How do I refit the centrestand spring

[Mad Hatter]

I’m really struggling to refit the centre stand spring (GSA). I’ve tried expanding the spring using washers but that wasn’t enough, I’ve also tried using tiewraps to pull the spring, but I can’t apply enough force to stretch it far enough.

Does anyone know a good/easy way of doing this?

 

[Neil W]

Put bike on sidestand , attach the springs to the bike and the stand whilst it is hanging loose (ie not bolted onto the bike), use the stand as a lever and get the pivot points to line up.

Handy to have an assistant to get either the bolts fitted or to stick a screwdriver through the holes to line them up.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Put bike on sidestand , attach the springs to the bike and the stand whilst it is hanging loose (ie not bolted onto the bike), use the stand as a lever and get the pivot points to line up.

Handy to have an assistant to get either the bolts fitted or to stick a screwdriver through the holes to line them up.

I had considered doing it that way, but thought there’d be a really good chance of buggering the o rings. I mights have to do it though if there’s no better way

 

[DC]

2p coins !

put spring in vice, and (carefully) force a large screwdriver between each coil one at a time, opening them enough so that a 2p piece can be inserted and then gripped by the spring when the scewdriver is removed.This extends the length of the spring. Keep doing this until the spring is long enough to fit over the hooks with only a small amount of brute force (with stand in 'up'position). When all is correctly attached, stand is put down and all 2p pieces fall out.

 

[Timolgra]

It's generally easier to remove a stand, fit the springs first the use the stand for leverage to fit.

 

[DrFarkoff]

There is quite a knack to it

I fit the top first and then I have a long flat blade screwdriver with about a 5mm diameter steel shank? about 200mm long and then the plastic handle

I fit the stand and hang the spring on the top mount

It "Seems" to be easiest to do this at about halfway between up and down (Less spring tension) Rest the stand on bricks or blocks of wood

I insert the screwdriver through the loop, then fit the flat blade under the springs nub

And I push the spring down the screwdriver shank as far as I can and keep tension on it and start to push down on teh screwdriver and extend the spring

AS the spring extends, keep control of it as best you can! As it passes level it starts to slide down towards the nub, go easy on the downwards force now

Keep control of the spring and don't let it slide under it's own volition or it will slide down bang off the nub and either fly off or become jammed!

You have two important things to monitor while you are doing this !!

1) Keep that screwdriver tip under that nub!!

2) Keep the Spring under control, Don't let it slide of its own accord

So if you have the spring down by the nub and the screwdriver tip still under it? With a bit of luck You can now see how to manoeuvre the screwdriver causing the spring to follow your movement and go around the nub as you slip the screwdriver out

IT may be best to try this first with a weaker spring or couple of smaller ones linked or even your own one packed with washers to reduce spring tension

The method does work and its quite favoured in the Scania workshop where I was, for fitting Brake shoe springs and you get quite proficient at either fitting the spring or going back to the store and asking for another one as the one you had launched into a low orbit

 

[johnnyboy]

There is quite a knack to it

I fit the top first and then I have a ling flat blade screwdriver with about a 5mm steel part

I fit the stand and hang the spring on the top mount

It "Seems" to be easiest to do this at about halfway between up and down (Less spring tension)

I insert the screwdriver through the loop, then fit the flat blade under the springs nub

And I push the spring down the screwdriver shank as far as I can and keep tension on and start to push down and extend the spring

AS the spring extends keep control of it as best you can! As it passes level it starts to slide down towards the nub go easy on the downwards force now

Keep control of the spring and don't let it slide under it's own volition or it will slide down bang off the nub and either fly off or become jammed!

You have two important things to monitor while you are doing this !!

1) Keep that screwdriver tip under that nub!!

2) Keep the Spring under control, Don't let it slide of its own accord

So if you have the spring down by the nub and the screwdriver tip still under it? With a bit of luck You can now see how to manoeuvre the spring causing the spring to follow your movement and go around the nub as you slip the screwdriver out

IT may be best to try this first with a weaker spring or couple of smaller ones linked or even your own one packed with washers to reduce spring tension

The method does work and its quite favoured in the Scania workshop where I was, for fitting Brake shoe springs and you get quite proficient at either fitting the spring or going back to the store and asking for another one as the one you had launched into a low orbit

A method I use to fit brake shoe springs too. It's easy once you get the knack

Sent from my SM-G970F using Tapatalk

 

[Posh Pete]

Another option is to use a pair of mole grips on the long bit of wire. Then two hands to pull it on. Worked for me on my airhead.

 

[ThreeDawg]

I wondered whether using a ratchet strap around the rear wheel might work. Attach the springs and then pull the stand backwards into position using the strap around the wheel and stand cross bar.

 

[Ajay]

Remember years ago, taking my R1200ST to BM Dealer to replace the C/S spring I'd removed to grease the pivot

Took two of them, one lay on the floor, feet wedged against the front wheel, both hands on the grips on the spring. Other at front of bike, steadying it.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Gents, thanks for all the advice. I’m going to try the DrFarkoff method (sounds like a family planning approach). I’ll let you know the outcome.....

 

[DrFarkoff]

Gents, thanks for all the advice. I’m going to try the DrFarkoff method (sounds like a family planning approach). I’ll let you know the outcome.....

Control The Spring Luke!!!!

Be funny if you were called Luke

 

[Cook1e]

I use a spring puller. A wire hook with a T-handle

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I use a spring puller. A wire hook with a T-handle

Me too
From KTM

 

[MartinK]

Did one at the weekend, using a ratchet strap round the rear wheel... Took a couple of attempts. I found a video on YouTube...

 

[Cannop]

I use the method DC mentions above with the coins in the spring. If it's good enough for Millyard....

 

[Beak Freak]

Basically what happens is that you spend 20 minutes trying to stretch a spring that clearly won't ever stretch far enough. Assemble an arsenal of tools that get progressively more dangerous, then take it in turns to try each one with varying degrees of damage to the bike, house, passers by and yourself. whilst you lie panting heavily and sweating you have another brain wave on an obvious answer.....that won't work. Eventually you either give up and throw aforementioned arsenal of tools around in a fit or keep calm and have a warming beverage.
The next day, feeling calmer and super strong you have another go and fail again. following counselling sessions you end up using mole grips and Dr Farkoffs method of the flat blade screwdriver. After a few attempts, joy of joys the spring finally twangs onto the nub and you collapse to the floor delirious with joy, get up and do a little victory dance.

Two years later when your springs have rusted up, you think "oh I'll just put some nice new shiny ones on" and will have forgotten all about your prebious experience!

 

[GSAHippo]

2p coins !

put spring in vice, and (carefully) force a large screwdriver between each coil one at a time, opening them enough so that a 2p piece can be inserted and then gripped by the spring when the scewdriver is removed.This extends the length of the spring. Keep doing this until the spring is long enough to fit over the hooks with only a small amount of brute force (with stand in 'up'position). When all is correctly attached, stand is put down and all 2p pieces fall out.

but with 5p coins

 

[Teeonethousand]

I did mine last week. Shoelace doubled round the spring hook and tied in a loop. Ratchet tie down hooked onto shoelace loop , other end of ratchet strap knotted to make a loop for my foot. Lay on ground, foot in ratchet strap and push....leaving both hands free to locate the spring once in line. Obviously it takes a couple of goes to get the foot push distance right and it does take some pushing but it works.

 

[Lord Snooty]

I did mine last week. Shoelace doubled round the spring hook and tied in a loop. Ratchet tie down hooked onto shoelace loop , other end of ratchet strap knotted to make a loop for my foot. Lay on ground, foot in ratchet strap and push....leaving both hands free to locate the spring once in line. Obviously it takes a couple of goes to get the foot push distance right and it does take some pushing but it works.

Necessity is the Mother of Invention, ingenious sir!