There often comes a situation where the saddle of the floor jack is not wide enough to provide proper support to the vehicle. A cross-beam attachment comes in handy in such a scenario. However, many people are not aware of how to use a floor jack cross beam the right way. 

Do not get intimidated by the heavy terms and the hefty sizes of the accessories, using a floor jack cross beam is not a difficult task. If you are following all the necessary guidelines and protocols, then there is no danger in using a floor jack cross beam. 

The real question is how to know which guidelines are the correct ones, and where to find them. To eliminate this dilemma entirely, I have dedicated an entire article to it. You are going to find a step-by-step procedure, along with precautionary measurements of using a floor jack cross beam in the article below. 

How To Use A Floor Jack Cross Beam?

By following the steps below, you will be able to use a floor jack cross beam with so much ease. 

Assembling The Floor Jack Cross Beam 

If you own a floor jack that comes with the cross beam attachment present separately in the package, then first you will need to assemble them. Place your screwdriver, cross beam attachment and the floor jack in a well-lit area. The cross-beam attachment goes where the saddle sits on a floor jack. Therefore, you will need to remove the saddle from the floor jack. Once it is removed, then take the cross beam attachment and fix it on the floor jack with screws. Make sure that you tighten all the screws properly. 

Using A Floor Jack Cross Beam 

When you are using a floor jack cross beam to lift a vehicle, you also need a couple of jack stands for support. Therefore, if you want to lift your car up in the air, then make sure you have 2 floor jack cross beams and 4 jack stands. 

Step 1

Take the first floor jack cross beam and slide it under the body of the vehicle, from the side. When it comes to this type of floor jack, picking the spot for jacking up is the critical step. Make sure that you place the floor jack cross beam closer to the front tire. However, it should not be right next to the tire, you need to leave at least 6 to 8 inches of space from the tire. 

Step 2

Once you have picked the spot for placement, fix the floor jack cross beam in its position. Now start pumping the handle to raise the car. Make sure that you pump slowly. Once the car is lifted high enough for a jack stand to slide under, take 2 jack stands and place them under the car. One should be behind the front wheel and the second should be closer to the back wheel. 

Step 3

As you raised enough to slide the jack stands under the car easily, the top of the stands will not be in contact with the body of the car. So, turn the release valve of the floor jack cross beam to lower the car on the jack stands. Repeat the same steps on the other side of the car with the second floor jack cross beam and the two remaining jack stands. 

Step 4

If you wish to raise the car even higher, then you should pump the floor jack cross beam first. Keep raising it till the car is at your desired height level. Now raise both of the jack stands to provide support to the vehicle. You need to lower the vehicle slightly, as shared above, till it is sitting on the jack stands. Repeat the same steps on the other side of the vehicle. Some people use a single floor jack cross beam for raising the vehicle from both sides. They remove the floor jack cross beam from under the vehicle once it is sitting on top of the jack stands, and then raise the other side by using the same floor jack cross beam. However, you can also choose to leave the machine in its place with the jack stands if you wish to have more support and security. 

Conclusion 

A floor jack cross beam is quite a nifty creation. As amazing as this machine is, if you do not use it the correct way while following the proper guidelines, it can turn into a headache. So save yourself from the trouble and read the article above to find out how to use a floor jack cross beam. 

Hearing the screeching noise of a Harley slipping from the floor jack is the nightmare of every biker. Not only that, but it is also quite life-threatening as the 2-wheeler can fall on the person or their floor jack, causing some serious damage. 

This disastrous situation can be avoided very easily if you learn how to lift a Harley with a floor jack. Utilizing this heavy-duty machine the right way can help you get done with the task at hand conveniently, as well as keep your precious Harley safe and secure, even while it is hovering in the air. 

Before you inflict any damage on your precious motor vehicle by wrong positioning of a floor jack, take a step back. Give the article below a thorough read as it focuses on how one can lift a Harley with a floor jack the right way. Make sure to follow every step keenly, if you want to get done with the job without any accidents. 

