J&S Trike Jack

[mike696]

I'm more of a looker than a poster, but I have been riding Harleys since the early 1980s.

I purchased a J&S jack for my first trike, a 2016, and it worked great.

I now have a 2019 Triglide and tried to jack it up for a service. No luck. I couldn't get the jack under the bike from the left side because exhaust shields prevented the jack from sliding under the frame. In fact the rear end of the jack was too tall to fit under the frame.

Did the rear suspension changes HD made in 2019 cause this problem? Looked under the bike with a flashlight and couldn't see how the jack would work from either the left or right side.

I need HELP!

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks from the Texas Hill Country. Mike

[MDF48]

I'm more of a looker than a poster, but I have been riding Harleys since the early 1980s.

I purchased a J&S jack for my first trike, a 2016, and it worked great.

I now have a 2019 Triglide and tried to jack it up for a service. No luck. I couldn't get the jack under the bike from the left side because exhaust shields prevented the jack from sliding under the frame. In fact the rear end of the jack was too tall to fit under the frame.

Did the rear suspension changes HD made in 2019 cause this problem? Looked under the bike with a flashlight and couldn't see how the jack would work from either the left or right side.

I need HELP!

Has anyone else had this issue?

Thanks from the Texas Hill Country. Mike

I went through this 2 or 3 years ago. Bottom line is if your jack was made for 2016 and back trikes and is used from the right side (sitting on bike) it WILL NOT WORK.

You have 2 choices. You can sell yours and buy a new one from J&S, or I believe they will still sell you a conversion kit to change yours to work with the new 2017 and up models.

You really need to call J&S and tell them what you need and see what they will do as far as the conversion goes. They are very familiar with this. It happened to a bunch of us when they first changed it. I know this probably isn't what you wanted to hear. The new model will work with your 2016 from the left side.

I sold my older jack and purchased a new model with the air option. I sold the old one to a good friend so I could order a AIR model. When it arrived it would not work from the right side. I called J&S and found out they had just changed to the new style and it does work on my 2016....from the LEFT SIDE. They ain't cheap. BTW, yes it was because of changes made with the new 2017 up models.

I seem to remember some saying they were able to just swap sides with the rails on the old trike jacks and were able to make it work. I am not sure about that but J&S can tell you for sure.

[Trampas]

MDF if I read it right he is going in from the left side which is clutch side if I read his post right, now he said he used it on his 2016 and worked great, not sure if he went in on clutch (left side) or not. If he did he has the upgraded jack, if not it won't work from left or right side from I have read anyway and he will need the upgraded version arm.

I know when I had my 2016 with my J & S trike jack I went in from the right side (front brake) , sold it and bought a 2018 and I ended buying the conversion kit from J & S to work on my 2018. From what I have read all J & S being built now go in the left clutch side. So a person that has a older model will have to upgrade with the conversion kit like I did.

I know when I got the conversion and installed I had some trouble getting it to work also from the left clutch side but it works good, when pushing it in be really close to tire and fender and it will work good, after a couple times of doing mine it is really easy to do now.

All for now Trampas

[MDF48]

MDF if I read it right he is going in from the left side which is clutch side if I read his post right, now he said he used it on his 2016 and worked great, not sure if he went in on clutch (left side) or not. If he did he has the upgraded jack, if not it won't work from left or right side from I have read anyway and he will need the upgraded version arm.

I know when I had my 2016 with my J & S trike jack I went in from the right side (front brake) , sold it and bought a 2018 and I ended buying the conversion kit from J & S to work on my 2018. From what I have read all J & S being built now go in the left clutch side. So a person that has a older model will have to upgrade with the conversion kit like I did.

I know when I got the conversion and installed I had some trouble getting it to work also from the left clutch side but it works good, when pushing it in be really close to tire and fender and it will work good, after a couple times of doing mine it is really easy to do now.

All for now Trampas

Yeah there is some confusion in his post. I assumed (not always good) he had a trike jack made before the 17's came out and was always used from the right side....... but he tried it from the left side on his 2019 and that is not going to work without changing the rails or ordering the conversion. Maybe he will respond with more info.

