Hi,
I am nearing completion of my Mk1 Comamndo restoration.
The centre stand pivot bolt holes in both the stand and engine mounting were worn oval so I replaced them, the engine mount I bought from ANIL, the stand from another supplier.
The problem is that it is that it is about all I can do to get the bike up onto the centre stand and unless I am wrong, this doesn't seem to be right.
I had a similar bike in the early 80s (mk 1or 2 850 Interstate) and whilst it is true that I was younger I don't recall such difficulties unless of course there is some special technique that I have long since forgotten.
I do wonder if perhaps the bike is sitting too high when on the stand, since the rear wheel is some three inches above the ground. Another thing is that fitting the stand was an oddysey; the spring tension was such that I had to resort to all sorts of trickery to get the stand mounted and whereas I would expect some tension, this was no joke. in fact, not an experience I'd want to repeat.
Now, i know I'm getting old but I'm not that passed it and have no problems getting my Ariel onto it's stand. It all leaves me wondering if perhaps the the stand is not quite right. It was sold cheap on the basis that the paint work was not up to scratch but I wonder if perhaps there was also something else wrong?
Any help, advice, thoughts would be appreciated. Or it it just that me expectations are not reaslistic?
Keith
Hi Keith
Hi Keith,
By way of comparison, does your centre stand measure approx 10&1/2 inches to the pivot as per the photo? If that`s the same, then it`s likely your rear end is too short! do you have a smaller than standard rear rim and or shorter shocks? That would make putting your bike on to the centre stand a lot harder. If you need the shorter/lower rear end then best shorten the stand to suit.
Regards, Al.
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The height the rear wheel is…
The height the rear wheel is off the ground is set by the large blocks welded on the inner side of the legs and where they rest against the cradle when the stand is being used. I have had the blocks both welded in the wrong position and worn enough so both wheels touch the ground, welding or grinding sort this out.
Difficulty getting the bike onto the stand need the centre stand legs to be the right length plus the right length shocks and correct diameter tyre OD's (18 inch read rims with tyres are very similar in OD to 19") so follow Alan's advice on measuring the leg length.
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Hi, Thank you very much for…
Hi,
Thank you very much for the advice.
I didn't attempt to repair my old units because they were both so ovalled out that it was impossible to find a datum.
I shall be partially stripping the bike down again in the near future, since I have decided to fit an Alton Electric Start. Then will be the time to take a close look since I shall be taking the chaincase off anyway.
Thanks and BR,
Keith
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ES2 Centre Stand.
Ian,
I agree the ES2 is a pig to get on the centre stand.
I welded an M20 BSA brake pedal to the stand and the transformation was miraculous!
So much so that I find it hard to fathom why the factory hadn't thought of it.
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It might be possible to do…
It might be possible to do something similar to a featherbed stand.
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Heaving
My Atlas came with 18" dia wheels plus low profile tyres and was a real pig to heave up onto its centre stand. Eventually I fitted 19" wheels to solve the problem. In between, I either tried to find a dip in the area where I was parking or carried and dropped a slice of plank which the front wheel was ridden onto to help change the stand height.
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That looks...
... like a great mod Don. I may consider it for the future. Fortunately I have a prop stand so only rarely need to use the centre stand.
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Stand height.
Wow ! 3 inches between wheel and ground, something is wrong there. I would take a close look at that photo above, because there's no way there should be that much, even if you have an 18 inch wheel, that's still only 1/2 inch radius difference. There are some pattern incorrect stands out there, my mate had one and it was rubbish. Good luck.
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Hi, I bit the bullet and…
Hi,
I bit the bullet and bought another stand from ANIL; it will serve as a reference.
Not a cheap way of doing things but if I'm not careful, at the rate I'm going, I'll be too old and decrepit to ride the boke if I'm not carefull!
Keith
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... went onto the stand very easily - I just had to stand on the extension and a gentle tug backwrds had it safely up. I am over 100 kg though....
Conversely the centre stand on the ES2 is the devil's own job to operate.