Interstate fell off the lift today.

[nogrey]

Not sure what to say here except to tell the story so maybe others can know.
I put my I/S on the lift today to do an oil change. She rolled up into the chock as always, locked firmly into place and I raise her up as I have many times before. I pull the drain plug and let the oil drain. I always let it drain for a few hours minimum to get it all out if I can. Anyway, I'm sitting in the kitchen having some breakfast and I hear a very loud crash from the garage. I knew what it was without even looking. I went out and saw what I had feared it was. There she was on her side, laying in a pool of oil. Almost looked like a murder scene. I have a Harbor freight wheel chock so did not tie her down as I usually do. Not sure what really happened.
As near as I can tell, the damage could have been a lot worse.
The fairing is broken and damaged. The Chrome strip across the front that covers the windshield mounts was torn away and is totaled.
The windshield is totaled. It was a really nice aftermarket one, so that'll hurt.
A very minor set of scratches that may buff out of one of the rear bags. The rails really helped here.
A stress fracture where the trunk rail mounts to the trunk. Barely visible, but there none the less.
Both mirrors damaged.
Clutch handle busted clean off. Don't know yet whether that will require replacement of the clutch asm or not.
Aside from all of that, there was no damage to the seats, side covers, tank, front finder, side bars or pipes that I have noticed yet.
The good news...I'm fairly certain that i got all of the oil out!

Any opinions on whether I should go insurance on this or not? I/S fairings are pretty pricey.
Thanks all.

[GiG]

That really sucks, NG 
Personally, I would not do a claim.
New replacement parts are probably same as your deductible
Repair the scratches maybe think about HD fairing?
Looks like the whole damn stand fell over 
Good luck, but it is repairable
(better call Gordon  )

[Skinhead]

I can't say for sure, But that lift looks VERY narrow.  I'd almost consider making up some kind of outriggers for it.  Youdda (Pittsburghese) been screwed if you were wrenching on the left side when that happened.

Round up and save all the plastic pieces that broke off, then do a search on ABS plastic repair, if you don't want to lay out the money for a replacement fairing, you might try repairing it.  If you don't want to bother with that, mail the pieces to me, I'd like to give it a try and might be able to save it for the next unlucky victim.  It's worth a shot.

To qoute Gig, " That really sucks!"

[Firefighter]

If you have insurance coverage I would find out what it will cover and what it will cost you in the long run. Better make sure of what is wrong and what parts will cost before you settle.

My question is, what happened, looks like the lift turned over not the bike. Was the wheel chock bolted down? Appears the chock was tied down??? And maybe the whole thing shifted?? Really sorry this happened, sick feeling. I would thank god you were eating breakfast at the time!!  Firefighter

[T-Bird]

The fairing can be repaired.

[Pepmyster]

Sorry to see what happened.

[t-man403]

Holy crap! 

Just wondering ....... my lift has stabilizers that you screw down to the floor to help steady it .... did you have those down?

[Firefighter]

Hey nogrey, also might better pull the spark plugs before you spin it over the first time, just to be sure.
good luck, Firefighter

[Chrisj CMA]

Sorry to see that, this was always a fear of mine....a friend has the same lift and insists on putting his bike on it whenever we work on it.  I always hated the lift, thought it was too small and lightweight. 

Get her fixed and forget about it..........well don't forget to fix whatever caused it so it cant happen again

[old2soon]

Please correct me if I am wrong but you had your I/S on a lift table-right? What could have loaded/over loaded the left side to make her fall down go boom? I have the yellow H/F lift with the home made wood adapter. Once I get mine up I set it into a lock and then use at least 2 1" ratchet straps to hold her to the lift. She spent a month up there on the lift once and zero problems. I'm TRULY sorry the Big Gal decided to flop over like she did.   Have you figured out who or what the culprit was or is? Just from the pictures I'm thinkin ratchet straps would not have helped? Old Navy training as I helped investigate some A/C accidents. Questions questions and more questions. IF you go the repair route black A B S glue-hardening-not only holds it together it's a good filler also. I say that from first hand experience. WHEN you git it figured out as to the WHY of her going over THAT information would be nice. Again-TRULY sorry she went down.   RIDE SAFE.

