Side Stand Switch Query (2007 GS)

[Our Gee]

Just having a Clean Around underneath this Morning and I have noticed that the Side Stand Switch has about 4mm of movement along the Centre Pin. So much in fact that the Lug inside which Rotates with the Stand is clearly visible. There a 4mm Gap between the Switch Body and the Small Circlip at the end of the Pin. Can anyone please advise if this is normal as it doesn,t look right to me.
Thanks, Mike Tee.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Ooh, something I can measure with my vernier gauge!

Hang on.... I'll be right back.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

Can't really get gauge to it, so I'm tempted not to answer out of petty mindedness.

However, mine ('05 12GS) has some movement on the mounting point, but nowhere near 4mm. Just a barely noticeable "wobble" really.

 

[Our Gee]

Thanks Robin,
sounds like somethings amiss with mine. I,ll have a good look at it tomorrow.
Regards, Mike Tee

 

[Commadore]

Had a look at mine and there does seem to be an unnecessarily large gap (nothing to measure it with but it just seems excessively large) and this does appear to cause a quite marked sideways 'wobble' , although the springs hold it in place firmly enough.

This also allows the stand to push outwards a little when the bike's weight is rested on it.

Is this what you are experiencing? Have you found this out to be a fault (in which case I have the same fault) or is it just the way it's made?

 

[Our Gee]

I don,t know if it,s a Fault or not. The amount of movement (Lateral movement of the Switch Body on the Locating Pin) which on mine is about 4mm just seems excessive. Nothing appears to have come undone. The Switch Body slides on the Mounting Pin (which appears to be an extension of the Side Stand Pivot Pin) and is held on by a Washer and Circlip. The amount of movement means that the "Innards" of the Switch is open to Road Spray and Crap as there is no "sealing washer" between the Switch and the Side Stand. I have just added another Washer of the same thickness which has reduced the Movement to about 2mm. Iv,e probably buggered it up and won,t be able to start the engine now !!. Not sure what you mean by "the springs hold it in place" unless you mean the Side Stand Return Springs which don,t affect the Switch at all.
Regards, Mike Tee.

 

[luckylucian]

I think the answer to bypass the switch is join the white and red wires and isolate the blue

 

[lgsand]

Side stand swtich goes and you dont - I have always bypassed mine and trusted my memory to "remember to flip the stand up so you do not flip down on the first left hander" Has worked so far. On a trip I always clip my stand up to the frame anyway - had a bad experience on a R90S when springs failed and let go leaving the stand waving in the breeze.

 

[Our Gee]

There are many reports of Side Stand Switch failures but I can,t seem to find any detail of just what fails and what is the cause. Is it an internal failure ie "contacts" or is the failure mechanical. I would like to pre-empt any pending failure hence my "shimming" to reduce end float and hopefully stop water and muck getting inside. Oh and is it necessary to remove the Side Stand in order to remove the Switch and how does the wiring detach from the Switch.
Many Thanks, Mike Tee.

 

[wilbjr21]

There are many reports of Side Stand Switch failures but I can,t seem to find any detail of just what fails and what is the cause. Is it an internal failure ie "contacts" or is the failure mechanical. I would like to pre-empt any pending failure hence my "shimming" to reduce end float and hopefully stop water and muck getting inside. Oh and is it necessary to remove the Side Stand in order to remove the Switch and how does the wiring detach from the Switch.
Many Thanks, Mike Tee.

Where are these reports? The only one that I've seen was on here when two 12's had their switches broken by stones in Morocco.

The same thread tells you how to overcome the problem.

 

[Our Gee]

Thanks for the replies. I did see a couple of threads about the Switch Failure. With our first Really big Trip on a GS coming up in June (Spain / France) and with the thought of the pending Antenna Ring, Gearbox Seal, Final Drive, and Fuel Pump Relay Failures (Have I missed any !!) lurking to Spoil the event I must be getting paranoid and just added it to my mental list of GS weak points. If Switch Failure has only been attributed to Stone Impact then I can probably cross that one off the list. Still can,t see why the assembly has to be so loose on the Mounting Pin though.
Regards , Mike Tee.

 

[SiMo]

I had the dreaded side stand switch problem this morning. R1200GS 2008, only 260 miles so far, so not best pleased.

Started the bike, up with the side stand, into gear - engine goes off. Start again, repeat, repeat. Switch off again. WD40 attack on the switch (which is not too accessible, particularly when the exhaust heats up, I have the burn to prove it). Still no good. Take keys out, go inside to call the Emergency number, then go out again (while waiting for call to be answered), put in the key and start it - and lo and behold, it's working again.

Suggestions? Could be it took a few minutes for the WD40 to kick in. And/or switching off, removing the key and switching back on after a moment somehow resets something deep within the electrics. Any other bright ideas? And why did it happen in the first place?

Something else to be added to the list for the first service - along with plastic inserts from the rear rack falling off, the BMW badge on the yoke falling off, etc. Other than that - very pleased with the bike....

 

[SiMo]

...and now the bike goes into gear whether the side stand is down or up!
Faulty switch?

 

[kiwiAdventure]

I always get the dealer to discount the switch on all my BMW bikes.