Side/Centre Stand Springs

[Peter Baker]

Any bright ideas on the best tool for refitting those springs without risking damage to knuckles and paintwork!

I am dismantling to grease the pivots.

Also the side stand pivot seems a bit slack (some up and down movement in lever)- is this normal and if not, is it likely to be the threaded pin (I have checked and tightened this) or the pivot casting that is worn?

I don't want to reinvent the wheel and guess someone out there has been down this track before.

Best wishes

[deilenberger]

Usually a T-handled tool, with a hook on the end of a shaft is used to put those sort of springs back on. The right tool will make a lot of difference in the amount of blood shed.

The sidestand normally has a bit of up/down play when extended (perhaps an inch..)

I believe (have to look) there may be (hedging-my-bets) a small hole in the center/sidestand castings where the pivots go through that is used with a "pig-sticker" (pointy rubber bit) end on a grease gun to lube them without disassembly. K bikes used to have those - and some actually had real grease fittings!

Some people (well - one person at least) on an R1200RT forum I visit has reported that his centerstand pivots were badly worn, and starting to back out. This would be a bad thing to happen, as the centerstand might fall causing a crash. Probably worth using some Loctite[tm] (blue - medium strength) on the threads upon reassembly. Been meaning to check mine. I do occasionally dribble some oil on them when I'm doing an oil change (seems the logical time) in the hopes of lubricating them. I also dribble some on the felt bushings around the shaft-linkage helm-joint fittings, in the hope some penetrates into the fittings.