Loose side stand advice

[buickyouth]

The other day I noticed that my side stand has some play. Maybe a half inch in either direction laterally across the pivot point. It doesn't seem like it's a loose bolt. I suspect that it's just bent.

Anyone else have experience with something like this?

Was there a worthwhile fix that you found or am I better off getting another one via ebay?

[jetmechmarty]

What bike are we talking about? It could be worn from lack of grease.

[motoman]

The other day I noticed that my side stand has some play. Maybe a half inch in either direction laterally across the pivot point. It doesn't seem like it's a loose bolt. I suspect that it's just bent.

Anyone else have experience with something like this?

Was there a worthwhile fix that you found or am I better off getting another one via ebay?

My heavy ole' Venturer was gettin' the same way with decades of use and its additional weight. The bolt is shouldered(larger round at pivot point). That shoulder bottoms when tightened. Years of pivoting wears the mount ears a bit. Remove the bolt, leaving stand and return spring in place and add a washer to bolt on OUTSIDE of mounting ear. that will pull ears in a bit tighter before it bottoms up against shoulder. Would NOT try and bend ears seperately. Hope that was clear as mud and helps.

[Tat2demon]

The stand on my 650 was very loose. The hole in the bracket had elongated just a bit and there was a lot of space between the stand and the ears. I put a thin washer between them and it tightened it right up.

[fredintoon]

The other day I noticed that my side stand has some play. Maybe a half inch in either direction laterally across the pivot point. It doesn't seem like it's a loose bolt. I suspect that it's just bent.

Anyone else have experience with something like this?

Was there a worthwhile fix that you found or am I better off getting another one via ebay?

Hi buickyouth,
no matter what bike it's on, most likely it's plain ol' worn out.
That is, the hole in the stand has worn oval and the bolt it pivots on is necked down.
Option 1) Live with it, it's not critical.
Option 2) Fix it. Replace the bolt with a new one. Drill out the hole oversize and press a steel bushing in to bring the hole back to stock diameter.
You could even go all 1930s, use a bronze bushing and install a grease nipple.
Option 3) Buy from e-bay? Yes if you get a new one (a used one will be just as worn as yours) and get a new pivot bolt too.

[GLoweVA]

Hi buickyouth,
no matter what bike it's on, most likely it's plain ol' worn out.
That is, the hole in the stand has worn oval and the bolt it pivots on is necked down.
Option 1) Live with it, it's not critical.
Option 2) Fix it. Replace the bolt with a new one. Drill out the hole oversize and press a steel bushing in to bring the hole back to stock diameter.
You could even go all 1930s, use a bronze bushing and install a grease nipple.
Option 3) Buy from e-bay? Yes if you get a new one (a used one will be just as worn as yours) and get a new pivot bolt too.

Fred, you forgot Option 4) Buy a sidecar and never have to worry about a side stand again!

[fredintoon]

Fred, you forgot Option 4) Buy a sidecar and never have to worry about a side stand again!

Hi George,
au contraire, mon frere!
Admittedly a rig don't need a side stand but it ain't always a rig, eh?
The sidecar has to come off to get at the bike's right-hand side to work on it.
That's when you need a side stand.
Or you'll need to push a 600 lb bike to where there's something to lean it on.
I only needed that lesson once.