Making a stand

[bangpaul]

While fixing my front forks, a spring came off my centre stand. It was the only spring on there, but it looks like there used to be two. There are two little swing arms, but where the springs seemed to hook onto the actual stand there are just a pair of little metal nubs. I think whatever was welded on there has broken off, along with the other spring.

Since I've obviously got to fix this problem, I thought I might try and fix it properly. The stands on my R65 are probably my least favourite feature of the bike. The side stand leans over way too far, and the centre stand is a pain in the arse, both to get on and off.

Is it best to just replace the centre stand? In the meantime, how do the springs usually hook onto the actual stand? My manual isn't much help.

[Barry]

Centre stands usually wear and suffer from going too far over centre which makes them a real pain to use particularly getting the bike off the stand. They can be repaired by building up the end stops with weld.

Mine was so transformed I regretted not having done it earlier.

I shimmed the side stand pivot to remove slop and that helped withe lean angle.

Should be several other threads on centre stand repairs if you do a search.

http://www.bmwr65.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1295894027/1#1

[bruce_launceston]

I machined up a new bolt and bush for the sidestand. The factory setup has a threaded section of bolt inside the bush and this wore a mirror 'thread' into the inside of the bronze bush. The new bolt and bush took a lot of play out of the sidestand.

[Bob_Roller]

There are two small hook like parts welded to the horizontal tube, from you description, they have departed the stand .

If you can get a later center stand, they are worth the putting on .

The original stand on my '81 broke last September, replaced it with one from an '82, what a difference .

Only problem with the newer stands, the bikes that had these stand installed , have a different up stop, whereas the '81 used rubber bumpers in the ends of the tubes to contact the frame tube .

[RSMike]

My stand is driving me bananas, I think I am going to just replace it rather than trying to fix, I believe its the worn end pieces (older laminated ends) are the problem, they look kinda worn and concave shape, just one worry is that there seems to be a bit of gouging on the frame stops also.

here is one stand end



and corresponding frame stop (slight gouging towards bottom of pic)



BTW James Sherlock BMW in the UK have seriously better prices than either Motobins or Motorworks for most things

He does not have an online shop but he has the full parts list and prices in pdf, just confirm the price and then call with CC details, nice to deal with and fast and reasonable delivery costs, e.g.

Price for centre stand (Vat incl):

Sherlock £69.60
Motorworks £92.62
Motobins £99.95

Similar price ratio on most things between these guys, I got my rear tyre (ME 77) from Sherlocks last week for £84.96, Motorworks wanted £115.69 , Motobins don't offer Metz

No connections with Sherlocks, just a satisfied customer

[montmil]

I scored a later model center stand for the POS unit on my 1981 R65. Note the larger foot pad that really helps getting the bike "up n' over."



These are the loops where the springs attach.



The '81's center stand retract springs attached to a sheet metal tang. The tang pivoted on a stud welded to a frame cluster. Look closely. The tang is just partially visible behind the frame member.

In my case, the tang pivot was so close to the engine case that I had to cut it away rather than lift it off the stud. The newer design center stand uses a longer spring that simply hooks over the stud; thereby eliminating the tang.



I found the replacement stand on eBay. They show up fairly regular.

Another point to consider; if the rear shocks on the bike are shorter than stock, the effort to grunt the bike onto the center stand is amplified. The progressives on the '81 were shorter than OEM. The new, correct length Hagons, plus the revised design stand in better condition, made all the difference.

Hope this helps you.

Monte

[bangpaul]

As usual, I now feel comprehensively informed. I'll have another look at it over the weekend, and make a decision in the coming weeks.

Thanks again for all the advice.

And cheers to RSMike for the "James Sherlock BMW" tip. I'll see what their freight costs are like next time I need some parts.

[montmil]

Just spotted this stand on eBay. It's the "good" design; same as I retro fitted to my 1981 R65.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-R65-R80-Center-Main-Stand-/330587182485?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cf8881595#ht_500wt_728

This one has both bearing pivots. Looks a bit nicer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-BMW-R65-R-65-CENTER-STAND-4-/350477358079?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item519a1413ff#ht_563wt_939

They're everywhere, they're everywhere...

Just for comparison, this is the "hernia" model.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Center-Stand-R65-/370507156734?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5643f28cfe#ht_500wt_728

Monte

[RSMike]

Just spotted this stand on eBay. It's the "good" design; same as I retro fitted to my 1981 R65.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-R65-R80-Center-Main-Stand-/330587182485?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4cf8881595#ht_500wt_728

This one has both bearing pivots. Looks a bit nicer.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/83-BMW-R65-R-65-CENTER-STAND-4-/350477358079?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item519a1413ff#ht_563wt_939

They're everywhere, they're everywhere...

Just for comparison, this is the "hernia" model.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Center-Stand-R65-/370507156734?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5643f28cfe#ht_500wt_728

Monte

Wow, considering that last one is "the hernia" model, as you so aptly put it Monte, he's asking a lot.

I went ahead and ordered a new one from Sherlock's today

[montmil]

All three are substantially more expensive than I paid for mine through an eBay auction.

Did you include the two bushings and countersunk bolts that pass through the stand's uppers? I discovered marked wear in my originals. The retract springs are different, too.

Monte

[jg928s4]

I have the one like you and then the "Hernia" model on the Parts Bike, I was going to switch to it since looks in better shape, but am I being instructed otherwise?

[RSMike]

Did you include the two bushings and countersunk bolts that pass through the stand's uppers? I discovered marked wear in my originals. The retract springs are different, too.

Monte

Yes, I ordered "Main stand bolts & spacers" as well, hopefully spacers = bushings

Oops, just saw you mentioned springs also that might be a problem then.

[montmil]

Did you include the two bushings and countersunk bolts that pass through the stand's uppers? I discovered marked wear in my originals. The retract springs are different, too.

Monte

Yes, I ordered "Main stand bolts & spacers" as well, hopefully spacers = bushings

Oops, just saw you mentioned springs also that might be a problem then.

If you keep the OEM sheet metal shackles, the "hernia" springs may well fit.

Monte

[RSMike]

I have the one like you and then the "Hernia" model on the Parts Bike, I was going to switch to it since looks in better shape, but am I being instructed otherwise?

The ends on the "hernia" models seem to wear out pretty quick ( well relatively speaking for these bikes) due to their construction, My stand looks great also, just doesn't work great!, seems like the advise would be to stick with the later model stand.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I have, indeed, had 3 hernia operations since buying my R65 (in 1980).