How To Lift A Harley With A Floor Jack

In just a few simple steps, you will be able to easily lift your Harley with a floor jack. 

First Step 

Before you start pushing the floor jack under your Harley, you need to find a few pieces of lumber. Trust me when I say that you can not do this job smoothly without the aid of lumber. After you have the lumber and your floor jack, then place your Harley in a spot that is flat and free from any grooves or bumps. 

Second Step 

If you try to slide your floor jack under a Harley that is standing on the support of a kickstand, you will fail. Due to the leaning position, it is impossible to get a floor jack under the Harley. Moreover, as the motor vehicle comes with a low body, as compared to other motorcycles, the task becomes even more difficult. This is where the pieces of lumber shine. Take the larger and wider piece and push it under the back wheel of the Harley. Instead of raising the motor vehicle all by yourself, you can ask for someone’s help. If not then the safest method is by pushing the Harley backwards and sliding it on top of the lumber. 

Third Step 

Once the lumber is securely placed under the back wheel, you will notice that the motor vehicle will raise a few inches. Now push the Harley into a straight upright position and place the remaining piece of lumber under the kickstand. This will keep the motor vehicle straight. 

Fourth Step 

It is time to slide the floor jack under Harley and jack it up. Make sure to position the floor jack in such a way that the saddle comes into contact with the body of the motor vehicle. Once the saddle is in position, you can start pumping the handle to lift the Harley. If you want more stability, you can add a wider piece of lumber on top of the saddle, so that it touches the lower part of the motor vehicle, instead of the saddle. 

Fifth Step 

Once you have lifted the Harley as high as you need, you will notice some instability. There are two ways to go from here. You can either use a ratchet and straps to tie the motor vehicle down. It will keep the motor vehicle stable. The second option is to ask for the assistance of another person and have them hold the Harley from the handlebars. Lo and behold, your Harley is up in the air safely. Now, you can go ahead with your task. Once you are done, remove the straps, and slowly, lower the saddle of the floor jack back to its resting position. Make sure that you do not lower it suddenly. 

Conclusion 

Bikers love their Harleys more than anything in the world, which is why even the smallest scratch from a floor jack on the motor vehicle antagonizes them. However, if you place the floor jack the correct way and then lift your Harley, there will be no scratching and damage. To find out how, give a read to the article above. 

It may seem like a motorcycle is a low-maintenance vehicle, but the truth is far from it. Especially, when the maintenance job requires having the 2-wheeler up in the air on a floor jack, then it becomes a nuisance. The odds of the motor vehicle slipping from the floor jack are often quite high. 

This kind of disaster usually happens when the proper positioning of the floor jack is not taken into consideration. If you learn how to jack up a motorcycle with a floor jack the proper way, then the odds of any accidents happening will be low. 

For your relief and assistance, I have conducted thorough research followed by a few experiments on my own motorcycle. So, in the article below, you will find a simple process that will show you how to jack up your motorcycle with a floor jack from your garage. Along with that, there are also some do’s and don’ts that you will never find on the internet. 

How To Jack Up A Motorcycle With A Floor Jack

The following process will show you exactly how you can jack up your motorcycle with the help of an ordinary floor jack. 

Procedure For Jacking Up A Motorcycle 

Whether you need to change the tire of your motorcycle or do any other maintenance job that requires the 2-wheeler up in the air, you can use your floor jack for it. The entire procedure is quite simple, but there are a few technical details that one should never overlook. Follow the steps stated below to jack up your motorcycle without any issues. 

Positioning The Floor Jack

When you are using a floor jack for jacking up your motorcycle, positioning the floor jack is the most critical step. It is basically a deal breaker, as jacking the jack while it is in the wrong position will damage your motorcycle. First, make sure that your motorcycle is standing on a flat and even surface. There should be no bumps, otherwise, it will come plummeting down on you and your floor jack. Slide the floor jack under the body of the motorcycle, right next to the kickstand. Make sure that the saddle of the floor jack is touching the bottom of the body. Moreover, you also need to ensure that the floor jack should be close to the front end of the motorcycle. 

