Forum

[Scalyback]

[center]
Kevin's last stand

I finally got time to change Kevin's Redditch centre stand for the Hitchcock's replacement Indian stand kit.



To be honest, I didn't want to do it, but given the amount of wear coupled with what looked like previous repairs, I didn't have much option. I did explore the obvious path of repairing the stand and engine brackets again, but the bike is nearer to the ground having 17 inch wheels, instead of the 19 inch wheels that other models have, and it makes it very hard to get the bike to initially come up.







Not the graceful movement that I generally associate with popping a motorcycle on it's centre stand!





So i ended up making a vid of the whole process. It was so easy that idiot could do it, and in fact; an idiot did!



Here is the same bike, with the new centre stand. See how he almost Parks himself!







A suitable impressed Meteor Minor, almost throws itself onto the new centre stand.




And now... A whole eleven minutes of your life can be wasted, by watching the following vid of the stand replacement, which includes such gems as, 'how to put washers in the springs, so you can fit the bastards', "Bits that went wrong - boing!', then a speeded up trip out, followed by, 'Royal Oilfield, this one ain't!', as for some reason, Kevin refuses to leak oil.





Kevin gets stood up



















Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

[Thack]

Scaly, you're doing it wrong! Who taught you to do it that way?



When putting a motorcycle onto its centre stand, you are supposed to apply the ball of your left foot to that lever that curves upwards and outwards from the foot of the stand (left hand side). Once you've placed your right hand on the handle, you then straighten your body such that you are pushing firmly downwards on the centre stand lever whilst simultaneously lifting upwards on the handle.



I can see that your biggest effort (especially on the first vid) is a "lifting upwards and backwards" action. Don't! This is the best way to give yourself a hernia. Nobody should put a bike onto its centre stand like that.



You want your FULL body weight on that stand lever and a LIFTING UPWARDS action on the handle. If you think of this as more of a "straightening" action of your body (or, if you prefer, moving your right hand and left foot farther apart), you will find that the bike practically jumps onto the centre stand.



Getting your full weight onto that stand lever is key.

[Scalyback]

[center]

Thack,


A Redditch stand doesn't have a curving bit to stand on, it's just got it's two legs! That's why I had such a problem with the first vid, there is virtually nothing to put your foot on just to keep the stand on the ground and I'm 6 foot 2 inches, my body doesn't straighten, the bike isn't high enough.

The new stand works a dream, even if I had no shoes on, and I had got used to it being veru hard, so I rather overdid it the first time.

I can't recall ever seeing a left foot doing a centre stand, especially on things like 1000cc BMW's and the like?



I go see what's on youtube!


























Yes!, Look, see? That last one is a left footer! He also has another useful video entitled, "How to pick your bike up".




I will try your method and see what is easier, who knows? I do not recall who taught me that way, but seems I am not alone! Who else uses their left foot, as this is something that I have never really thought about?

[Thack]

Sorry, Scaly, I didn't realise the Redditch stand was so poor. Every centre stand I've ever used had a footpad for you to stand on.



I don't think it matters which foot you use - the main thing is that you put all your body weight on the footpad and then pull upwards on the handle.

[Scalyback]

Yeah, that's it!



Push down on foot, pull up with hand, bike parked!



I tried other foot, and it worked, but I was close to a problem...As the stand came upright, the bit you stand on comes down and I nearly had my other foot under it! I guess it takes practice, but I am ok with right foot. Still have to bend though!



It seems strange, that for all the inventions and innovation that RE had, their centre stands were seriously crap! The alloy 'stops' wore down fast on the steel engine brackets, leaving it too far forward and increasingly ineffective. OK, they look good, but no lever to push down on.

Of course, I'll keep the parts with the bike, but I won't be using that stand again. I would love a silver coloured Redditch looking stand with a 'sticky out' lever. now that would be the perfect thing! cast from steel, not bloody gallium, or whatever they used!

[Adrian]

Yay indeed...



We told you so. After the success of an Indian stand for my AVL/Connie I ordered the same kit as yours from our hosts for my current project, and I will be using the same type of stand on my '59 350. You can always paint your new stand silver if you miss the alloy look!



A.

[Scalyback]

Yes, and you were 100% correct.



Now, how do you guys with Redditch stands, get your bike onto them? do you just not use them, or do you use the 'two man lift' while the third just casually flips the stand down?



Seriously Adrian, I am just toying with the idea of painting it silver (except the sticky out lever).



But seriously, I have never habitually used a side stand on any bike until I got Kevin, but now I am back to the centre stand. There are occasions and circumstances when the side stand is called for, but otherwise; I like to leave them upright.

[Scalyback]

[center]
Examining the retired stand

Here is the rmoved stand and engine brackets.





sort of thirties looking design. I can just image a line of these across a valley with some type of propellor drive monorail hanging off it!







The pegs that limit the travel are wearing another groove, in what looks like an previous repair.








The steel bracket, where the peg rests had a mushroom effect a bit like a hammered chisel!







Even the peg on the opposite side has worn, and the steel bracket is three times wider this side.







Somebody has made a very neat job of 're-shoeing' it's feet.




So its time to retire it. I will keep it with the bike of course, and who knows... Someday, somebody might repair and re-fit it!



Ha, ha, Ha, ha, ha...

Ho, ho, ho

He, he,
Ha, ha, ha, Sucker!















Tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

[Adrian]

When I was the owner of this one -







it was just a case of standing on the left of the bike, holding it upright, sticking my right foot under the bike to press down on the centre stand's alloy foot until it met the ground, checking that both alloy feet were in contact with said ground and then giving a mighty heave back on the bars to roll it back onto the stand.



Never again.



It's also worth noting that my current Redditch-framed collection has or will have modern style Indian sidestands, the only modification needed for these is a longer 3/8" BSC stud passing though the frame and rear engine/gearbox plates (just behind the 1/2" hex footrest bar).



A.

[Adrian]

Just a thought Scaly, would a left-hand handlebar mirror be more use you you while you're riding in France? A.