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Is there a special tool to install the centre stand spring?
Or is it just brute force and a lot of luck?
I have it horizontal so the distance between the frame eye and the stand eye is as short as possible.

I should have never removed that stand in the first place

Bend the spring from side to side, held in a vice and insert washers between the coils, to lengthen it.

Pull the washers out, once the spring is in place on the stand.

Or- sit behind the rear wheel and pull the spring with a long wire, while an assistant pokes the spring end into position with tools. It is inadvisable for him to use his fingers.

I use a Snap On brake spring tool. Springs slide on and off easily.

Although the stand on the Norton and Triumph is a bit different from your bike, I use to remove both mounting bolts of the stand, and hook up the spring first.
Next pull the center stand, and install a pin trough one of the holes of the stand and mounting hole on the frame.
Then pull the center stand and install the bolt on the other mounting point.
Next remove the pin and install the last bolt. Job done.
Trying to stetch the spring by hand usually results in a lot of @#&*<##!

Not good for his ivory either I think


Thanks you all chaps.

Swans tool is more for a workshop I think. I never saw it and
would not know where to get one.
Also: I do not think I will remove a pulling spring for the next ten years.
Did you buy it or make it?

Peter I tried to install the spring first and bolt the stand up
after that, but that resulted in a lot of @#&*<##! (Funny... do we speak the same language?)

The simple solution solved the problem.
The "why did I not think of that" trick with the washers.
With the washers the spring was 11 [mm] longer.

Thanks again. Case closed (for me that is) .

Ger,
I was going to suggest brake spring pliers;
https://jet.com/product/product/70cf110312e14ff7978665b2d7a5c4e8?jcmp=pla:ggl:vehicles_parts_a3:vehicles_parts_vehicle_parts_accessories_a3_other:na:na:na:na:na:2&code=PLA15&k_clickid=b16b1441-e188-488b-9af5-1e172fcd50de&kpid=70cf110312e14ff7978665b2d7a5c4e8&gclid=Cj0KEQjwj_SvBRC7k4DfkLHiuMABEiQAvPOaqZTxkssX3y7bAe164FUmJky_kfiOATumCEJ-pBEqdv0aAh6L8P8HAQ

[Mine happen to be flat black... Made by Proto tools...]
They were made sometime far back, and are mostly used for drum brake applications.
But, as now seen, have many other fine uses. Mostly as a spring installer for many other applications.
..... I don't know if they can be used as a spring dismounter though... Never tried that...

One end is cupped, with a... "shelf" made on the underside, so the tool will not slip easily off the end of the slip-over spring mount. Usually, the 'top' of the tool that the spring slides off of, is rounded to promote the springs' easy travel off the tool, once the effort to overcome the spring's shortness/tension is made.
DON'T try to get in the way of the spring's travel!

Thank you Rickman.

Silly thing happened later this afternoon.
An hour or two after I installed the spring with the washer trick, I discussed
this with my neighbours son. He works on his 1984 Corvette two garages away from mine.
He said he once helped another neighbour who owns a 19 sixties Ford Mustang;
and he remembered the mustang guy had spring pliers for drum brakes... his own or borrowed? We don't know.

Since that neighbour lost his last battle less than three weeks ago - he does not have a head stone yet, we say here - we are not going to ask his wife yet.

Hi Ger,


Snap-On supply mechanics; certainly here in GB, Snap-On is a franchise so the local franchisee tours the local garages regularly; any garage or spares dealer with one or more mechanics will tell me when the 'Snap-On Man' is due; I meet him and buy direct from him.

But, for pulling springs, I've one of these. :bigt


My spring puller also pulls up the drain gratings in front of the garage doors ...

Hth.

Regards,

Snap On is a bit overpriced for the home mechanic, any auto parts store will have that tool at a reasonable price.

Hi Ger

I made one of These to solve this Problem. Not my idea , I stole it from the WM20 site http://www.wdbsa.nl/download/Spring%20puller.pdf

Took a bit of fiddling to get it to fit but it is very easy to use now.
I'll be passing Close to your place on 30th of the month heading for the overnight Ferry to Hull if you want to borrow it...of if I can bring you a few bottles of "Alt"

Cheers
Pete

Hi Pete.

This inspires me to fabricate one, so I'll be settled for the next time... whenever.
I have an 8[mm] threaded rod in the shed plus sheet material.

The 30-th will be next week Wednesday.
What time will you be around here?

You know you are welcome, but beware the council has been working the roads again. The village is a labyrinth now.

Hi Ger

It all depends on when I manage to start off in Germany and the traffic. If I have time to spare I'l call you ( I have your number somewhere!) and maybe see if my new SatNav can defeat your council's evil plans

Cheers
Pete

If you have my mobile number... it does not work any longer.
And I do not have a new handy yet.
Maybe after this weekend.
My children are now in a meeting and I was sent out of the room...

Got a birthday coming up? Or are the Kids plotting to make sure you are always contactable , ie. "on call"

The number I have for you ends in 836, don't know if that is a Handy or landline.

Yes, I'm afraid so...
I hate birthdays.. Sit straight, give paw, wag tail...


The number ending 836 is the land line. That's still valid.

I'll be seeing you.

I have found the easiest way to install the centre stand spring is to use the method described in the original BSA A65 workshop manual.

The BSA method is to use a large cross head screw driver placed through the spring eye and engage one of the cross head slots in the stand hook and then lever the screwdriver down over the hook, see extract and diagram below:-

That's the way I do er.

Bill E

I also have done this, but all too often, the 'cross-head' slips off...

I have always had success using a length of strong cord (para cord) and pulling the spring into place. Once in place the cord can just be pulled through.

TT's washer method......... best of all. What I've always used, and never caused invention of new swear words!

It worked for me, but I was warned less than an hour ago: Do not use washers which are to high (thick).
This may spoil the spring / cause irreversable gaps so the spring becomes too long in it's unloaded state.

Best method I have found is using a bench vise. Drill and tap 1/4" hole at the top of each jaw. Install long set/grub screws. Slip the spring on and easily pull it apart to appropriate length. Insert spacers - I used dimes (U.S. coins).

So you pull it and don't bend it.

I found an automotive spring puller to also be handy when fitting centre/side stand springs, see This Example

I've tried the coin trick and found it time consuming and didn't work too well. The spring pullers kept getting caught under the spring eye. Here's how I do it now. Get a couple of heavy zip ties and make loops out of them. Hook the loops under the spring eye. Get under the bike and brace it with one foot. Pull the loops til you can hook the spring. Then cut the zip ties and pull them out. Five minute job.