How To Fix Side Stand Spring

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Britbike forum member

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Anyone have any advice how to get the ridiculously strong spring in place?

Thanks!
Bmf

Last edited by BrettF; 05/12/15 9:23 pm.

3D TV: A format that lost a format war without even having an opponent.
Bikes: '69 T120 on average (1967 rolling frame and 1971 Bonnie engine) + '56 1/2 T110 on average (58 rolling frame - with 55 iron head engine) + 74 T150 Home model.

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Britbike forum member

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That method may work Good! I use a loop of .040" SS safety wire in one end, clamped in a vise grips for a good place to pull. have someone hold the bike, and yank it into place. Then cut the wire and pull it out. That spring really is a PITA !!

Down to 1 BSA, 2 Triumphs, 1 '56 Chevy
1 '65 XLCH, Hernia Gift, on the way to Japan!

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Britbike forum member

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Lay bike over on right side at about 45 degrees
remove pivot bolt and stand,
place spring over both anchor points,
pull stand to stretch spring,
re-seat stand over pivot point,
replace pivot bolt (with lock tab washer),

Charlie

66 TR6 MkIII Rickman
66 TR6 Scrambler
68 T120 Flat Tracker

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Britbike forum member

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I'm REALLY struggling, I wonder if the DPO might have broken off the mount on the sidestand and welded it back too far from the other point. Can anyone roughly measure the distance between the two points, either with sidestand up or down? I have the long banana type sidestand (as opposed to the one with the little foot at the bottom.
Thanks
Brett

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Britbike forum member

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I learnt this trick from an old timer while struggling to stretch a center stand spring in his garage:
Put on end of the spring in a vice, stretch it enough to fit a penny into one spring loop then continue until the spring is long enough to span the distance of each mount.
I found it easier to install the spring when the side stand is extended. Then just use a pair of pliers to pull the coins out

1967 Triumph TR6C
1972 Triumph TR6R
1960 Triumph Tiger Cub bitsa

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Britbike forum member

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Put the spring on first, then install the stand.

fried okra

This is how I do it, center stand as well, I've never had a problem doing it this way.

When given the choice between two evils I picked the one I haven't tried before

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Britbike forum member

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Brett

For the banana style stand (after 1967), the center to center length from the stand pivot bolt to the spring mounting lug is 2-13/16"
The unmounted spring length is 3-3/4" closed

The spring mounting lug on the cast frame part is unlikely to have been changed (but I forgot to look at mine while I was out in the barn)

Charlie

Last edited by c caspary; 05/10/15 12:08 pm.

66 TR6 MkIII Rickman
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DOPE

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i tried that, but mine was too big. that's the way to go, though, and i'll make one if i have to do it again. easy, just some 5/16-inch tube . . .

failing that i just used vise grips and a big grunt.

i'm old enough to remember when patriotism meant not trying to overthrow the government.

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Britbike forum member

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Hi all, that's the problem, I have over 5 inches between my mounting points. What this poor bike has been through! It was a 67 but the DPO HAS tried to dress it up like a 69.
Seems there is some bizarre aftermarket or other model sidestand on there...... Pics to follow.

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Britbike forum member

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Yes, pictures please,..........

Down to 1 BSA, 2 Triumphs, 1 '56 Chevy
1 '65 XLCH, Hernia Gift, on the way to Japan!

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DOPE

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i did the spring on mine two or three times yesterday, just pulling the spring with vise grips. i had an old open box side stand that was too long for the frame i'm using, and it had to come on and off until i got it right.

i'm old enough to remember when patriotism meant not trying to overthrow the government.

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Britbike forum member

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I never heard of the coin trick. Very good and inexpensive, great. I used the drum shoe spring tool and is kind of hard even with the tool. I am glad I don't do springs everyday.

ASE Automotive Master Tech.
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Britbike forum member

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Brett,

Are you sure you have the right spring? FWIW, I just measured the center-to-center distance for the sidestand spring (sidestand down) on my '64 as about 6 1/4 inches. I don't recall much trouble putting it on. Here's a picture for reference:

[Linked Image]
That's the original spring, replated. I made up a little stretcher to open the coils for the plating process. So far, so good:

[Linked Image]

The coin trick worked well for me on my Harley except for one thing. The bike has no centerstand. With the bike on my mcy jack, I can't get to the sidestand spring. I went to my friend's gas station and got him to hold the bike while I put in the new spring. I had the coils spread with pennies, nickels, dimes, whatever I had in my pocket. He got called away just after I got the spring installed, and I took the bike on home. Months later, I was under it to change the oil and noticed there was still about 35 cents worth of coins lodged in the spring. I thought the stand had been kind of dangling more than usual. I know, I know, no Harley is worth that kind of money.

Ray

'64 TR6R Plus some Twins from other countries (U.S., Germany, Japan)