Stiff Side Stand
 

My side stand has always been reasonably easy to knock up and down, but after pressure washing my bike last weekend it is extremely stiff. Is it possible i have washed away some lubricant it uses? Should i just WD40 it or....?

Thanks.

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

WD40 will destroy the grease in the joint, use grease itself to lubricate the pivot point and also the other places specified in the manual:)

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

If you haven't got any grease at the moment though WD-40 will do till you get some sorted.

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

There's no bearing or anything in it... Engine oil will be better than WD40, but better to strip it and grease it properly with a good waterproof grease, that'll last.

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Did mine today.

Just don't stab yourself in the head with the pliers while trying to put the springs back on :eye:

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

I have to agree with Northy here, engine oil will be a lot better than WD40 for a quick fix!

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Put the springs on the easy way.

Before you remove the sidestand wedge 2p pieces between the coils while the bike is on the stand. If you push the springs over to one side it opens the gap for you to get them in. Then remove the springs by putting the bike on a paddock stand and lifting the sidestand - DO NOT TOUCH THE 2p PIECES.

When you want to put the springs back on simply refit the sidestand and move it to the up position and slip the springs on with 2p pieces in place. Put the sidestand down and remove the 2p pieces by pushing the springs over to one side again to release the pressure.

Easy

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Duly noted. :thumleft:

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

I sat on the bike, Dad wiggled the arm while spraying spray grease on the joint, job done! :)

I reckon that is easier! :p

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Good point. Nowadays, I wear eye protection when dealing with stand springs. I read of someone loosing an eye when the pliers they were gripping the spring with and pulling hard on, lost their grip...

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Aye, 'twas very near really - less than 1 cm I guess.

When the missus saw the blood she didn't ask if I was OK, instead she told me off 'cause I could spoil the wedding photos :rolleyes:

Now the silly thing is, as I was laid under the bike doing it - I was thinking to myself "hmmm, this isn't really a good idea................twaaaaaang". :smt088

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Take heart from the following.

In my youth I was removing the centre stand from a Suzuki GS750 (big heavy lumbering beast) one day because it was grounding on corners. I had to crawl under the bike and hammer the spindle out because they always get a bit stiff being in such an exposed position. A few good clouts with a 4lb lump hammer saw it moving nicely, and an old screwdriver on the inside edge of flanged end getting a few clouts had it well on its way. Right at the point when the spindle flew free across the workshop I realised why it was so tight... I was doing the job with the bike on the centrestand I had just knocked the spindle out of and I was right underneath it.

As pure luck would have it the bike fell away from me and didn't crush my head or body. The roll-cage (crash bars) took the damage and all I had to replace was the clutch lever

Re: Stiff Side Stand
 

Wish I'd read this thread before I'd just sprayed said side-stand with WD40 ... d'oh!
Oh well, think I'll take the approach of just washing it down thoroughly and then spraying some grease onto it instead :rolleyes: