check for drainage, repeat.
4. Finally, set the jack up vertical and pump it until no more air gurgling
sound is heard. You may have to retract the shaft by pushing down on it with
the release pedal depressed. It's a bear to push down.
5. Reinsert the rubber fill hole plug carefully. Wipe it down and reinstall
on the jack stand.
6. Carefully raise the bike on the stand and check the downward motion. It
should be nice and slow.