[B Dawg]

After I knew my ‘20 Tri-Glide was coming, I sent J&S an email inquiring if my jack that I had used on my ‘12 would still work on my ‘20. They replied “yes it will”. After I took delivery of the new trike and installed some accessories, I tried to put it up. With my luck it would not fit under the trike from either side.

I called them explained the email and what was going on and said for $99 they would email me a prepaid UPS label, had me box up the handle, cable assembly and lift bracket. Took off the two bolts holding the assembly to the lift and sent it to them. Week later I received a reconfigured assembly and it works just fine from the right side!

[MDF48]

After I knew my ‘20 Tri-Glide was coming, I sent J&S an email inquiring if my jack that I had used on my ‘12 would still work on my ‘20. They replied “yes it will”. After I took delivery of the new trike and installed some accessories, I tried to put it up. With my luck it would not fit under the trike from either side.

I called them explained the email and what was going on and said for $99 they would email me a prepaid UPS label, had me box up the handle, cable assembly and lift bracket. Took off the two bolts holding the assembly to the lift and sent it to them. Week later I received a reconfigured assembly and it works just fine from the right side!

OK, for clarity, when you say it works just fine from the "right" side, are you saying right side while sitting on the trike, or looking at it from the front? My J&S jack was delivered December 29th 2016 after a 35 day wait. It was one of the first "new" models they made that would work with the early model trikes and the new 2017 & up models.

However it has to go under the trike (on my 2016) from the "left"" side..... the left side as you are sitting on the trike. The short adjustable arm on my J&S jack is on the right side of the jack as viewed from the rear of the jack. Does this match the description of your jack?

[B Dawg]

OK, for clarity, when you say it works just fine from the "right" side, are you saying right side while sitting on the trike, or looking at it from the front? My J&S jack was delivered December 29th 2016 after a 35 day wait. It was one of the first "new" models they made that would work with the early model trikes and the new 2017 & up models.

However it has to go under the trike (on my 2016) from the "left"" side..... the left side as you are sitting on the trike. The short adjustable arm on my J&S jack is on the right side of the jack as viewed from the rear of the jack. Does this match the description of your jack?

First question; Yes, right side while sitting in the trike.

Second question; The adjustable lift pad (arm) is in the left side of the lift while standing behind the jack (rear). (Bought my jack in 2013 so our jacks apparently are different.)

[mike696]

I'm an old fart, so try to bear with me.

Current trike is a 2019-for sure!

Past trike was 2016 or 2017-can't remember.

Jack has a lever/cable assembly on it to lift and lower small pad for clutch side (left) rear of frame. I had to call J&S to find out that the jack would roll in from the clutch side (left), NOT the right side like the instruction sheet showed. the first time I used it and they said it had to go under clutch (left) side not air cleaner (right) side. They said that they just hadn't updated the instruction page yet...one damn page.

I then rolled the jack from the clutch side under the frame towards the air filter side almost touching the wheel and rear fender with the short lift arm on the clutch cover side. It just barely fit, but it worked fine when small pad was lifted by control arm.

Now, on the 2019, the jack will not roll under the frame. There is no clearance anywhere around the frame, exhaust or tire for the jack to fit at all on either side. I tried calling J&S on Saturday, but no answer. I just had everything laid out to do my 1k service when I found that the jack would not work. I'll call J&S on Monday to find out what is going on.

Thanks for hearing me out, and, I'll let you know what J&S says. An indy near me will change all 3 fluids for $75 if I supply parts (I already have them). Called the HD dealer and they wanted $250 + parts to drain and fill 3 fluids. No wonder business is down. (There were 4 5 bikes ahead of me in their express land and 2 techs working.)

I've been changing my own fluids for over 30 years. I know when I'm being ripped off. I figured the air jack would pay for itself in 3-4 years.

Going riding-it's going to be 70F today and no rain!!

[MDF48]

First question; Yes, right side while sitting in the trike.

Second question; The adjustable lift pad (arm) is in the left side of the lift while standing behind the jack (rear). (Bought my jack in 2013 so our jacks apparently are different.)