[Crazyhorse]

I have the same lift with the wheelchock. My IS Valk fell over one day while the lift was in the lower position. It caught itself on the sidestand and did not lay all the way over. I think if it had been in the upper position it would have toppled over like yours. Never leave it without racketing it down now. Sorry for your loss.

[Jess from VA]

Seems to me, that has to be the lift.  

One has to presume the bike was fairly, if not exactly, centered on the lift.

How does the lift let off supporting one side and not the other???

I'd never use it again unless I found that out. (maybe 6 inches up)

Set it back up and jump up and down on it (wear a helmet).

[john]

                      all that for a dribble of oil ...  
               I would change mine on the side stand before all that ...  
                          
           how many others out there have had this happen ?    
                           origin of lift ?
                                                 manufacture ?
              no stabilizer arm swing outs     
                scary ... and sad ... just sad ...                  ........ freak me out
 I would like a stand .. bad back kills me with all the bend'in over and get'in up  and down
 

[Crazyhorse]

I have used mind for 10 or more years never had a problem. If you leave the bike in the wheelchock without strapping it down the bike can lean over. That is what my bike did. It did not turn the table over because my table was in the full down postion. If it had been in the up postion I think it would have caused the table to flip over. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

[blackvalk]

There's not a person on this forum that hasn't worry about that happening.

Not a pretty site...................sorry!

[Robert]

OH that pic is enough to make you sick  its going to be over a grand by the time you get the repairs done how much of a deductible do you have? If you can take the hit I would still say submit it to insurance. Non moving claim hell you might even be able to submit it to your homeowners policy being its in the garage at the house. You are pretty far away but I know where there is one of the commercial lifts available used for a good price. Probably as cheap as a few hundred.

[Pepmyster]

Not for nothing, and I mean nothing, shouldn't the lift have been in the other direction?
http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/Filomena_Andrew_Mignelli_Arsenault/media/033_zps1f7981bb.jpg.html?o=1

[t-man403]

Not for nothing, and I mean nothing, shouldn't the lift have been in the other direction?
http://s1374.photobucket.com/user/Filomena_Andrew_Mignelli_Arsenault/media/033_zps1f7981bb.jpg.html?o=1

His is a table lift ....... not a lift jack.

[Pepmyster]

Oh Boy....... Didn't really notice, thank you. Still a hard picture to look at.

[Rudy]

Painful pictures to look at. Wishing her a speedy recovery.

[LUCKY13]

Probably more stuff bent than you realize. My last crash was not much more than a fall over on the grass and was totaled.

[Hoser]

I would use the insurance, that fairing is high dollar.  It happened to me, fell against my vintage mustang.  I claimed them both, that is why I carry insurance.  cost the insurance co. 4500 dollars.  They didn't raise my premium.  Same company insures everything I own.  including the house and garage and both bikes and my truck and car and contents of the house and the garage. That's what you do in tornado country.  American Family Ins.  Had the same company for 40 years.  Hoser

[BF]

Dang...that's harsh.   

I know the price is really attractive for those Harbor Freight table lifts, but they just look too cheap and flimsy to me to be a viable table lift for a bike as big as a Valk. 

A '69 Honda 350 maybe, but not a Valk. 

