Kickstand!

[dustbeard]

Hey anyone,
Have you had issues with the kickstand getting stiff, or not feeling "lubricated" so it doesn't swing out/in easily when pushed/pulled with your toe? Also, has anyone replaced their kickstand for another, maybe a slightly shorter one? I'm interested in getting another mostly for aesthetic reasons, but also to get one with more grab for my toe. Thoughts?

[Peg]

Many of us have chosen to put a longer kickstand on to reduce the lean angle. Here's a link to Gadget's page on kickstands, which has a helpful picture of the differing lengths available from various Vulcans.

It's extremely important whatever you do, that you keep the bolt hole well lubricated. It's a common issue that the tension of the spring causes the hole the kickstand is mounted in to wear itself oval, and the kickstand will eventually fail to stay up, or the spring will simply fall off.

[ringadingh]

Keep it oiled, or the hole will wear out and the spring will fall off.

[MAS Tequila]

And when it decides to fall off you will probably be 200 miles from home like I was.

I found a generic spring from the door hardware section at Homo Depot that I was able to make fit and work.

That was at least 6 years ago, and it's still in there.

Every time I change the oil, I spray some lube on the sidestand pivot to keep it nice and easy to work.

With a bad left knee it's a must do.

[dustbeard]

Anything in particular I should use for lube on this job? I don't wanna slather it with grease, but I also don't imagine just spraying with WD40 would do the trick...

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by dustbeard

Anything in particular I should use for lube on this job? I don't wanna slather it with grease, but I also don't imagine just spraying with WD40 would do the trick...

I used white lithium grease in a spray can. It doesn't take much.

[Monkeyman]

Originally Posted by ringadingh

Keep it oiled, or the hole will wear out...

Same thing I told my ex wife.

[VulcanJeff]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

And when it decides to fall off you will probably be 200 miles from home like I was.

I found a generic spring from the door hardware section at Homo Depot that I was able to make fit and work.

That was at least 6 years ago, and it's still in there.

Every time I change the oil, I spray some lube on the sidestand pivot to keep it nice and easy to work.

With a bad left knee it's a must do.

200 miles... That is precisely how far I was from home when my spring decided to dismount one day last Summer. Must be a conspiracy I tell ya!

I presume it fell off when I hopped on and kicked the stand up. Schwing! Back down it went. WTF? My buddy happened to notice it lying under my bike. We attempted to reattach it to no avail. I took a couple of bungee cords, hooked them around the peg on the sidestand on one end and the luggage rack on the other. It took a bit of a magical Houdini act to attach the hooks on the luggage rack end whilst setting on the bike. Needless to say I stopped only once - for petrol and potty - on the way home.

I determined my hole had wallered out. What is the solution, weld it in and redrill?? Upon closer examination of the spring, I determined a coil or two on both ends appeared to be stretched. I ordered a new spring from the stealership. A visual comparison of the two side by side filled me with optimism. The new spring with its unstreched coil(s) on each end provided just enough tension to retain the sidestand.

[ringadingh]

Originally Posted by dustbeard

Anything in particular I should use for lube on this job? I don't wanna slather it with grease, but I also don't imagine just spraying with WD40 would do the trick...

I use a few drops of motor oil, done once or twice a year the kickstand will never be a problem.

[MAS Tequila]

You can either weld it in and redrill, like you said.

Which we all know drilling that weld will take an act of God to get it drilled through without being off of 90 degrees.

I like the idea of drilling out the hole and making an insert to take up the overbore.