Correct way to jack '15 TriGlide rear

[birdguy45]

I need to lift both wheels off the ground to install a DTC lift kit. Their video doesn't really show how to lift the bike up...mostly how to support with stands after you have it in the air. I don't want to lift under the wrong place and break something.

Many thanks,

Walt

[MDO]

It's laid out in the owners manual, the lift points for front & rear.

[birdguy45]

Looks like I’ll have to get a copy of the manual🥴. Thanks!

[MDO]

Your dealer should be able to get you one. They also have it on the HD website. If you enter your VIN #, it will come up & you can print the page you need.

[ShapeShifter]

I need to lift both wheels off the ground to install a DTC lift kit. Their video doesn't really show how to lift the bike up...mostly how to support with stands after you have it in the air. I don't want to lift under the wrong place and break something.

Many thanks,

Walt

In case you haven't gotten copies yet, here are two different pages from my 2016 Trike Supplement Manual.

Jacking Points Page



The page below is included just to show you the chassis without the body. You can better see jacking/lifting points and also the forward crossmember under trunk to place Jack Stands after it's raised.

[ultrafxr]

I used that technique the first time I tried to raise the rear of my TG without success. I used a scissor jack but no matter how far back I placed it (and I did get it as far back as possible) the front of the TG would lift and the rear wheels would still be on the ground. Note that the instructions say to secure the front wheel in a tire vise. So without that the front end lifts.

What I wound up doing is to take a section of '2 by' - can be 2 x 4 but I prefer something wider, 2 x 6 or even 2 x 8, to bridge the frame cross members under the trunk area and then use a floor jack to jack against the wood. Then put jack stands as shown in the DK Customs video.

If you use this method place the jack a bit to the left (belt side) as the added weight of the drive system on the left will make the right side lift first if the jack is right in the center.

Disclaimer: Be sure to 'lock' your front brake using a bungee or a velcro strap (which is what I use) to keep the trike from rolling as you jack the rear. This is what I do but use caution and proceed at your own risk.

[ShapeShifter]

I used that technique the first time I tried to raise the rear of my TG without success. I used a scissor jack but no matter how far back I placed it (and I did get it as far back as possible) the front of the TG would lift and the rear wheels would still be on the ground. Note that the instructions say to secure the front wheel in a tire vise. So without that the front end lifts.

What I wound up doing is to take a section of '2 by' - can be 2 x 4 but I prefer something wider, 2 x 6 or even 2 x 8, to bridge the frame cross members under the trunk area and then use a floor jack to jack against the wood. Then put jack stands as shown in the DK Customs video.

If you use this method place the jack a bit to the left (belt side) as the added weight of the drive system on the left will make the right side lift first if the jack is right in the center.

Disclaimer: Be sure to 'lock' your front brake using a bungee or a velcro strap (which is what I use) to keep the trike from rolling as you jack the rear. This is what I do but use caution and proceed at your own risk.

Thanks for that disclaimer! I failed to mention that I used the jacking method mentioned in the last sentence of first page on raising each side separately. Not only did I lock the front brake lever, I chocked the front wheel as well.

[MDO]

1 other note, ensure you break the lug nuts loose prior to jacking.

When finished, torque the lug nuts to specs & recheck after 100 miles.

[ultrafxr]

I've not tried jacking one side with the jack on the axle. I know that would work but I'd be cautious to not lift the first side you jack up too high. I don't know how stable these TGs are but I did see a photo of one on its side. Think I'd use a two stage approach if jacking this way. First to lift enough to get jack stand under one side and then the other then second to lift one side until wheel off ground and jack stand raised then finish on the other side.

No experience doing this but that is how I would approach it.

And good advice to always torque (and re-check) lug nuts.

[jamesdn]

I used that technique the first time I tried to raise the rear of my TG without success. I used a scissor jack but no matter how far back I placed it (and I did get it as far back as possible) the front of the TG would lift and the rear wheels would still be on the ground. Note that the instructions say to secure the front wheel in a tire vise. So without that the front end lifts.

What I wound up doing is to take a section of '2 by' - can be 2 x 4 but I prefer something wider, 2 x 6 or even 2 x 8, to bridge the frame cross members under the trunk area and then use a floor jack to jack against the wood. Then put jack stands as shown in the DK Customs video.

If you use this method place the jack a bit to the left (belt side) as the added weight of the drive system on the left will make the right side lift first if the jack is right in the center.

Disclaimer: Be sure to 'lock' your front brake using a bungee or a velcro strap (which is what I use) to keep the trike from rolling as you jack the rear. This is what I do but use caution and proceed at your own risk.

Since I do not have a tire vise, bike lift, or another way of keeping the front end on the ground I used the above method using a 2x4 under the cross member immediately to the rear of the diff. This worked very well. The wheels were a tight fit coming off and going on but not too difficult. In my case I was removing the wheels for access to the brake bleeders.

[DK Custom Products]

I need to lift both wheels off the ground to install a DTC lift kit. Their video doesn't really show how to lift the bike up...mostly how to support with stands after you have it in the air. I don't want to lift under the wrong place and break something.

Many thanks,

Walt

Hi Walt,

Sorry the video is not as good as it could be. We are going to be doing another one soon.

In the meantime, take a look at the 50 second mark in the video below. The jack is under the very front of the swingarm (on the swingaram, where the two legs meet, right below the pivot). That way if you have the front brakes on, it will lift the rear tires off the ground.



If you try and lift it in front of the front-most part of the swingarm, the front tire will come off the ground, not the rears.

Another way we have done this (only when we did not have a jack that would reach up easily to under the front of the swingarm) is to use a jack near one rear wheel and lift one tire off the ground, putting a jackstand on that side, then lifting the other side and putting the second jackstand. This is not the preferred way, but will work.

Kevin

[birdguy45]

Thanks to all who replied to my noobie question! I feel confident now that I'll not have any problem installing the kit. Special shout-out to ShapeShifter for including the diagrams from the Trike Supplement!

Ride safe,

Walt

[birdguy45]

Thanks, Kevin.

Hi Walt,

Sorry the video is not as good as it could be. We are going to be doing another one soon.

In the meantime, take a look at the 50 second mark in the video below. The jack is under the very front of the swingarm (on the swingaram, where the two legs meet, right below the pivot). That way if you have the front brakes on, it will lift the rear tires off the ground.



If you try and lift it in front of the front-most part of the swingarm, the front tire will come off the ground, not the rears.

Another way we have done this (only when we did not have a jack that would reach up easily to under the front of the swingarm) is to use a jack near one rear wheel and lift one tire off the ground, putting a jackstand on that side, then lifting the other side and putting the second jackstand. This is not the preferred way, but will work.

Kevin