[Wadeo]

Hi Guys,

Just want to pass on an easy trick to stretch the extremely strong centre stand spring when installing one on your bike. With the stand in the up position, I tied a nylon cord around the spring that was already attached at the other end to the C-plate of the bike. (This will make sense if you have the bits and bobs of the centre stand kit) The cord was then directed past the rear tire and sprocket where I tied the cord to a broom handle. Using the rear tire as a fulcrum, I levered on the broom with my right foot (I was lying on my side) and this stretched the spring as EASY as, while I used my hand to guide the spring onto the 'hook' that is awaiting on the centre stand.

I kid you not, this took no more than two minutes to complete. Much better than pliers, way easier than levering with a screwdriver. It was that easy I stunned myself and shouted myself a cold beer.

Keep this little trick up your sleeve if you ever need to stretch a spring. The power of a simple lever. Gee those cavemen were smart!!!!

Wadeo

Keep the shiny side up!0

 

[dehmlow]

could you draw an illustration of that procedure AND ALSO do it again AND take a video with your OTHER hand so we can see it in action?

...jk : )

ok...ok.... we are getting bored over here so we have to ask dumb questions to keep our mind occupied as we wait for the AT to show up (US) lol

 

[chiefmanywrenches]

You are my hero!!

Hi Guys,

Just want to pass on an easy trick to stretch the extremely strong centre stand spring when installing one on your bike. With the stand in the up position, I tied a nylon cord around the spring that was already attached at the other end to the C-plate of the bike. (This will make sense if you have the bits and bobs of the centre stand kit) The cord was then directed past the rear tire and sprocket where I tied the cord to a broom handle. Using the rear tire as a fulcrum, I levered on the broom with my right foot (I was lying on my side) and this stretched the spring as EASY as, while I used my hand to guide the spring onto the 'hook' that is awaiting on the centre stand.

I kid you not, this took no more than two minutes to complete. Much better than pliers, way easier than levering with a screwdriver. It was that easy I stunned myself and shouted myself a cold beer.

Keep this little trick up your sleeve if you ever need to stretch a spring. The power of a simple lever. Gee those cavemen were smart!!!!

Wadeo

Keep the shiny side up!0

Cheers my friend!!! I started out trying some vise-grips and knew i was going to hurt myself. found your helpful hints and went out and safely installed both springs with ease. I hoist a cold one in your direction! Thanks for taking the time to share!! Cheers!!

 

[edwardswm]

Center Stand Installed!

Thanks for sharing your clever idea to install the Africa Twin center stand springs. I quickly realized that the springs were too strong to use obvious tools like a screwdriver shaft. I was pretty much stuck. A quick web search pulled up your posting. Your idea immediately appealed to me as being a workable approach.

I was unsuccessful when I tried to use the motorcycle tire as a fulcrum. So, I pulled up my car close to the right side of the motorcycle (with pannier removed) so that the back side of the front left tire was slightly behind the motorcycle rear tire. Then I turned the wheels to the right so that the rear of the left wheel stuck out from the wheel well. I then used the car tire as the fulcrum. (I elevated both ends of the broom handle with boxes to situate the handle and help me get started with the pushing action.) Having the fulcrum further way from the twine helped a lot in my case. Less angular rotation of the broom handle made it easier for me to get the spring back far enough to reach the hook.

I now have the center stand installed. Things were looking really bleak there for a while. A celebratory beer tonight sounds like a great idea, and I will salute you!

Cheers!
Will Edwards

 

[kondor]

Wadeo,
Using your method I got the springs installed quickly! Things were looking bleak when I tried the obligatory pliers and screwdriver approach.

Raising a beer to you!

-steve

 

[johnnysneds]

I just did this with a screwdriver. Levered the larger spring on first then the smaller one, can see it being a bitch this way. Just need to get the angle of the dangle right first.
The above idea with broom handle sounds less of an effort though, will give that a go next time.

 

[Zortose]

I just did this with a screwdriver. Levered the larger spring on first then the smaller one, can see it being a bitch this way. Just need to get the angle of the dangle right first.
The above idea with broom handle sounds less of an effort though, will give that a go next time.

I used a screw driver as well except I put the center stand in the up position first and strapped it into place. By putting the stand up, the distance that the spring needs to be pull is reduced to about a half an inch. Use the hook that the spring needs to be hooked to as a fulcrum and the spring slides right off the screwdriver and onto the spring. Repeat for second spring. Super easy.

 

[nixter]

Used the broom handle method (actually a hammer) and rear tire as fulcrum. Wouldn't quite say "easy" but I got it done eventually. An actual broom handle would have made things easier. Also I used nylon cord which stretched a little I think.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[fuelpincher]

You guys are trying to reinvent the wheel. There exists a tool, called a spring hook (invented about 200 years ago), that makes installing and removing springs a snap (pun intended) Have two or three sizes in your toolbox. You will be happier and less bloody for it.

 

[john morgs]

Kudos ,I love this stuff.i knew it was a Aussie post as soon as I read it and it was .crf 1000 dct red ?

 

[Howdager]

I used a spring tool but found the pull too hard while laying akwardly on the slick garage floor. So I used a ratcheting tie down strap as a come-a-long. Both hooks on the spring tool and the strap around a telephone pole out in the alley. Easy as pie and I felt like a genius. ha. Definitely celebrated with a cold beer, of course I was already drinking so it was a natural.

 

[Desert rider]

The three finger method works the best

 

[seeg05]

I too used this solution. Worked great, quick and painless.

 

[fuelpincher]

That's what she said...

 

[Brandon in PDX]

Thank you!

I tried a screwdriver (which worked for the first spring) and a spring puller. I wasn't strong enough to make that work, but happily found this idea.

I took pictures of my 2x4 and bailing wire version of what the OP laid out: