MKII Side Stand Repair

While trying to bend the side stand downwards back to the intended angle from DPO's kickstarts on the stand, the upper welds along the tab to frame pulled out leaving two oval holes in the frame tube. In the image you can see the mount tab pulled away from the frame. Good news is the lower plate looks undamaged, no cracks etc and this take most of the loading. The frame rail also shows signs of being depressed in from the excessive loading during kicks.

While proper grinding/welding is the right course of action, I have attempted repair using high density epoxy to fill the separation gap. If this can stabilize it, should be OK for propping bike on SS, as long as no kickstarts are done on it ever again!
If this proves ineffective, can always seek out a weld repair in future.

If you want to avoid taking the bike off the road for a proper repair, you could cut a piece of pipe that has a reasonably snug fit over the failed frame rail, then have it welded to your side stand tab after appropriate cleanup. The piece of pipe needs to be long enough to allow drilling through it and the frame rail on both sides, then pin the assembly to the frame with nuts and bolts. Use gingerly until you can get a proper welded fix done.
Drilling holes in the frame rail is never a good idea, but you're faced with a significant future repair anyway.

Or, take the bike to a welder and see if he thinks he has enough clearance to make a repair with the engine still in the frame.....

Fix it properly the only way is to get it welded and learn to kick your bike without using the side stand at all, if you bike is tuned right it should only take one or two kicks when cold or one kick when warm.
When I first convered my 850 to the Featherbed frame I had no stand at all on my bike for 35 years you always find something to lean the bike on.

Ashley

ashman said:

Fix it properly the only way is to get it welded and learn to kick your bike without using the side stand at all, if you bike is tuned right it should only take one or two kicks when cold or one kick when warm.
When I first convered my 850 to the Featherbed frame I had no stand at all on my bike for 35 years you always find something to lean the bike on.

Ashley

Click to expand...

Just to clarify...I've never kicked it on SS...that was a DPO (Dreaded Previous Owner). SS was overly angled up...giving bike too much lean...since I acquired it in January.
I kick it either on CS or without stand and do usually get 1st or 2nd kick starting.

Tornado said:

Just to clarify...I've never kicked it on SS...that was a DPO (Dreaded Previous Owner). SS was overly angled up...giving bike too much lean...since I acquired it in January.
I kick it either on CS or without stand and do usually get 1st or 2nd kick starting.

Click to expand...

All good, seems like you got the knack of starting a Norton, I have mates who have owned British bikes all their lives but they still can't get my Norton started on five kicks let alone one lol.

Ashley

I'd much prefer a proper repair and have MIG welded similar breaks in Triumphs without any dismantling (never had the problem on a Norton). At worse you may have to move the exhaust out of the way. Just make sure the area is nicely cleaned up with a wire brush and washed down with degreaser. It's handy if you have a helper who can lean the bike over to the right to get better access.

And if you are welding on the frame, you'll wanna disconnect any electronic ignition stuff first, of course...

"While proper grinding/welding is the right course of action, I have attempted repair using high density epoxy to fill the separation gap. If this can stabilize it, should be OK for propping bike on SS, as long as no kickstarts are done on it ever again!"

That section of the frame is used for important reasons other than to hold the side stand.
Find a qualified welder - if you are lucky he won't charge you extra to remove that epoxy.