[jimmytee]

Not sure what to say here except to tell the story so maybe others can know.
I put my I/S on the lift today to do an oil change. She rolled up into the chock as always, locked firmly into place and I raise her up as I have many times before. I pull the drain plug and let the oil drain. I always let it drain for a few hours minimum to get it all out if I can. Anyway, I'm sitting in the kitchen having some breakfast and I hear a very loud crash from the garage. I knew what it was without even looking. I went out and saw what I had feared it was. There she was on her side, laying in a pool of oil. Almost looked like a murder scene. I have a Harbor freight wheel chock so did not tie her down as I usually do. Not sure what really happened.
As near as I can tell, the damage could have been a lot worse.
The fairing is broken and damaged. The Chrome strip across the front that covers the windshield mounts was torn away and is totaled.
The windshield is totaled. It was a really nice aftermarket one, so that'll hurt.
A very minor set of scratches that may buff out of one of the rear bags. The rails really helped here.
A stress fracture where the trunk rail mounts to the trunk. Barely visible, but there none the less.
Both mirrors damaged.
Clutch handle busted clean off. Don't know yet whether that will require replacement of the clutch asm or not.
Aside from all of that, there was no damage to the seats, side covers, tank, front finder, side bars or pipes that I have noticed yet.
The good news...I'm fairly certain that i got all of the oil out!

Any opinions on whether I should go insurance on this or not? I/S fairings are pretty pricey.
Thanks all.

Just an observation. I blew up your picture and it looks like your leveling feet at the end with the swivel wheels are not down . That's what it looks like to me. Those feet need to be screwed down to be in full contact with the floor or any leaning at all could easily set the lift over on those swivel casters. I don't know that to be the case with yours but it sure looks like it from the picture. ???

[The emperor has no clothes]

Nogrey, I'm sure you have to be sick to your stomach with this. I know I would be. It may seem like a small consolation but I'm glad you or heaven forbid a grandkid wasn't hurt in the fall over.

[Mr Whiskey]

Nogrey, I'm sure you have to be sick to your stomach with this. I know I would be. It may seem like a small consolation but I'm glad you or heaven forbid a grandkid wasn't hurt in the fall over.

Amen!

I'd probably claim it on the Ins. Like Lucky 13 said, you're gonna find stuff you didn't expect to be broken.

[Chiefy]

Oh no.  So sorry that happened.

[Jeff K]

I have a Handy table lift. Same ones they use in bike shops. I use the wheel chock exclusively. I'm guessing at this point I am money ahead, because mine wouldn't tip over if you had it at full lift and climbed on top of the bike.

That said I DID tip my I/S over on it once. I was backing it off the ramp and forgot I had the side stand down Lucky for me the cabinet next to the table caught the bike and just scratched the windshield.

AND I learned fast... DO a walk around before lowering the lift! I lowered the table and ALMOST tipped the entire thing over! I had parked a rolling stool under the edge of the lift and didn't see it. It crushed the stool and almost flipped the works over!

 

[HurstRob]

And I was just researching lifts and thinking to myself ,,self, " do the bikes ever fall off"
glad you werent under it.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Damn the Luck.

Check with Lucky 13.

He has totaled 2 now.

He would be the man on this subject.

Smooth Rider Repaired his in his own way.

YOUSE GUYS HELPED HIM WITH SPARE PARTS.

YOU MAY KNOW HIM AS GREG...SMOOTH RIDER.

[Big Al of Tennessee]

Seems to me, that has to be the lift.  

One has to presume the bike was fairly, if not exactly, centered on the lift.

How does the lift let off supporting one side and not the other???

I'd never use it again unless I found that out. (maybe 6 inches up)

Set it back up and jump up and down on it (wear a helmet).

Jess is kidding.

[BobB]

I always hate to see a Valk on its side, sorry that happened.  I've never invested in a lift of any kind, always considered what may happen in the limited space of my workshop.  I do all my servicing on the center stand with a strap to insure the bike does not move forward, getting down on the floor when required.  As I get older, that's getting harder, but I put up with it.

[da prez]

I would approach management at Harbor Freight and show them the pictures an admit no guilt. You have used the lift many times . You are not inexperienced. See what they have to say , and do not take the first no. Be nice but be firm. Even if the warranty is expired , they will take the lift back. (it may be a store credit tho) I believe they will do something.

                                            da prez

[3fan4life]

Man that really does SUCK.  

