Center Stand Springs (1983 improved design)

[Altritter]

Does anyone know the correct length of the 1983-84 model's center stand springs?

My 1981's center stand was bent to an excessive angle, causing the bike to be a PITA to muscle off the stand and also causing it to list to starboard (causing me some angst). So I purchased the improved later model and all its mounting components separately from Bob's. (As has been previously reported, BMW's retrofit kit is no longer available under a single part number, but its individual components are listed.)

The center stand fits (didn't have to loosen the exhaust  ), but the two 111 mm. springs that Bob's sold me were too long! (Even longer than the old springs, which were 97mm (still too long for the new stand).)

So I drove 51 miles (remember, the bike's deadlined with a spring-less center stand) to Bob's yesterday a.m. to check it out. The parts folks were very helpful & spent considerable time checking it out. They found that the only part numbers showing on their computer fiche are 111 mm. and 146 mm.!! The two reasonably smaller springs they had were listed as side stand springs; one is 82 mm., and the other is 62mm. I bought two of each length, on the theory that the additional investment was less expensive than the cost of fuel to drive >100 miles for a two-or-three-dollar part (two parts, to be technically correct). So, I'll try them in hopes that one of the two will fit. (The parts tech at Bob's suspects that the 62 mm. springs won't extend far enough to permit the stand to swing down.) BTW, the Bug got 30 mpg on the trip!!

If I'm unlucky, there's still a hope that a great old-fashioned hardware store (remember them?) about 15 miles from me will have an extension spring to fit. If so, I'll buy two and ride away happily. That being the case, I would like to know, and buy, the correct length per the specs, so that I can have the correct tension.

Anyone in this vast pool of collective knowledge have this tiny bit of information?

TIA,
John

[beemer]

I just went out and measured the length of the retracted springs on my R65LS,and they are 160mm,from bend to bend, hope this is some help to you,don't forget mine is a LS and might be different then yours,i'm sure someone on here will confirm one way or the other,Julian.

[Altritter]

Many thanks for checking. Alas, the LS appears to have a different spring, because 160 mm. is much too long. The center stand BMW sent to Bob's BMW requires springs that are shorter than the 111 mm. that bear the part number on Bob's computer fiche, and even shorter than the 97 mm. springs that were on the old (pre-1983) stand. So, go figure.

I wasn't joking when I said in another post earlier this morning that there's really no such thing as a "standard" R65, not even within the same model year. As the parts tech at Bob's told me yesterday, R65 owners come into Bob's quite often and show him things that do not appear in BMW's parts literature. (He gave an example of an owner who showed him a spherical center stand bushing that he had never seen before on any airhead.)

[beemer]

Many thanks for checking. Alas, the LS appears to have a different spring, because 160 mm. is much too long. The center stand BMW sent to Bob's BMW requires springs that are shorter than the 111 mm. that bear the part number on Bob's computer fiche, and even shorter than the 97 mm. springs that were on the old (pre-1983) stand. So, go figure.

I wasn't joking when I said in another post earlier this morning that there's really no such thing as a "standard" R65, not even within the same model year. As the parts tech at Bob's told me yesterday, R65 owners come into Bob's quite often and show him things that do not appear in BMW's parts literature. (He gave an example of an owner who showed him a spherical center stand bushing that he had never seen before on any airhead.)

Sorry it was of no use to you,i hope you can sort it out,are you sure it,s the correct new stand you have?i'm not surprised at the different variants on the r65,maybe mine are odd too!!!who knows,good hunting,Julian.

[Altritter]

From Beemer: <are you sure it,s the correct new stand you have?>

I can't say that I'm positive to the point of absolute certainty, but two things make me fairly confident that it's the correct stand. First, the new stand's appearance is consistent with Montmil's(?) description of the 1983 stand in a posting a few weeks ago. (Monte, I'm not sure it was you who described it, but you were involved in the discussion.) Second, the new stand bolted onto the bike frame like it was indeed made for it. (There was no need to unbolt, loosen, or remove anything major to install it.)

If one of the pairs of "side stand" springs I bought is close, I'm probably home free. I noticed that the spring wire of all the Beemer springs is the same gauge. Thus, if I can get one to fit, the tension should be reasonably close to spec.