Well this is getting more and more interesting. Can you please post some pics of your jack with nothing on it but with the riser raised up and if possible, with it under the trike and ready to jack. I would really like for my J&S to be able to work from the right side instead of the left on my 2016 TGU.

I was told by J&S back in late December of 2016 that the new models would only work from the left side on all model years of the trike after they made the changes to accommodate the 2017 models. I will be on the phone with them Monday morning about the conversion they did to your jack. Thanks.

BTW, when I ordered my J&S in late November of 2016 they didn't say anything about a new model and never changed any of the video's and instructions on their site. It appears they still haven't changed much. Anyway, when the jack finally arrived, I started putting it together and suddenly I noticed the dang riser was on the right hand side of the jack.

I went into a cussing fit and said "who is the dumba** that put this jack together? They put it on the wrong side. I was extremely PO'd but I had to wait until the next morning and call J&S. That was when they informed me they had made changes to the jack to accommodate the 17's and that the jack was now made to be used from the LEFT side on all models.

Yes, it works, but I really would prefer to be able to use it from the right side on my 2016. Can't wait to talk to J&S tomorrow about your jack.

[B Dawg]

Trike is on the lift and covered. Here are two pics.

[Trampas]

Trike is on the lift and covered. Here are two pics.

Not sure what is going on with J & S jacks now, I have read they have new owners and I see your jack is going in on the right (front brake) side, that is the way my went on the 2016 but I bought a 2018 and I had to buy the conversion for my 2018, no big deal, now goes in on left (clutch) side, sure wish J & S would update their website and be a little more info than what they have, have heard very hard to get ahold of them to discuss problems, oh well mine works just fine so far, knock on wood. My bottle jack has a round knob to turn which is very nice.

All for now Trampas

[mike696]

Jack went under the (left) clutch side of my 2017, even though the instruction sheet to slide in from right. I had to call J&S and they told me that design changes were made and it had to push under from left. They just hadn't changed the instruction sheet (recopying one sheet) yet. All was fine for 2 years.

Now, on my 2019 (M8) trike, there is not enough clearance behind the left (clutch) side because the chrome exhaust and heat shield has been redesigned by HD. It appears that that the entire rear frame has been redesigned to accommodate the new rear suspension.

I haven't had a chance to call J&S yet.

Mike

[mike696]

Just tried to call them and got telephone company recording saying that my call can't be completed now, try again later. Called twice. Hope they are still in business..............may have 100# paper weight for sale.

[MDF48]

OK, I talked to the gentleman at J&S this afternoon about 3:30 PM CST. I had left a message this morning about 10:00 AM for him to call me. I forget his name, but he sounded like the new owner that I talked to in December of 2016 while waiting for my new air jack to be shipped. As I stated earlier, my jack arrived 12/29/16 and was ordered around the 25th of November.

My jack was one of the first orders that they shipped with the "new design" that would work with the new 17's and up. It arrived with the riser on the RIGHT side viewing the jack from the back. It did have to go under the trike from the LEFT side.....again, sitting on the trike.

I explained to the gentleman about the questions that had come up about the jacks on this forum, as related to which side they would work from. I told him about what B Dawg had said about sending his riser assembly back to J&S and getting it modified and sent back. D Dawg's original jack was made back in 2012 or 13 I believe. That is IMPORTANT, as you will see below. B Dawgs modified jack was setup for use from the "RIGHT" side after J&S sent him the modified pieces he needed.

So, I then ask him if my jack would work from either side and he said YES, because mine is one of the "NEW" style jacks. Even though it came from the factory with the riser on the right side of the jack..... he told me all I had to do was swap sides with the arm and riser assembly and it would work from the RIGHT side of my trike!

HOWEVER, this only applies if you have one of the "NEWER" model jacks. If you have an older model you will have to contact J&S and talk to them about doing the same thing B Dawg did by sending part of it back to J&S. He didn't say, and I didn't ask how to tell if you have an older model. They come with SN's attached and they can tell from that, or maybe some other way, if you talk to them.

