MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn wheel

Status
Not open for further replies.
E

ElTigre1

Joined
Apr 6, 2015
Messages
46
My MKII is already pretty difficult for this old man to put it on the centerstand. But even worse, it doesn't raise the bike enough to turn the wheel for chain adjustment. Tire size is correct 100/90-19, Is there some kind of adjustment? What gives?

Thanks
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

On flat ground with the bike on the center stand the rear tyre on my MKII is very difficult to turn by hand. I keep a piece of 3/4" plywood handy to put under the stand and give an extra bit of height.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

With new bushings and bolts helped mine, but the stops on mine are worn so the stand angle goes a little further then it should.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

Thanks, all. I had thought of putting plywood under the centerstand, but I'm not sure I could lift the bike onto the centerstand with a board under it. Five surgeries to reconstruct my right ankle, and three quarters of a century of foolishness have me less than Captain America agile.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

My MK3 is a very easy bike to put on the stand. The MK 3 has that "tread down" lever that damn near parks the bike when you press down on it. A little pull on the bars along with the tread down effect and it's done. The tire on this MK3 is about 1/4" in the air when parked, just enough to spin free for chain maintenance etc.
By comparison my 650SS is much harder to park even though it's lighter. The 650 BSA is even more difficult and stock Vincents are the worst.
But some enterprising fellow designed a "Tread Down" stand for the Vincent. This makes the Vincent a snap to park.
The Vincent Tread down stand is very similar in geometry to the MK3 stand.

But are we talking MK 3 or MK2? Title says MK111 post says MK11.

Glen
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

A piece of wood would raise the rear for sure, but I can understand the added effort needed to get the bike on the centerstand with a piece of ply already under the legs. My bike also grounds front tire, rear tire, and centerstand like yours. I use a couple of pieces of wood and rock the bike sideways off one leg, kick a piece of wood under that leg, then do the same on the other side.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

my guess is that the holes the securing bolts go through either on the stand or frame are worn oblong after 40 years and so the bike sits lower
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

I got round the problem by cutting a piece of steel pipe in half and welding it to the feet of the main stand, it gives about 3/4 inch lift more and allows the bike to roll onto the stand with a fair bit less effort.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

In my case longer rear shocks are the reason for a three point landing and I rather like it that way. Very little effort to get it to jump on the stand, and I figure a bit kinder to the isolastics, being that that they are not bearing totally on one side at rest.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

The bike is a MKIII. Hate to think I'm getting so senile that I can't count past two on the second try - but maybe. I think the shocks may be a bit longer than stock, though not sure, I now seem to remember that the former owner said something about putting Hagon shocks, but didn't say what length. I'm probably not going to invest in new shocks.

Biscuit, I rather like your idea of wedging a piece of wood under one leg of the stand and then rocking it to the other side to place another piece of wood their. A very British thing to do, I think. I recall reading long ago that Japanese engineers were proud of inventing a new part or technique, while the British were equally as proud finding that something in the parts bin fit a newer model bike.

Willy Mac, I wonder if you would mind taking a picture of your modified stand and posting it or messaging me.

Thanks again, folks.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

ElTigre1 said:
The bike is a MKIII. Hate to think I'm getting so senile that I can't count past two on the second try - but maybe. I think the shocks may be a bit longer than stock, though not sure, I now seem to remember that the former owner said something about putting Hagon shocks, but didn't say what length. I'm probably not going to invest in new shocks.

Biscuit, I rather like your idea of wedging a piece of wood under one leg of the stand and then rocking it to the other side to place another piece of wood their. A very British thing to do, I think. I recall reading long ago that Japanese engineers were proud of inventing a new part or technique, while the British were equally as proud finding that something in the parts bin fit a newer model bike.

Willy Mac, I wonder if you would mind taking a picture of your modified stand and posting it or messaging me.

Thanks again, folks.
Click to expand...

I had one of these.... the jap engineering isn't ALL BS.... :mrgreen:

[video]http://youtu.be/ttSA7SaW-dA[/video]
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

Maybe convert to BMW's electric center stand, now we're just getting silly.


[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2xCPZB9tuY[/video]
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

The Concours stand is brilliant. Adds a bit of weight, but well worth it.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

ElTigre1 said:
I think the shocks may be a bit longer than stock, though not sure, I now seem to remember that the former owner said something about putting Hagon shocks, but didn't say what length.
Click to expand...

The original Girlings and standard length replacement Hagons for a Commando would be 12.9".
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

Thanks, LAB. I'll take one off and measure.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

ElTigre1 said:
I'll take one off and measure.
Click to expand...

Just in case you don't know, 12.9" is the distance between the mounting eye centres and not the overall length so can be measured without having to remove the shock.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

MS850 said:
, but the stops on mine are worn so the stand angle goes a little further then it should.
Click to expand...

To me that would be the most likely cause, if the pivot holes were flogged out 1/4'' the whole thing would fall apart, but as the bike goes over center on the stand it will start to drop back down very quickly. You may be able to weld the stand stop up
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

L.A.B. said:
ElTigre1 said:
I think the shocks may be a bit longer than stock, though not sure, I now seem to remember that the former owner said something about putting Hagon shocks, but didn't say what length.
Click to expand...

The original Girlings and standard length replacement Hagons for a Commando would be 12.9".
Click to expand...

That explains the reason mine is a three point landing,,,, shocks are 13.25" center - center. But I rather like the extra ground clearance and maybe a bit sharper handling.
 
Re: MkIII centerstand doesn't raise bike enough to turn whee

MS850 said:
With new bushings and bolts helped mine, but the stops on mine are worn so the stand angle goes a little further then it should.
Click to expand...

I just looked closer at the frame cradle where the center stand rest, hammered and flattened out and same with the stand itself. So I tired a experiment, applied JB Weld to both spots, I have doubts it will last. But trying until I get around to build up with weld, (hey that's how we roll in the Shire).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top