Lifting The Floor Jack 

Once your floor jack is in the right position, it is time for you to start lifting. Pump the handle of the floor jack slowly a couple of times so that the motorcycle does not fall. If there is any wobbling, then take a rectangular piece of lumber, and slide it under the back wheel of the motorcycle. To bring more stability, you can also add a piece of lumber between the saddle of the floor jack and the body of the motorcycle. 

Working On The Jacked Up Motorcycle 

Once the motorcycle is stable and there is no wobbling, you can keep pumping the floor jack to raise it a couple of inches off the ground. Now you can change the tire of your motorcycle or do any maintenance that you wanted to. If you need to work for a longer period, then it is best if you also add a jack stand under your motorcycle, along with the floor jack. It will bring more stability, and take some load off your floor jack. This was all you needed to do to raise your 2-wheeler off the ground. 

Can You Use Any Other Jacks For A Motorcycle?

You can use a floor jack for raising your motorcycle a few inches off the ground. However, if you do not have a floor jack, then you can also use a scissor jack to raise a motorcycle. Jack stands are also used for keeping a motorcycle up in the air. 

Conclusion 

Having issues with your motorcycle do not always mean taking it to the mechanics. You can fix the problems at home too. All you need is your floor jack to keep the motorcycle hovering up in the air, so you can work on it. Read the article above to find out how to use your floor jack for jacking up a motorcycle. 

Using a floor jack for various projects is a great way to get your money’s worth out of the machine. However, when the machine stops working, it worries every owner that they are losing their money. Do not fret, learning how to store the floor jack the right way will help you keep it around for a longer=. 

A floor jack not working in the middle of a project is a clear sign that the machine has not received proper maintenance. When you do not store a floor jack the right way and do not give it the care and check-ups it deserves, the lifespan of the machine will reduce to a great extent. 

To save you from losing your precious machine and also save your money from drowning, I have shared the entire process of storing the floor jack the right way below. Even the minor details make the difference, which is why I have paid close attention to every detail. 

How To Store A Floor Jack

Below are some of the major steps that will make sure that your floor jack is always stored properly. 

Cleaning Before Storing 

Before we store a floor jack in the garage, cleaning the machine is a must. Make sure that you wipe down the entire body of the floor jack with a smooth lint-free cloth. If there is any fluid leakage present near the oil filler plug, wipe that down too. Make sure to remove all the dust before it converts into a thick layer of grime. 

Checking The Oil 

Before shutting the cover on your floor jack, check the oil level of the machine. Take a small piece of paper or a stick and put it inside the reservoir to determine the fluid level. If the fluid level is low, then refill the reservoir. Make sure that you add fluid in the oil filler plug and not into any wrong spot, as it will cause damage to the machine.  

Twisting The Release Valve 

If the release valve of the floor jack is opened, then make sure to twist it. Use your handle to twist the release valve. It will retract the pump and piston into a resting position. Moreover, also make sure that you lower the saddle all the way down before sliding your floor jack into the garage. 

Lowering The Handle 

Another important step in storing the floor jack the right way is by positioning the handle of the floor jack the right way. Never leave the handle of your floor jack in a standing position. Before storing it in the garage, always lower the handle. It may occupy extra space, but this is the right way of storing the floor jack. 

Correct Position Of The Floor Jack 

Once the floor jack is clean and all of the above steps have been done, then you can take it to the garage for storage. A critical part of storing the floor jack the right way is the position of the jack. Make sure that you place it in an upright position. It should not be tilted, or stored upside down to save space. Both of these positions will inflict damage on the floor jack which will be the cause of its untimely demise. Therefore, make sure that you place the floor jack in a straight and upright position, without a tilt. 