As an owner of one of those HF lift tables, if you do figure out why it fell over I'd be very interested in knowing the answer.

BTW: If you have comprehensive coverage you should be able to turn it in to your insurance without any increase in your premiums.

[Misfit]

If you're going to use a wheel chock use a good one (Condor comes to mind) or use a wheel vice. In this situation I don't think it was as much the chocks fault as it was the narrow base on that lift. My lift is not a HF freight lift and has a stabilizer that extends out each side maybe a foot. The bike is as solid on the lift as it is on the floor. Sorry for your loss but with a good lift I doubt that could ever happen. 

[nogrey]

I have used mind for 10 or more years never had a problem. If you leave the bike in the wheelchock without strapping it down the bike can lean over. That is what my bike did. It did not turn the table over because my table was in the full down postion. If it had been in the up postion I think it would have caused the table to flip over. That is my story and I'm sticking to it.

I think this is what happened. Hope this helps someone else.

[cookiedough]

if your deductible is say 500 bucks vs. 1000,  I'd submit it to your insurance company for sure.  Either way,  ask your insurance company what can be done since they should be your friend on this one since paying all these years on premiums to them.

Just ask  them if you submit a claim,  ask them will next time around premiums due, will my insurance go up and if so, how much?

I carry 1K deductible figuring minor accidents I will pay out of my own pocket if say 500 or less.  This is probably going to cost you out of pocket over 1 grand easily, thus the need for going insurance route.

Sorry this happened I would be fuming mad, but I have to realize accidents do happen from time to time and is repairable over time.  

I guess next time do not use a lift just to change the oil since is not needed at all.  Change with engine warmed up on side stand,  then sit on Valk for 1-2 minutes leaning bike over to the right and hold it there a few times to get the last 3-5 ounces out of the crankcase.  I too like to take 30 minutes or so of draining as much as possible out of crankcase since only change oil once per season.  Leaning it a few times over sitting on bike to the right works well.  

Good luck, sorry it happened totally sucks.    

[nogrey]

If you're going to use a wheel chock use a good one (Condor comes to mind) or use a wheel vice. In this situation I don't think it was as much the chocks fault as it was the narrow base on that lift. My lift is not a HF freight lift and has a stabilizer that extends out each side maybe a foot. The bike is as solid on the lift as it is on the floor. Sorry for your loss but with a good lift I doubt that could ever happen. 

I have been using this lift for about a year now, and no issues. I added the wheel chock and felt like I had made a solid decision. Still, Harbor freight is not really known for their "high quality" standards. I wish I had all the money in the world and could always buy the best. Just trying to do the best I could with the money I had. I'm really feeling now like I made a bad choice. Sure didn't expect this to happen.

[nogrey]

Thanks everyone for the comments and tips. I have an insurance person coming tomorrow to assess the damages. My buddy Raymond came over and found some things that I had missed, so that was a good help. I have the best friends.
I'm sure I'll get her back to better than new. I just wanted to share so that others could not have the same thing happen, hopefully. The lift is a harbor freight lift. I researched carefully before buying. Many, many other Valk owners have used this lift without issue. I added a chock from HF to add stability. Still wasn't enough (obviously). First time I didn't strap her down. But I made sure (I thought) that the bike was stable before leaving her to drain. She'd been up there 3 hours without an issue before the incident. The wheel locks on the lift were lowered and the lift seemed stable. It remains a total mystery to me. Still, it happened. Hope you all can learn from my mistake, whatever it was.
Again, thanks for all your comments and tips.

[nogrey]

Nogrey, I'm sure you have to be sick to your stomach with this. I know I would be. It may seem like a small consolation but I'm glad you or heaven forbid a grandkid wasn't hurt in the fall over.

Truly. That is what I am thankful for. Believe it or not, my little Yorkie or myself would have been the only victims. I really love my little pup. Still, it was only the bike. Just plastic and metal. I love the machine, but that's all that it is. A machine. I'm truly grateful, and you're right.