Kickstand/sidestand is falling off

[Guest]

Well, on the Brown county ride I noticed that at a few rest stops my bike seemed to be leaning pretty hard on that sidestand. Well, it is because the sidestand is coming off. I don't know how this could happen. Tried to tighten the bolts with no luck. Other GSers told me that it was welded on and that I'd have to re-weld it. Curious though....how could it have become so loose? I know for a fact that it was on there solid before and nothing major has happened to the bike? Why are there bolts on there if its supposed to be welded to begin with? When I reweld it should I cut those bolts off so they don't rattle around? They are really loose in there.

[luc8421]

uh. it's not welded on. at least mine's not. there's a bolt with a large shank to prevent shearing, and then a nut behind. seems dumb, but were you holding the nut on the back with a wrench? my threads stripped, and I couldn't tighten it, got a new one from bike bandit. and if you do take it off, try hamering the tabs that go over the frame together, to tighten up the hinge point.

[80gs1000e]

I'll have to look but I swear that I couldn't feel a nut behind it.....seemed like the nut was in the frame or enclosed somehow. Its bizarre but....I'll investigate. I tried unsuccessfully to tighten the bolt.

[Anonymous]

side stand

the stand is in two parts.the stand itself bolts to a plate with a shoulder bolt and nut( this can only go one way). then the plate(with the stand now affixed and spring loaded) bolts to the fixing point on the frame with two bolts. the bolts screw into pre-welded nuts inside the frame fixing point. i gather by your diagnosis that the two bolts have worked loose. have the holes re-tapped ,or if your lucky,the bolt threads only might be worn and new bolts will do. never...NEVER weld anything near or on a frame!!!,it may cause distortion and affect handling.unless of course you are a welder by trade and are aware of the properties of steel tube and heat limits. i am not and had the warped gpz1100 to prove it . DOH!

[80gs1000e]

Thanks for the info, I will be diving into this problem sometime this week. For now I'm using the centerstand.... 8)

[Planecrazy]

Hey Dom,

if the backing plate they're referring to DOES come off the bike you can bring it over to my place and we can grind off the stripped nuts and weld new ones to the plate (away from the frame, of course). One advantage is that you can then choose exactly what kind of bolts and threads you want to replace with.

Let me know as it comes along...

Steve 8)

[oregonDave]

On my GS 750 the sidestand is held on by three bolts. I recently removed the stand to paint it.

[80gs1000e]

Dave, Steve, thanks for the info/offer. I'll hopefully know this weekend if I can tear into the girl a bit. Gonna go to my ex's to work on her (the bike) where she now sits in the garage....safe from Oak Park parking tickets.