SideStand

'74 Commando side stand disappears. It has a (nylon or rubber) bumper knob on top, but when it swings under it bumps like it should but slides under the frame & gets too far. My first thought was that a taller bumper would do the job. Is it possible that the pivot bolt is too loose or needs adjusting?

Maybe the prong has broken off?

More than likely, perhaps the bush, bore and bolt are worn too.
Cash

Fixed. Prong is there, bolt tightened & up-down play eliminated. Stops where it should. Thanks for the help. Now looks like the picture posted above!

Just went through similar episode with my '72. This has no extension to grab with your foot so when it goes under there it is waaaayyy under there where all the old grease, dirt and oil is.

I bought a Grade 8, 7/16" fine thread, 2-1/4" long bolt with new nylok nut and washer from McMaster Carr. (Actually I bought ten of everything.) Then I had our local machinist bore the hole in the sidestand by 1/32" to square it up and he made a new bushing to fit. I think I had the stops welded once years ago and they were in fairly good shape. Also I got a new spring. The difference is amazing. I think a lot of times the bolt gets loose and the sidestand flops all around and wears out the bushing. The bolt should be very tight -- the stand should pivot on the fixed bushing not the bolt. There is not much meat on the sidestand to do this fix over and over but the old stand has been on there almost 40 years so I can live with that wear rate.

Bolt loose, bushes worn, the stand stop can pass under the frame.
First thing I do is saw off the extension, 'cause we have to park near the kerb that side in the UK, & I keep tripping over it in the garage.

Wouldn't that just make it a sod to extend ?

crusadersports said:

Wouldn't that just make it a sod to extend ?

Click to expand...

I don't find it a problem, used to it.
Had to buy a new one last year, left the extension on for a few days, kept tripping over it.

To be honest, my legs aren't long enough to extend it from the saddle. Which means dismounting and hooking it out with your foot.

Bit of a bind really, when used to, well, anything else!

So anything that means you have to fish about with your toe, while saying good morning to some fellow and holding up some 500lbs of Norton is something I'd like to improve. Haven't dropped it yet :mrgreen:

Aye, it's great for getting snagged on in the garage- almost as good as fettling the carbs and then standing up (handlebars- ouch!) :roll: