Let’s talk motorcycle maintenance. If you’re anything like me and prefer doing your own servicing at home, you’ll know that some jobs are straightforward… and some are a bit awkward. On a Harley‑Davidson, a standard three‑hole oil change means draining and refilling the engine, transmission, and primary. And to refill the primary properly, the bike needs to be standing upright.
Now, I’ve only owned my 2019 Harley‑Davidson Heritage for about five months, and most of the time there’s no one around to help me hold the bike steady. Even when someone is around, they’re not always keen to help. So I needed a way to keep the bike upright safely and independently.
That’s why I picked up a Max Hall motorcycle wheel chock. This isn’t sponsored — I paid full price — but I wanted to see whether it could solve the problem and make home servicing easier. Here’s how it went.
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Unboxing the Max Hall Wheel Chock
The wheel chock arrives neatly packed and surprisingly tidy in the box. First impressions are good — the steel feels solid, the welds look clean, and the overall build seems sturdy for the price point.
Inside the box you’ll find:
- A front stability bar for horizontal reinforcement
- A fixed upright wheel cradle
- Adjustment pins and safety pins
- A simple instruction manual
Assembly is straightforward. Everything lines up well, and the parts feel like they’ll hold up over time. Once it’s bolted together, the chock sits flat on the ground without rocking or twisting.
Testing It With the Harley
With the chock assembled, it was time for the real test: rolling the Heritage onto it.
The first attempt revealed something important — if the chock isn’t bolted down or weighted, it will slide forward. These bikes are heavy, and the force of rolling up onto the cradle is enough to push the whole unit away.
Since I didn’t have a way to bolt it down yet, I improvised by bracing it with a tyre and a battery. That helped, but not quite enough. Eventually, two tyres and the battery gave it enough resistance to stay put.
Once the wheel rolled into the cradle, the bike sat upright on its own. It’s stable enough for tasks like filling the primary, but if you push or rock the bike, you can unsettle it. For peace of mind, I’d recommend:
- Bolting the chock to the floor using concrete anchors, or
- Using tie‑down straps to secure the bike to the chock
Either option adds a layer of safety, especially with a heavy cruiser like a Heritage.
Taking the Bike Off
Rolling the bike off the chock is easier than getting it on. The cradle releases smoothly, and the bike comes back down without drama. Again, having the chock anchored would make this even more controlled.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Max Hall wheel chock does exactly what it’s designed to do. For around $106 AUD, it’s solid value. The build quality is good, the design is simple, and it’s easy to assemble and store.
A few things to keep in mind:
- It really needs to be bolted down or braced to stop it sliding
- For long periods of upright storage, I’d still use tie‑downs
- It’s stable enough for servicing, but not something I’d trust unanchored with a heavy bike left unattended
Despite those points, I’m happy with the purchase. It solves the main problem I bought it for — keeping the bike upright so I can do my own three‑hole oil changes without needing anyone else around.
There are other brands selling similar designs, but I chose Max Hall because they seemed to be one of the originals. Even though it’s made in China, the quality is better than I expected.
What’s Next
Now that I’ve got the wheel chock sorted, I’m ready to tackle my first full three‑hole oil change on the Heritage. If you’re interested in DIY Harley maintenance or just following along with my journey getting back into riding after 30 years away, stick around for what’s coming up next.