Side stand gap

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danfr

danfr

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Hey all,

I’m almost finished rebuilding my commando. I installed the side stand but there’s a massive gap between the stand and the lug that catches the side stand.

Heres a quick video:



Any suggestions to remedy this? I’m thinking about taking the side stand to a welder and having them weld on some flat bar material to take up the gap.

thanks
Dan
PS yes I know the mounting bolt is on backwards. I’ll have to cut it out and order a new one
 
Last edited by a moderator:
danfr said:
Hey all,

I’m almost finished rebuilding my commando. I installed the side stand but there’s a massive gap between the stand and the lug that catches the side stand.

Heres a quick video:

Video on side stand gap

Any suggestions to remedy this? I’m thinking about taking the side stand to a welder and having them weld on some flat bar material to take up the gap.

thanks
Dan
PS yes I know the mounting bolt is on backwards. I’ll have to cut it out and order a new one
Click to expand...
Notice that it hits the mount when put away so weld is a good idea, but not flat bar - it won't close. You'll need it welded and then grind it so it works both extended and closed. Hard to be sure, but the mount looks right so I think all the problem is in the side stand itself. That said, see if maybe the hole in the mount was welded closed and re-drilled. It's possible that the hole is too far out and too far towards the front.
 
marshg246 said:
Notice that it hits the mount when put away so weld is a good idea, but not flat bar - it won't close. You'll need it welded and then grind it so it works both extended and closed. Hard to be sure, but the mount looks right so I think all the problem is in the side stand itself. That said, see if maybe the hole in the mount was welded closed and re-drilled. It's possible that the hole is too far out and too far towards the front.
Click to expand...


That is correct. The side stand doesn’t fully return to the frame. It catches a little bit. I was planning on grinding down the back of the lug so that the side stand returns. I’m assuming that the spring with hold it closed? If not, I can always use some strong magnets to hold it closed.
 
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Not seen the video, Measure the thickness of the stand lug with a venier capillers, a lot of wear takes place on these.
 
The lug hole is too far forward by the look of it as the stand shouldn't swing past the front of the plate like it is.

The pivot spacer (whichever one is correct for your stand) is fitted I presume? Edit: Not an original '71 side stand.
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Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
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andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk

danfr said:
PS yes I know the mounting bolt is on backwards. I’ll have to cut it out and order a new one
Click to expand...

Why do you need to cut it? Yes, it needs turning or the spring will likely foul the nut and end of the bolt as the stand is rotated.

danfr said:
I’m assuming that the spring with hold it closed?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
Last edited:
L.A.B. said:
The lug hole is too far forward by the look of it as the stand shouldn't swing past the front of the plate like it is.

The pivot spacer (whichever one is correct for your stand) is fitted I presume?
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk
andover-norton.co.uk

Motorcycle parts and spares for Norton motorbikes - Genuine Andover Norton Spare Parts - Andover Norton Motorcycles Parts - Original Andover Norton Parts

Motorcycle parts and spares for Andover Norton motorbikes: Andover Norton manufactures and supplies all Genuine Factory Spare Parts for Norton motorcycles built before 2002.
andover-norton.co.uk



Why do you need to cut it? Yes, it needs turning or the spring will likely foul the nut and end of the bolt as the stand is rotated.



Yes.
Click to expand...
There is no spacer but the mount has been reinforced by an additional thick plate. I can’t remove the bolt as it doesn’t clear the inner primary and if I tighten the nut down, the spring doesn’t clear it.

so I think my best option is to weld on some flat stock. I have tried different gauges of steel to determine the proper thickness to have the stand catch on the lug.
 
danfr said:
There is no spacer
Click to expand...

Well, there normally is (item 41A or 41B). Edit: See the following message.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The hole in the stand should be a larger diameter than the bolt so it acts as a spacer for the bolt, allowing the stand to pivot freely and is the stand pivot bush?
 
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Find a welder who will work for free.......
Skip the flat stock and instead lay down beads and grind to suit.
Build up the lower fixed flat edge with weld until the rotating flat edge stops in the right place: (right angle, lots of contact surface to keep it there). It will be fiddly to get the geometry right.
If you have to pay someone, you would probably be better off finding the "correct" side stand. Unless the bracket welded to the bike is a one off, in which case you are stuck in custom land and need the welder.
 
Deckard said:
What year Commando is this?
Click to expand...
It’s a ‘71. When I bought it, the previous owner said he reinforced the side stand lug.

There is no room for a spacer. The mounting bolt has a tight clearance through both the stand and the lug.
 
L.A.B. said:
Well, there normally is (item 41A or 41B). Edit: See the following message.
andover-norton.co.uk

Andover Norton Parts Drawings - Genuine Andover Norton Factory Parts - Commando Parts

Andover Norton Parts are the only Norton spare parts in the market manufactured to original drawings, within the factory-approved tolerances, from the correct materials, and with the correct finish.
andover-norton.co.uk

The hole in the stand should be a larger diameter than the bolt so it acts as a spacer for the bolt, allowing the stand to pivot freely and is the stand pivot bush?
Click to expand...
The hole in the side stand is just enough for the bolt. I was a little surprised that there is no inner bushing. I suppose I could get a bushing and drill out the hole.
 
Kind of a shame..bodge 71 modified Incompleted upgrade to 72+ style.
You can tell as there is no hardened bush and the shape of the remaining bracket is all wrong. The thin head grade 8 bolt comes up from below

It is however a significant chore. I did it once a long long time ago and have a second 71 frame upgrade to do now.
 
Might be custom fabricated plate, when I upgraded my 71 frame to the later set up I ordered the correct plate from OldBritts, still had to add some material to the face of the plate as the stand was too far forward for my liking, but nothing as bad as evidenced in your case

 
Notice the old brit article fails to say ....buy the correct side stand and parts OR how to "correctly" upgrade the side stand arm.
And here we are.....
 
If the side stand doesn't have a bushing (pivot spacer) offset drill the hole to the outside big enough for the spacer moving the hole center outward and eliminating the gap. If it has a bush the engine side of the hole would need to be welded and re drilled to move the hole center out. All of this can be done on the work bench but you would still have to grind the back of the frame bracket.
 
danfr said:
It’s a ‘71. When I bought it, the previous owner said he reinforced the side stand lug.

There is no room for a spacer. The mounting bolt has a tight clearance through both the stand and the lug.
Click to expand...
Well, your mount is an improvement over the original, but I'd work to get the bushing in there. Previous comments about adding more material to the side stand to lessen the gap is the route I'd go. It would be interesting to see how a new sidestand's gap compares.
I went the Old Britts route on mine and very happy with the results. Utiized new bushing, sidestand and spring.
 
I was going to suggest that you stop burning time and purchase a side stand kit; it has been some time since I purchased one...wow are they expensive! Building up the flat that limits the side stands travel, as previously suggested, sounds pretty good. The spacer/bushing that bolt secures come in 2 ODs, the pre-mk3 and the mk3, check the ID of your side stand if you need one, they are very inexpensive. If the hole in the side stand is hogged out...

Best.
 
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