RGS side stand spring install

murphus

murphus

Senior member
Location
Lost in the Midwest
Ok, so I searched to see if this has been covered here ad nauseam already. All I could find were references to what PITA it is to install the side stand spring on an RGS, but no actual guidance. So, the question is, is there a proven method that works? Finally -- and slowly -- getting my RGS back together. Thanks!
Richard
 
Easy-peasy with the engine out of the frame, the prop can be fed onto the pivot and used to tension the spring.  With the engine fitted, well, it's basically a pita.  ::)  But not impossible. :D

When re-assembling a bike, the very first things to go on to the frame are the stands.

piet
 
sfcpiet said:
Easy-peasy with the engine out of the frame, the prop can be fed onto the pivot and used to tension the spring.  With the engine fitted, well, it's basically a pita.  ::)  But not impossible. :D

When re-assembling a bike, the very first things to go on to the frame are the stands.

piet
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Well, as ever I'm learning proper assembly order the hard way! Engine already in! Hadn't even thought about it. I never had a side stand, maybe still won't ... ?
Richard
 
murphus said:
Well, as ever I'm learning proper assembly order the hard way! Engine already in! Hadn't even thought about it. I never had a side stand, maybe still won't ... ?
Richard
Click to expand...

You'll miss it...  RGS main stand isn't quite as easy to operate as the 180? job, a sidestand comes in handy rather often for short stops.

piet
 
I hate the RGS side stand. Apart from being a pain in the arse to install, it's the type that flips up as soon as the foot lifts off the ground, which makes me want to beat it to death with a sledge hammer.

I now leave the spring out. The side stand gets installed only when the bike is in the workshop, just for convenience when moving the bike about. Installing/removing it without the spring is a 30 second job.

As for tips to install the spring. I don't think there is a proven technique. Just keep wangling it about, try different tools (pliers, screwdrivers, etc.), swear a lot, skin your knuckles ...  Hopefully you'll get it before you've pulled all your hair out.
 
It can be done :LOL: :LOL:
When loaded with saddle bags, tent and other stuff find it virtually impossible to get off the bike without using the side-stand.
Just push the stand down until it hits the ground, roll back and step off; piece of cake. ;)
 
Legs said:
Just push the stand down until it hits the ground, roll back and step off; piece of cake. ;)
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You make it sound simple, but you have to hold the stand down with your foot while you lean the bike over until it hits the ground. So you don't have your right foot already on the ground to steady the bike and lower it gently until the stand takes the weight. It's something of a leap of faith that the ground is there to arrest your lean. If the stand goes into a hole or soft bit of ground it could get out of hand, especially if the bike is heavily loaded.

I dunno, maybe it's worse with my bike that has a jacked-up rear end. The stand is higher off the ground than a normal RGS.
 
bit of tongue in cheek there :D. No it isn't a piece of cake; you have to choose the ground carefully and make damn sure you don't overbalance. The design is a crock of shit but have learnt to live with it but I find it more difficult the older I get (might have to look around for a lighter bike).
 
Legs said:
bit of tongue in cheek there :D. No it isn't a piece of cake; you have to choose the ground carefully and make damn sure you don't overbalance. The design is a crock of shit but have learnt to live with it but I find it more difficult the older I get (might have to look around for a lighter bike).
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My RGS does not have the centre stand. I learnt the hard way to choose my ground carefully. In the first month of owning it, I rolled it backwards out of this garage at a place I once lived at. Put it on the side stand, closed the garage, turned to see my bike slowly going over. The headlight clipped the gate post on the way down. Smashed it.

I am glad I read on here that it is a good idea to put the stand on before re-installing the motor. I made sure to do this when I had my motor out. Looks to be no room to manoeuvre with the motor in.
 
Legs said:
The design is a crock of shit .. <snip>
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Glad I'm not the only one who thinks so.  Piet has told me off for not using it correctly  :D - see page 28 of the owners handbook below - but I still think it's a right royal PITA: difficult to use when sat on the bike, AND it leaves the bike too upright.

A Ducati sidestand on the other hand - ah, now there's a well designed and properly functioning piece of kit!

Ciao

Craig

P.s  @ Richard: Arne's advice - the first response! - works.
 

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Maybe you old farts should all get yourselves a Harley with a 5-foot kickstand... :D
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Did say i wanted a BIKE, no way in the world will I ever ride a Trumpmobile >:D
Anyway, as I've just clocked up 69 years and have been pushing the 224 kilo RGS around for half my life, reckon a lighter bike may be on the cards.
 
IIRC, I used a zip-tie and/or a spring-puller to install it. I know there is a way to do it but I also remember Signore Andreghetto selling me the sucker (with a new spring), telling me how wonderfull this side-stand is and that he actually designed it. When I asked how to install it, he said: "no problem", laied himself aside my bike and tried to install it for something like 10 Minutes. Finally, he gave up and returned the parts in my hands, grumbeling something like: "you need to sort it out yourself, I have other things to do" and returned to his workshop...

Later, when I managed to install it, I found out that the part he sold me was incorrectly manufactured. There is a metal welded to the tube that should stop movement of the sidestand at a certain point to avoid the bike falls on the right side. This piece of metal was welded on to low so it had no actual function.

OCT fixed it later when I was at home...  ::)

A little word of caution here, please: NEVER EVER put your bike on the sidestand while the engine is running, especially not if the bike is not on a 100% horizontal place. I learned that lesson the hard way, cost me a front indicator, an ignition cover, a mirror and a windscreen...  >:(
 
To extend springs to get the washers in - i use a modded scissor jack - Regards - Phil
 

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To be honest its farily simple to fit the damn things, simply put the spring in, use a sturt thinish screw driver to pull the spring in tension while you have the side stand half way back on already then a bit more leverage on the spring until you can move the one end around the side-stand tab, ten push the stand further in till you can let the spring back onto the tab then put the washer and bolt back on, tighten and bobs your uncle.  Whilst stand is off good to grease the pivot area.
If you cant get it let me know and I'll pop the one of the RGS on the weekend to lube the pivot and take a video of refitting.
as the Kiwi's say its a peice of piss bro  :o

 
I cyclically take stands off from my bikes, wash them (and clean the pivot very carefully) and then reinstall with fresh grease. I consider this as regular motorcycle maintenance. Keeps the pivot in good condition for long time.

I have put RGS side stand to my SFC and serviced it several times this way. I just put it there but can't say now how I do it. Brett's explanation sounds very similar.
 
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