wearing kickstand

[max]

Hey guys, let me know if anyone else has this problem: I put my kickstand down, hop off the bike, and the bike leans really far over before it starts to hold it up. I thought at first the kickstand bolt was loose or something, it wasn't, its just that the hole in the cast iron that the bolt goes through on which the kickstand pivots has worn into a big ole oval over time. So now there is a lot of sloppy play in the way it swings down. I don't think I could tighten the bolt because the kickstand itself seems like it is made of cast iron, and I could snap it. I'm thinking of sticking a couple washers between the kickstand it the bolted ovalhole, to take up some of that space. Anyone else done this, are there any better solutions?

Thanks

[duaneage]

Drill the hole larger and sleave it with a hollow pin. Go to a hardware store with the mounting bolt and see what sizes they have,

[Clone]

The parts on the frame are steel and can be welded, so the holes can be built up. You can put a washer beside the sidestand to tighten up the side to side motion. You can also buy a new sidestand or go to a wrecker and get another one in better shape. You can probably even pull one off another bike if the length is similar.

[ddaum]

I have the same problem with my 550. Although, I haven't taken a closer look to see if the hole is oval or not. The "foot" portion of my side stand seems worn down, almost as if the PO spent a lot of time scraping it on the ground by forgetting to put it up. This bike doesn't have the side stand kill switch like some bikes have, so it is plausible. I don't mean to hijack your thread, but this question might help us both:
1. Can anyone tell me an easy way to remove the side stand spring? Are you supposed to just pound the bolt out while the stand is up or do you remove the spring somehow before removing the mount bolt? Even when the stand is in the up position there seems to be a lot of tension still on the spring...

[Steve]

Best way I have found to remove the kick stand spring is to lower the stand, place several washers in the coils, then raise the stand. If you have put enough washers in, it takes out enough tension that you can slip the spring off the mounts.


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[Clone]

I use brake pliers to unhook the spring from its mount. I like the washer idea, I may try that when I can't find the pliers (Honey, have you been in the toolbox again?)