Now, I BELIEVE he also said that with the new style jacks and the older "modified" jacks, that they can work from either side on all bikes.....EVEN the 17's and up by changing sides with the riser assemblies. Please note that I said I "BELIEVE" that is what he said. I say that because I was distracted by a phone call beeping in on my iPhone. I had already taken about 15 minutes of his time and didn't want to keep him on the phone any longer and have him repeat that part.

I changed sides with my riser assembly this afternoon and it only took me about 15-20 minutes. I MUCH prefer to raise my trike from the "RIGHT" side, especially for draining fluids etc. I did not have time to actually raise my trike with the new setup but I see absolutely no reason it will not work.

I will post some before and after pics tomorrow if anybody is interested. Please, check with J&S before you change anything based on what I posted. I am not an EXPERT on J&S jacks.

[Trampas]

I will post some before and after pics tomorrow if anybody is interested. Please, check with J&S before you change anything based on what I posted. I am not an EXPERT on J&S jacks.

Yes I'm interested, I don't mind the left clutch side for jack but I might decide later to change if it is possible, looking forward to the pics, sounds like a interesting phone call to say the least.

All for now Trampas

[mike696]

I will post some before and after pics tomorrow if anybody is interested. Please, check with J&S before you change anything based on what I posted. I am not an EXPERT on J&S jacks.

Yes I'm interested, I don't mind the left clutch side for jack but I might decide later to change if it is possible, looking forward to the pics, sounds like a interesting phone call to say the least.

All for now Trampas

I don't think J&S knows much about their jacks either.

I'll take some pics tomorrow showing the jack as assembled that worked on my older trike and pics of the underside of my 2019 trike and see what they have to say. I'm not in a real hurry now since I had my fluids changed by an indy near my house.

Also, he said that the transmission was empty and the primary fluid was up to the top of the primary case. Sounds like fluid migration from the transmission case to the primary.....880 miles on bike. He put red line transmission fluid in so if there is fluid migration, the new primary fluid should have a red tint, or the transmission will be empty after putting about a thousand more miles on the bike.

I'll let you all know what is going on later.

I'm thinking about selling the HD and buying a new Ford F-150 4x4 loaded. I have a 2001 Toyota Tacoma 4dr v-6 automatic with 215,000 trouble free miles on it.

Mike

[MDF48]

[QUOTE=mike696;736188]I'm more of a looker than a poster, but I have been riding Harleys since the early 1980s.

I purchased a J&S jack for my first trike, a 2016, and it worked great.

I now have a 2019 Triglide and tried to jack it up for a service. No luck. I couldn't get the jack under the bike from the left side because exhaust shields prevented the jack from sliding under the frame. In fact the rear end of the jack was too tall to fit under the frame.

Did the rear suspension changes HD made in 2019 cause this problem? Looked under the bike with a flashlight and couldn't see how the jack would work from either the left or right side.[QUOTE]

mike696, since you bought your J&S jack for your 2016 TGU you might have what J&S calls the "old" style jack which was made before the new style came out in December or so of 2016. Call them and leave a message and they will call you back.....at least they did when I left a message. Your jack might be able to be "upgraded".

[MDF48]

These pictures are the before and after pictures of my J&S "new style" jack I received in December of 2016. As viewed from the rear of the jack, two of the pics show the jack with the riser mounted on the right side (the way it came when shipped to me) , and two showing it mounted on the left side after I swapped them.

According to J&S I can use the jack from either side. I have used it numerous times from the LEFT side of the trike but I haven't had time to try it from the RIGHT side of the trike since swapping them yesterday. However, it sure looks like it will work fine.

[Colleydog]

Sounds like a pain in the ass no matter what year jack or trike that you have

[MDF48]

Sounds like a pain in the ass no matter what year jack or trike that you have

Well it took me about 10-15 minutes to take 4 bolts and nuts apart, swap sides with the riser and reinstall the bolts and nuts. Since I wanted to use the jack from the right side of the trike, I probably will never have to swap sides again. But if I do, 10-15 minutes is no problem to me. I guess it depends on your definition of "pain in the ass". I like this jack.