Centre Stand or Not?

[Pete D]

Chaps

On a bit of Yuletide fettling, I noticed that the centre stand stop appears to be bent, allowing the stand to impact the left silencer. I seem to remember (old age precludes certainty) that use of the stand regularly was a no no, so am tempted to remove it and only refit when needed for rear end maintenance. Any thought/confirmation of use is not recommended?

Cheers

Pete

[Dave Snr]

Hi Pete,
I always use the centre stand and haven't heard any reason not to.
You do need to check the tightness of the top bolts that attach it to the engine - they do come loose with the rocking action of putting it on the stand - I've lock wired mine.
Where is your stand bent?
On the left hand side the arm that you put your foot on to operate the stand is very close to the silencer.
When fitting exhausts, you need all the joints free of burrs and smooth sliding and then with all joints loose, you gradually tighten and get the alignment right, so that on the left hand side the silencer is well onto the balance pipe. When correct and with the bike on the centre stand the balance pipe and the clamp bolt on the silencer are very close to the brake arm.
Of course the accuracy of Hesketh silencers have varied over the years from batch to batch.
Notice your other post about silencers.
Rob B did propose another set of complete exhausts earlier this year, but didn't go ahead, presumably because of insufficient demand.
We now have members asking for exhausts, so Scott has agreed to mention it in the next Sock and see whether we need to make a batch of silencers or a batch of complete exhausts.
Best to contact Scott, so he puts you on the list.
Dave H

[Pete D]

Hi Dave

Thanks for the quick response. The bit on my stand that appears to be out of alignment is the 'bump stop' on the right side of the hinge assembly. It thus allows the stand to rest beyond the horizontal and snags the exhaust in doing so. I have trimmed the footplate on the stand and fashioned a rubber bump stop to bring the stand when folded to the horizontal and to ensure clearance between exhaust and footplate....

Wilco re Scott.

Cheers again.

Pete

[Miti]

It's interesting to note that later developments of the V1000 were all assembled without the centre stand...

The 1988 - on Vortan:



The 1997 - on Vulcan:



The 2011 - on 'Kingswood' V1000 (based on the Vulcan):



I found that it was almost impossible to adjust the exhaust system such that it didn't foul either the ends of the rear axle or the centre-stand 'pedal'.  I'm pretty sure that the exhaust on my bike, when I first purchased same, was a 'bitsa'.  I had headers that barely reached the silencers and silencers which were slightly different shapes...  It didn't help that the PO had 'butchered the stand either...

I've ended up with longer headers (thanks Robert) and aftermarket 'silencers' and, due to finding out the requirement to re-tighten the stand mounting bracket bolts every 25 miles AFTER the damage had been done, no centre stand...

All the bikes listed above have revised sidestand arrangements... Mine will have similar soon...  It's a pain trying to lube and/or adjust the chain with just a sidestand, buy MANY owners of other models seem to manage...

Whoops..!!  I didn't mention the Hesketh 24:



No centre-stand...

I'm using a neat paddock stand in the garage... Works very well, but only because I have the shorty silencers fitted - can't be used at all with the OE silencers on (although I'm sure there are stands out there that could be used...)  Here's a shot of silencer, plus paddock stand in use from earlier this year...



Hope that helps...

Jeff

[Pete D]

Thanks Jeff......I think I'll leave the 'fettled' stand on for a while.....could always refit for maintenance if I do decide to 'delete'......

[Rob B]

Hello Pete, I have had no problems with the centre stand on either the "lightweight" V1000 or "heavyweight" Vampire. As mentioned earlier, the crankcase bolts have to be kept extremely tight and the silencers fitted carefully and methodically. I know some people who even rock their bikes off the centre stand while they are actually sitting on it so if they can take that amount of abuse then they (and the crankcase) must be fairly sturdy I reckon.

The side stand is the one I don't trust and hardly every use unless it is only for a short stop, and on a concrete floor!

Hope this helps,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

RB