RGS side stand spring install

Brett said:
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
Click to expand...
Well, if it's a piece of piss then I'm ... won't finish that. I'd love to see how you do it Brett. With the engine in place, it seems almost impossible to feed the end of the spring into the side stand lug and get it over the side stand shaft so you can feed it into the hold in the side stand and wind it up and bolt it in place. Possibly I'm trying to be too gentle, what with fresh paint and all, but I'm still not seeing how I can roll it on.
Richard
 
I?ve had to fit a side stand in the past a couple of times, last time was two years ago. From memory this is how I managed to get the spring and stand on.

Fit up the stand and spring (no bolt or washer fitted)
Rotate the stand clockwise winding up the torsion spring.
You need to pull the stand towards you to allow the stand to clear the the frame stopper and the primary case (IIRC). This means the spring will be pulled open.
Once rotated, push the stand back on to the boss. Note that the spring will probably not be centred and you will have to use a screw driver to centre it otherwise the back of the stand will foul on the spring.
Replace the bolt and washer.

HTH

Ian
 
Laverdian said:
Note that the spring will probably not be centred and you will have to use a screw driver to centre it otherwise the back of the stand will foul on the spring.
Click to expand...

Good man, Ian.  Important point ...  (thumbup)
 
phil37 said:
To extend springs to get the washers in - i use a modded scissor jack - Regards - Phil
Click to expand...

Good one, Phil.  Or as Ian Dury would have put it, "There ain't half been some clever bastards ...".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPvRsLWlDXw
 
Come on guys, Phil just tries to kindly imply you these suicide side stands must be converted to proper traditional ones. ;)

I have actually thought that kind of conversion, just changing spring and where it is fastened if possible. I haven't done any effort on how to make the conversion. Maybe machining two dowels then welding another one to the side stand and another one to the frame. Anyone done it before to these RGS side stands? I know some bikes are equipped with entirely different kind of side stands. Not keen to take that route.
 
Here's my solution. A bit primative but has served me well this past few years & it doesn't flick up as soon as you lift the bike up (bolt)

Graham

More pics if you click on the below photo I think



 
Smiddy said:
Here's my solution. A bit primative but has served me well this past few years & it doesn't flick up as soon as you lift the bike up (bolt)

Graham

More pics if you click on the below photo I think

Click to expand...
Quite cool. Thanks for sharing.

-Jouni
 
Dellortoman said:
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.
Click to expand...

Cam,

Self-retracting sidestands, or devices that would retract them when on the move, were mandatory in many european countries at the time, before the japs introduced ignition kill switches linked to the stands and gearbox neutral switch, complicating things even further... 

piet
 
I understand the reason for it Piet. Doesn't mean I have to like it. I'm not a fan of ignition interlock switches either.

Of all the idiot-proofing methods applied to side stands, I think the simplest and least annoying was the little rubber extension that Honda used for a while. If you took off with the side stand down, The rubber knob would hit the ground first and flip the stand up before the solid part hit the deck.
 
One of the first modifications my Dad made to the RGA back in ~1986 was to make the stand non-retracting and he also extended the tang somewhat so it can be reached by short legs.  It was much the same as what Jouni did below but does not require welding to the frame.  Makes the stand easy to fit and extremely functional (but you have to fold it up yourself or accept the consequences).
 
On my Ducati Paso there is an electrical switch on the side stand. It doesn't do anything else than lights a warning light on cockpit.

BMW K100's and K75's have such side stands they can be assembled retracting or non-retracting.

Quite clever IMHO.
 
German T?V sends you home without a new sticker if you try to pass MOT with a non-retracting sidestand without kill-switch on bikes first registered after 1976... It needs a (working!) sidestand-switch. just a warning light is not enough, they do check if the engine stops once you engage first gear with the sidestand out...  :'(

On the other hand, it is defenitely a safety feature. Have seen many people starting their ride with the sidestand still out...
 
Laverdalothar said:
Have seen many people starting their ride with the sidestand still out...
Click to expand...

I do recall doing just that, on my Mach3, and spearing straight off, on the first left hander. I ended up parked on someone?s front yard, thankfully they didn?t have a front fence.  :-[
 
Laverdalothar said:
German T?V sends you home without a new sticker if you try to pass MOT with a non-retracting sidestand without kill-switch on bikes first registered after 1976... It needs a (working!) sidestand-switch. just a warning light is not enough, they do check if the engine stops once you engage first gear with the sidestand out...  :'(

On the other hand, it is defenitely a safety feature. Have seen many people starting their ride with the sidestand still out...
Click to expand...
No anything like that on my country, traditional side stands are ok to authorities. There's no even MOT/annual inspection. Authorities have made statistics about known motorcycle accidents resulted from motorcycles not in required condition. The result was something 0-1 accidents per year. Now there have been discussions starting annual inspections but seems they don't get anything ready.

Quite common thought on my country is there are people who benefit from side stands like that and people who do not.
 
I must have put a couple of dozen bikes through roadworthy inspection here in Tassie, and nobody has ever paid any attention to the side stand. I'm pretty sure there's no mention of stands in the vehicle compliance regulations.
 
Apparently you just have to have the touch. Pal Keith swung by, I showed him the side stand setup, walked over to my bench, came back, and he had it on. Go figure ... so yes, it can be done, and apparently fairly easily ... if you have the touch.
Richard
 
Once while removing the rear springs on a set of shocks with 2 large screwdrivers my hands were called SPRING COMPRISING MANDIBLES.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top