Center Stand Replacement

[Melena]

Well, I finally started the process of replacing the center stand today.  Nice and warm and sunny on the back patio where the bike is.  I got a brand new stand with all new nuts and bolts and bushings for Christmas.   [smiley=clap.gif]

My friend and I got under the bike and started putting the pennies in the springs (Thanks Sue!  [smiley=thumbsup.gif] ).  It took a few minutes to figure out how to get them in there, but I finally got it.   Larry did this on his R60/5, thanks to Sue's great suggestion, and it worked great.  These springs are a bit tighter, but I figured out how to push on it with a long screw driver leveraged against the stand to get the coils apart enough to get the pennies in there.

In the meantime, Larry started loosening up the bolts holding the center stand on, but the allen bolt was put on from the engine side.  Is this the way it's done on all the bikes?  Is there a reason for this?  Tried to get an allen wrench in there but it would have to be cut off in order to fit in there between the bolt and the oil pan.  So, what do we do now?  We sat back to think about this one and didn't come up with an answer except to remove the oil pan.  I don't remember that you had to do that, Sue.  What did you do?  If somehow we can get the bolt loosened, is there enough room to pull it out to get the new ones in there?  

I really don't want to take the oil pan off right now if I don't have to.  The bike is apart enough and no gas in the tank so I can't start it to get the engine heated up to drain the oil.  But if I do, I'll check things out real good in there while I'm at it.

Sure wish we had access to all those old postings from the original forum.  I'm sure I would have my answer right off with just a bit of searching.  

Thanks for any help!

[Justin B.]

Cut off the allen wrench.  I think I remember it being the same one that the transmission mounting bolts use and there is one tranny bolt that needs a "modified" allen wrench as well so might as well get it over with!  

This is the way it has to work as I remember this bolt (screw) is a flat head, countersunk fastener and the hole in the frame tab is tapered to match the bolt.

[nhmaf]

Yup, it is a pain in the neck, but it is quite a bit easier to just go to the local hardware store where they have a bunch of Allen keys in stock, get one the
right size and saw it off to length.  Use a file to dress/taper the edges to remove any burrs for easier insertion and no cut fingers !

[Justin B.]

Seems I remember only needing to "prune" off 1/4" or so.

[Bob_Roller]

I did the same thing cut it down,  I think it's a 6 mm, if there isn't enough length to keep the bolt from turning, put a 6 mm, or whatever size it is, 1/4 th inch drive socket on the end of the allen wrench, and then a 6 inch 1/4 th inch drive extension.

This is the same size that Justin mentioned to tighten up the allen head bolt on the transmission.

If memory serves me correctly, it is also the tool I use to block the crankshaft when removing the flywheel.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I have a cut-off allen wrench in my tool kit, as well.

[Melena]

Sounds unanimous to me.  Off with it's head!  

I will get this done ASAP.  It doesn't look like there is enough room to get the bolt out, but I'll find out with the next try and see exactly what's up with it.  Then on with the new center stand.  Woo Hoo!   I can hardly wait.

[suecanada]

Boy, so that cut off Allen wrench now has 2 uses! All fine and dandy but how does Melena get the old bolt out and the new bolt in there? Did I miss that part??  Glad the coins worked in the springs....someone here or somewhere told me about that little trick. I've never replaced a centrestand..just undid them for some reason or another or lubing??? Can't even remember! LRB still over at friend's place...no bike in the Brrrm closet now! Still lots of snow to melt though.

[Bob_Roller]

It's been a year or so since I had the center stand off, and I don't recall any issue getting the countersunk bolts out and back in again.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

It's been a year or so since I had the center stand off, and I don't recall any issue getting the countersunk bolts out and back in again.

I have had them fall off of their own accord, before.

I don't think you will have any clearance issues.

[Bob_Roller]

The few times that they came out on their own, was due to the fact that the bolt sheared next to the nut.

Kind of a poor application, there are shearing forces in the threaded area of the bolt, concentrated forces in a small area, and the bolt breaks a lot easier than if it were only threaded the last 1/4 th of an inch or so, just enough for the nut .

[Justin B.]

I had to put new bushings on my '81 R100 w/Reynolds stand.  At least on the Reynolds installation I don't believe there is any shear on the actual bolt/screw as (at least in my case) it looks like the screw and nut just secure the bushing.  The bushing is pulled up tight against the frame ear and nothing moves as the centerstand then rotates around the bushing.  But, maybe the stock stand is different all I do is occasionally make sure they aren't about to fall off by the blind application of wrench...  Of course, if it is allowed to get loose then you would have plenty of shear!  I guess that's why all of the 'sperts preach the virtue of keeping these tight!  

Something like this, but maybe what I have shown as a washer was actually a "flange" on the bushing, I really can't remember...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Yes, there is a bushing in there to take the shear forces, and it is "top-hatted".

Number 16 in the microfiche.

[Melena]

Oh, yeah!  After reading these last posts, I remember something about the bolts falling off of someon's bike.    (sorry, it's not really funny.)  That had to have been at least a few years ago.  

The bushings must be there for the stand to move around so there's no wear on the stand itself.  I'll let you know what my old ones look like when I get them out.  I'll take pictures.  I'll bet the old ones are worn down.  This might be part of why I have such a hard time getting the bike up on and down from the center stand.  I'm thinking these should be kept well greased, too.

Thank you all.  Such a small thing, but it can be big if you don't know how to take care of it.  I prefer using other people's experience to learn from.  I don't have the time or energy to learn it all from my own mistakes.  

[Justin B.]

Yeah, they should be greased.  On my '81 R100 they came out in pieces...