Britbike forum Forums British Motorcycle specific Brands Triumph bulletin board Side stand

As long as I'm fixing things, the tab on the frame that the side stand attaches to has been bending for years. The side stand is now up against the bend in the tail pipe and the bike is leaning at about a 45 degree angle. It was like this when I got it and I heated the tab and bent it back down. Can I heat and bend it again without it breaking off and after I bend it should I cool it quickly or slowly? Thanks.

Pretty sure these are mild steel, so should be OK to heat. Not sure if that year is brazed or welded, so be mindful of amount of heat. I'd let it air-cool to keep the steel pliable. Quenching it could make it brittle.

Steve

Sounds like it could be cracked underneath? Have a close look and welding it in place could be an option. I have done this in the past.

Finally got the bike up on the work stand today. There is too much crap in the garage, so the bicycle is back in the living room. I work till noon five days a week and by then it's WAY too hot to spend much time in the garage. So it looks like Saturday, way early, to try the fix. I am a carpenter not a welder. I'll look for cracks. Thanks for the idea.

I hope you get lucky and can repair the existing part, mine was FUBAR, when the motor was out I took an angle grinder to the remains and dressed it back to a bare tube, then I fitted one of these, http://grintriumph.com/images/Frame/Stands/016.JPG

The local welder tigged it into position and bent the tabs round after double checking all the angles, not possible with the motor in place, it works fine now.

Partial success. Heated the lug as much as I dared with a Mapp gas torch. Used the side stand as a lever and was only able to bend the lug about one degree down. Discovered the "U" shaped yoke on the stand was more of a "Y". With the egg shaped holes it allowed a lot slop. Made the yoke a "U" again and had to hammer the stand back onto the lug. The stand still barely touches the tail pipe but at least the bulk of the weight is off it. Bike stands up a lot straighter.

Are you kick-starting the bike while it is on the side-stand?

If so, that's why the lug got bent and the stand's holes became "oval."

The old-time dealers instructed us to start the bike on the CENTER STAND to prevent these problems.

I used to start it on the side stand after I had to take the center stand off. Went around a sharp bend one night and stuck that long, curved pin, that you step on to lower the stand, into a rain grove in the pavement. Bike did an instant 180 turn. With the center stand out of the way I was now dragging mufflers on the bends, so I put on taller Shocks. Then I got so I was sliding around bends on the frame. First time that happens is a real thrill. Then I got old. Put the center stand back on so I could stand next to the bike to start it with my left leg, like a girl. Bad right knee. No more sliding around bends.

You must have ridden like a maniac.

Did you put on BSA A65 rear Shocks? They are longer.

Maniac? No. Like the guy in the movie "On any Sunday" said " You never know how fast you can go until you start falling off". I've broken all the ribs on my left side twice. My nose. Two ribs and the collar bone on my right side. After the last wreck the nurse in the hospital said, "Why do you keep riding motorcycles"? My immediate reply was, "Because they are so much fun".
Don't remember what Shocks went on. It was a long time ago.