Covering With Protective Sheet 

Once you have done all of the above steps, and your floor jack is in a resting position, the job is not finished here. You need to make sure to cover your floor jack with dust and a water-repellent sheet. Make sure that you cover every inch of your floor jack with the sheet. It will ensure that not even a speck of dirt or a drop of water gets to the floor jack. 

Importance Of Storing The Right Way 

Sliding your floor jack into the garage without taking any proper storage steps will damage the machine more than one might think. It will pave way for dust and grime to make hone on the floor jack which will lower the lifespan of the machine. On the contrary, storing the floor jack the right way will make sure that your machine stays in top-notch condition, and you can use it for a longer period of time. 

Conclusion 

Every owner of a floor jack will agree that their machine not working is a nightmare of theirs. This is what happens when the owner does not store the machine the right way after every use.  It takes a toll on their floor jack and causes damage. Read the article above to find out all the necessary steps that you should take every time you are done using the machine. 

Taking your tires to the mechanic every time you need to break the tire bead, and separate the wheel will cost you a couple of hundreds of bucks. Not to mention, it will also test your patience to no extent. So the only viable solution to end this misery is by learning how to break a tire bead with your floor jack. 

Breaking a tire bead with a floor jack is friendly on the pocket, as well as quite effective. This method will allow you to get the job done from the comfort of your home. Moreover, there will also be fewer chances of ending up with scratched wheels which happens quite often due to the negligence of mechanics. 

However, this is only possible if the procedure is done cautiously and without any error. For that reason, I have jotted down the entire process of breaking a tire bead with a floor jack in simple and easy steps below. So you can know what to do even after a single read. 

How To Break A Tire Bead With A Floor Jack

The following steps will teach you what you need to do to break the tire bead with your floor jack, at home. 

What You Will Require?

You are going to need only a handful of items for this procedure. The first thing that you are going to need is your floor jack, obviously. The second item that is quite critical to the procedure is a ratchet tie-down strap. Once you have got your hands on both of these items, you can continue with the process. 

First Step 

First of all, take the tire and put it on the ground. Now place the floor jack right next to the tire on the ground. Hold the tire slightly high in the air, so that you can slide the floor jack under it. A critical thing to keep in mind here is to place the saddle of the floor jack right under the rubber area of the tires. Make sure that the saddle does not touch the wheels. A simple way to ensure that is by raising the saddle slightly, so you can see which part of the tire it touches. 

Second Step 

Once your floor jack is placed under the tire perfectly, then it is time to make use of the ratchet tie-down strap. Push the hooks of both straps through the base of the floor jack so that it remains stable at all times. Now take the shorter end of the strap and push it under the tire. Pull the strap out from the outer side of the tire. Make sure that it goes over the aluminum wheel area of the tire. 

Third Step 

Take the other end of the strap and wrap it over the tire similar to the first one. Now that both straps are over the tire, take the end of one strap and push it through the ratchet. When it goes through the ratchet, tighten it to a maximum extent. Make sure that you have lowered the saddle of your floor jack prior to this step so that the strap is tightened properly. 

Fourth Step 

Now it is time for the real deal, start pumping the handle of your floor jack to raise the saddle. Once you have pumped the handle 5 to 6 times, the tire bead will break. There are two ways to tell whether the tire bead is broken or not. One, the tire will start deflating, and second, you will notice that the aluminum wheels will start coming out of the lower end of the tires. To find out whether the second one is happening or not, you will need to bend to look under the tire. If the rubber tires are separated from the aluminum wheels, that means your work is done. That is all you needed to do to break the tire bead with a floor jack. 

Conclusion 

Whether you drive a heavy-duty vehicle or a lighter one, you will need to break the tire bead every once in a while. A beat breaker hammer or the assistance of a professional will cost you too much money. However, with a floor jack, the process can be done easily, and that too, from the comfort of your own home. So, read the article above to find out how to do that.