Featherbed Side stand

footrest,brake lever ,Primary case outer, alternator, primary chain,sprockets ,clutch, alternator housing and inner case had to be removed to do mine and I think a bit of force was needed to get the stand mount past a weld. A new paper gasket for the inner case to crankcase was needed.They may have changed the design to make it easier??.

Whats wrong with a brick under the footrest? Saves a lot of effort. I believe there was an optional lifting handle for the frame. Why not weld a bit of half inch bar on the stand to give a bit of leverage when you stand on it. The engine will wet sump more on the side stand.

If you don't want to carry a brick - how about one of these? I'm tempted...

http://www.vintele.co.uk/about/

I had to wait until I took the engine out before fitting my 'new old spare' side stand. And I've never really trusted it.

That looks like wear from when a propstand was fitted.The welded bit is a pad for the center stand to abut when on the stand. These wear and need building up to stop the bike going too far over center and making it hard to get off the stand.

My '55 Model 88 arrived with a prop stand. It's the original equipment item. It touched the ground very close in, and held the bike very near vertical, so I regarded it as a sub-standard design. Also, when retracted, it tucked in poorly and reduced cornering clearance. As a result I removed it and put it in the parts box. I make do with the centre stand or a convenient wall.

Rather than hunt for an original featherbed sidestand, I suggest you make your own or go to a modern-bike breaker and try and find a suitable substitute.

Previously john_kennaugh wrote:

My 650SS has no side stand - It's been like that for about 40 years. Heaving it onto the centre stand is getting to be an effort. I'm contemplating biting the bullet and buying a new stand but I'm not sure where exactly it fits, and more important, whether it is possible to fit without removing the engine or at least unbolting it and jacking it out of the way. Anyone advise me please?

Hi John

Another suggestion would be the "Roll-On" centre stand that Norvil sell. One of the best mods to my own 650SS!

It involves dismantling the primary side to fit but well worth it in ease of getting the bike on the stand.

Regards

Tim Stockdale

You can get a brand new side stand from RGM, Part No. 050102. I bought one several years ago and it is excellent, the finish quality is superb and there are instructions to make it fit your particular featherbed frame. It comes unpainted so that you can modify it if required.

Mine has proved sturdy and strong and I'm confident to use the side stand unless I have full touring luggage on. Go on, treat yourself to a quality product!

Phil Ham.

hello try fitting a Kawie ZZR 600 side stand that what fitted to my Norton Manxman and better than an original part this baby does not move around the bottom of the fame like the original one and does not foul the inner primarycase either and it comes in chrome plate all for 20 quid from eBay and a bit of my engineering intuition, yours anna j

Anna,

Is the Kawasaki stand pivoting on the original Norton pivot lug or a Kawasaki one?

Paul

Previously anna jeannette Dixon wrote:

hello try fitting a Kawie ZZR 600 side stand that what fitted to my Norton Manxman and better than an original part this baby does not move around the bottom of the fame like the original one and does not foul the inner primarycase either and it comes in chrome plate all for 20 quid from eBay and a bit of my engineering intuition, yours anna j

Previously john_kennaugh wrote:

My 650SS has no side stand - It's been like that for about 40 years. Heaving it onto the centre stand is getting to be an effort. I'm contemplating biting the bullet and buying a new stand but I'm not sure where exactly it fits, and more important, whether it is possible to fit without removing the engine or at least unbolting it and jacking it out of the way. Anyone advise me please?

(John Powell) Northumbria. Many years back I fit a side stand from Norvil. It snapped off. The "tang", the half of the clamp that goes onto the frame rail, with a tab that hangs down top form the pivot, was a very granular casting, and with a hole bored through it, it snapped. Returned and given credit, I later found Novil selling the leg on ebay. Bought back and with hassle, and help from a friend, made my own "tag". Also had to get a spring made. Result is only so-so but I have been uising it ever since and would not be without it - saving geriatric back and shoulder.

It could be that Novil have made changes in the intervening years, but I notice that both RGM and Andover Norton have stands that look different. So I would suggest you ask questions - in particular, no cast iron "tang", and the inner half of the clamp needs to formed with a sloping block on the inner side that comes against the engine plate, to take the "twist" load. And, in my case, fitting it meant taking the primary side apart to the point where you have removed the inner chain case.

These stands are really too close to the centre line of the machine. Result is that if the bike leans over too much, all the weight shifts over onto the stand, and then the bike rises up on the suspension and leans over at a crazy angle. Quite manageable - just choose your bit of road surface. I also carry a panel of plywood in the tank bag. A string is attached so, not only can I kick it under the stand, but lift it back up, pulling the string. This has worked fine for years touring around Europe, with lots of luggage. Hope this helps.

Previously paul_standeven wrote:

Anna,

Is the Kawasaki stand pivoting on the original Norton pivot lug or a Kawasaki one?

Paul

Previously anna jeannette Dixon wrote:

hello try fitting a Kawie ZZR 600 side stand that what fitted to my Norton Manxman and better than an original part this baby does not move around the bottom of the fame like the original one and does not foul the inner primarycase either and it comes in chrome plate all for 20 quid from eBay and a bit of my engineering intuition, yours anna j

hello all of the sidestand on my manxman are zzr600 kawasaki items with some of my engineering in stainless steel

I've followed Anna's advice and bought a ZZR 600 stand for the princely sum of £7.50 to fit to my plunger ES2. I have some 1/4" alloy engine plates from something else (featherbed?) which I've drilled to match the ES2 engine plate and am in the process of making 3/4" alloy spacers and longer studs to try it all out.

Maybe not as elegant as the RGM items (and I don't think they do the plunger frame model anyway) but hopefully will do the job.

My main problem is lack of flexibility in the hips and knees making it tricky to balance the bike when unmounting so hopefully I can deploy the stand while astride.

I'll post pics when done.