Clarkes CML2 Motorcycle Lift Modification

[spakey]

Hi all,
just bought a Clarkes CML2 to lift my 07 Fatboy and what an impressive bit of kit for the money. Very pleased with the way it works except when lowering. It comes down at a rather alarming rate! The release pedal is very sensitive and nigh on impossible to get a steady decent while operating with you foot. So I've made a useful little mod, if you have one of these you might like to try it.
The modification is to add an adjustable 'stop' to the release pedal to restrict the amount of movement and hence the rate of decent. What you need is long bolt with two nuts (I used a 1/4" coach screw about 2 1/2" long), a drill for a clearance hole on the bolt and a few basic tools.

Looking from the side, mark a position on the pedal vertically in line with the centre of the frame cross member
Remove the 'P' clip and pivot pin holding the release pedal.



Drill a clearance hole through the pedal at the marked position (on mine it was in the middle of the forth serration from the end).



Assemble the bolt with a nut either side of the pedal and re-attach the pedal to the lift.



Adjust the bolt so that the head is about 1mm from the frame with the pedal at rest.



Now, when you put you foot on the pedal it will move down to the 'stop'. You should be able to adjust this movement so that the lift descends at a slow controlled rate. I used a dummy weight on the lift (four bags of cement) to get this about right before trying the bike. Works a treat.

[jobby]

i've just got one of these lifts too ,scared the b'jesus outta of me first time i used it ,now i,m used to it but this does sound like a damed good mod and cheap too.

[boomboom]

Hi
Sounds a good idea! I would like to see it (the mod)
Any chance you could take a photo & stick it on the site?
Cheers
Colin

[spakey]

Colin,
pics are embeded in the post (have you got pictures turned on?)
also here http://www.harley-davidson-hangout.c...php?albumid=36

[dodgyloner]

Ive seen a thread somewhere - mebbe not on this site - about changing the oil in hydraulic lifts for thicker stuff to slow the descent of the lift.

[BaZa ®]

Nice one can you send all that to the quin for those members that don´t use the site.

Andy the editor email is in the quin and you can senf jpeg photos attached.

[spakey]

'tis done Baza.

[Mr B]

A good mod. I've seen many like this over the years. I'm a hydraulics design engineer. I'll explain why you had to make this mod to make it work for you.

The pump/ram assembly that is used on these lifts are basically bottle jacks. They would normally have a screw release valve that could be unscrewed just enough to make it lower at the speed you want it to. When a foot pedal is used, the valve has to be redesigned to the ball and spring method, which is what is used on these type of lifts. You have as much chance of releasing this gently as you have treading in rocking horse sh*t.

When you depress the foot pedal, a small rod pushes the ball off it's seat and allows the fluid to return to the tank. Your modification makes it so that the travel on the ball can be regulated. This would be a good idea to make it standard during manufacture, but as nearly all of these lifts...no matter who's name is on them are almost certainly made in China, to a cost...no frills included. I would suggest that everyone who has a lift with this type of release to either modify it like this or get someone else to do it for you. Before you end up with nearly 1/2 ton of Harley laying on you.

Under no circumstances put thicker oil in to try to slow it down. The oil ways are usually far to small to allow thicker oil to pass down freely. Just try pumping it up on a sub zero day without any weight on it...it probably won't come down.....you'll be there all day.

I hope this has make things a little clearer.

[boomboom]

Thanks Steve, I can see clearly now....
Cheers
Colin

[Panhead Boris]

A great idea, thanks for posting.

I nearly threw my lift in a skip a couple of weeks ago. Has anybody mastered how to lift a softtail with a flat front tyre? The 1 time I really needed to use it in anger... ended up having to lift the bike onto the stand when it was fully lowered - not impressed!