Centerstand spring installation without pain!!!

[ejy712]

I wrote this message in another V-Strom Forum. I saw some comments in this forum about centerstand spring installs so I am copying the message here:

I installed the Suzuki OEM centerstand springs twice this evening. The first time I installed the springs upside down and they rubbed on the centerstand when it was going down. So I had to take the springs off, turn them around, and start over. It was easy.

What's the trick? A long nylon boot lace!

1. Roll the bike until a spoke on the rear wheel is vertical and down.
2. Brace the centerstand in the 'up' position (I used a couple of to be recycled tin cans).
3. Use a bowline knot to tie one end of the bootlace through the hole in the spoke
4. Attach the springs to the frame side stud.
5. Loop the lace through the U at the end of the small spring.
6. Brace your foot against the front tire and pull on the lace toward the back of the bike.
7. The U on the end of the spring will act as a pulley giving you a mechanical advantage of two. And it will guide the spring end into the slot!
8. Do the same thing with the large spring. I used leather gloves to pull the lace for the big spring.

Didn't marr the spring, wheel, pipes, or centerstand. The big spring took a good pull, but I'm not exactly superman either :wink:

Hope this helps someone...

[Heavy]

Good post....but a couple of days late. I put my center stand on this weekend. You could have saved me $5 for the cost of the spring puller.

[radon_strommer]

psssttt.... hey guys theres an even easier method. Use a big screw driver as a lever.

Hook on set of rings on the top mount then put the screw through the rings on the other of the spring. Place the tip of the screw driver under the lower mount so that you get a pivot point for leverage. push down on the screw driver. The spring will stretch then slide along the screwdriver shaft right towards and onto the lower mount.

I know, I know I picture would be worth a thousand words right now, but I don't got one :roll:

[tinman]

I'm with Radon - a screwdriver works great. I use two - a phillips for the lever since it doesn't bulge at the tip and the spring slides easier, and a flat blade to push the spring into place. This method gives you lots of leverage against strong springs and keeps valuable body parts away from danger. Remember drum brakes? Had to do the spring thing many times way back when....

[ChrisW123]

Third vote the Radon screw driver method.

I used a large flat-head screew driver I have (14 to 16" long I think). Snag the springs with the screw driver as close to the end as possible. Then place the tip of the screw driver on the edge of lower support (while stand is held up with wood or whatever), and pry those suckers onto the lower support. Easy. Note the springs should be positioned so the flat edge of the hooks, in relation to the springs, is facing the stand. If they are the other way (facing the outside), they won't work properly.

I also used a some channel locks to act as a support in some way but I forget now how exactly I used them. I think I used them to add as an aid to provide a perfect pivot point for the screw driver. Mess around with this, it's no problem.

[water warrior]

Ejy712, I like the boot lace idea. Less moving parts and more control. No springs going to never never land if you slip up. Spring On.

[MWValley]

Try this one. (We don't have much to do in the mountains in winter)

Take the big spring. Bend it in your hand. Put a nickel or a penny between every coil. Bend it the other way and put coins in the opposite side too. The spring will almost be long enough to install without any tugging with the stand in the up position of course. Deploy the stand and all the coins fall out.

Then the little spring goes inside the big one. You can pry it on with a big screwdriver just don't let it slip off and hurt you. Better yet use a brake spring tool. The kind that is a metal shaft with one side dished out to grab the stud is the weapon of choice.

Careful with them springs. They'll bite you if they can.