Thanks for the help and the input. JT

[drewboid]

I had removed a "ride off" stand and refitted the stock stand. Had a terrible time trying to streatch the springs on until I remembered an old trick - but the spring in a vice and bend it back and forth - with each bend insert a penny (or a nickel) coin in the open loop. the spring retains the stretched dimention and then can easily be slipped over the mounting lugs. Moving the centerstand down stretched the spring even more and the coins just fell out (I'm still picking them out of various corners of the garage).
If anyone is interested in the ride off stand - I think it was partly home made - the ends of the stand can scrape in tight turns - make an offer and email me off list.
drewboid @ yahoo.com

[ukzknos]

Does anyone know the correct length of the 1983-84 model's center stand springs?

Hi John

Did you ever resolve this riddle?

For exactly the same reason I decided to upgrade to the later centre stand design and purchased the stand and fitting kit from Motorworks UK.
The springs that came with the kit are c.140mm and are way too long.
The springs from the existing stand are c.100mm and too are a little long.

I wild guess but presumably the spring hangers on a >83 model are different?

Anyhow, before I 'butcher' the longer springs did you find a quick fix?

Thx
Steve
 [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]

[Altritter]

We were able to make the 82mm side stand springs work. They're slightly soft; every so often the stand needs a nudge with the foot to bring it up to the stowed position, but that was the case also with the old stand.

The important thing about the new, too-long springs is the orientation of the attachment hooks. If my memory is correct, the end hooks of the old stand's springs were perpendicular to each other. The hooks on the new springs are oriented in the same plane as one another. As it happened, the orientation of the side stand springs was the same as those of the new stand (the ones that are too long). So, there was no problem attaching them to the shackles.

Plan B for me, if I'd had to do so, would have been to take the spring that came with the new stand to one of the last remaining "hardware stores" in our area to find an extension spring the same spring, but shorter. (The monster building supply stores have taken their place in US society.) There's one in our area that has a display board of springs, from which a customer can determine the correct replacement.

We were able to make the old hangers work. Good thing, too. Otherwise, we would have had to loosen or disconnect a lot of major pieces on the frame that don't like to be disturbed.

I just looked for the receipt for the springs, but I couldn't find it. I'll keep looking, and perhaps it will show up. If I could find it, it might have the BMW part number.

Drewboid, that's a great trick for extending a spring to install it.

[montmil]

...Drewboid, that's a great trick for extending a spring to install it.

And if you follow him around, you might collect six bits!  

[ukzknos]

The answer to 'what length should the springs be?' is obviously a 'non-stock size' when upgrading a 1980 model to the later '83 stand.
However, in my case the perfect length was 75mm and is easily calculated by measuring the distance of the two anchor points when the bike is on the centre stand then ensuring that the springs are slightly extended when in this position. The extra long ones provided in the kit were easily modified with the aid of my blowtorch and round nosed pliers.

So, fantastic!  

I now have a bike that's a breeze to take off the stand but actually, I find it more difficult to put it on the stand in the first place. There now seems less leverage on the stand itself and I find I now need to use much more upper body to pull the bike upward.

Is there a new technique I need to master?
Am I missing a trick?

or, should I get down the gym and push some weights!

 [smiley=embarassed.gif]

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Is there a new technique I need to master?
Am I missing a trick?

or, should I get down the gym and push some weights!

Use your legs and pull up.  Don't stand on the little tang or it will break off. [smiley=2cents.gif]

[montmil]

My 81 is a PITA to get on the centerstand while the 83's stand is the newer design and so easy.

When riding the 81, I usually carry my customized centerstand assist tool... 3/4" plywood goes under the rear tire.  

[Bob_Roller]

I noticed on my center stand, that the sheet metal parts that the springs attach to, have slots, where the springs rest, I bought a side stand off of eBay about 10 years ago, and the short springs from this side stand, worked great on the center stand, it no longer droops in the up position .

[Justin B.]

Monte, I'm glad you posted this "blowup".  I had been trying to decide if what was hanging around your neck was a piece of paper bag with a "If found please return this goober to..." note or a pork chop so the dog would play with you!   [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

[beemer]

Monte, I'm glad you posted this "blowup".  I had been trying to decide if what was hanging around your neck was a piece of paper bag with a "If found please return this goober to..." note or a pork chop so the dog would play with you!   [smiley=ROTFLMAO.gif]

Could be a dart board! 8-)