Center stand corrosion - what could possibly go wrong?

[colmd]

Hello,

When I picked up my 07 1300 from a service last week my mechanic pointed out the corrosion on my center stand. My immediate reaction was - I can live without using that. However, it's already starting to annoy me. So, before I find a replacement and pay for the many hours of labour to change it, is it worth it? Should I try to live without it?



Colm.

 

[W0QNX]

I use mine once a week at least mainly to store the bike more vertical for space.

Always used to remove the rear tire.

 

[Obo]

If it's in danger of falling off while your riding take it off. Replacement is up to you.

 

[tpasco1995]

It looks like the frame members are similarly rusted, which is what would stand out to me as an actual concern. Look at the tube in the background, at the bottom of the fairings.

Best suggestion would be strip the tupperware and validate that it's confined just to the center stand.

Assuming it is, removing it should be pretty easy, but it's similarly easy at that point to get it sandblasted and re-painted or powder coated, probably for less than the cost of a replacement center stand.

 

[dduelin]

It looks like the frame members are similarly rusted, which is what would stand out to me as an actual concern. Look at the tube in the background, at the bottom of the fairings.

Best suggestion would be strip the tupperware and validate that it's confined just to the center stand.

Assuming it is, removing it should be pretty easy, but it's similarly easy at that point to get it sandblasted and re-painted or powder coated, probably for less than the cost of a replacement center stand.

The main frame is aluminum and the brown tube you see is the stainless steel exhaust header. It is "this bike is ridden" brown.

To the OP I would pull it out for inspection and depending on the depth of corrosion I would replace it or use a chemical rust converter to stop the rust then prime and rattle can paint it.

 

[tpasco1995]

The main frame is aluminum and the brown tube you see is the stainless steel exhaust header. It is "this bike is ridden" brown.

To the OP I would pull it out for inspection and depending on the depth of corrosion I would replace it or use a chemical rust converter to stop the rust then prime and rattle can paint it.

Good! And Evapo-Rust is raw black magic.

 

[jfheath]

I need to get at mine - but it means taking off a downpipe and unbolting the anti-knock sensor - because I do not think the stand pivot bolt will pull out with the exhaust in the way. I've sprayed it with ACF50 to prevent the rust eating way at the metal (it's thick surface rust at present). I'll take a better look at it this winter. Need to get exahust gaskets, check if antiknock sensors are still available and find a way of securing the bike to the ramp without the centre stand down. (I have a front wheel grabber somewhere. I took it off).

But the springs need a closer luck - They were padded with grease behind the protective tube, but the hook ends may be suspect. If they snap ......

 

[Sadlsor]

Assuming it is, removing it should be pretty easy, but it's similarly easy at that point to get it sandblasted and re-painted or powder coated, probably for less than the cost of a replacement center stand.

That was my thought, exactamundo.
But John also adds some sage advice that I didn't think of... check those springs, particularly the hook. One can imagine the insult and injury those could wreak if snapped off.

 

[tpasco1995]

That was my thought, exactamundo.
But John also adds some sage advice that I didn't think of... check those springs, particularly the hook. One can imagine the insult and injury those could wreak if snapped off.

And the spring is less than $10 on Partzilla, so not a bad idea to just pre-emptively replace it regardless.

 

[colmd]

Some good stuff there. I hadn't considered the possibility of bits falling off while in use - especially that spring

As much as I'd like the idea of tackling it myself reading this post worries me enough to pay a professional.

Thanks for your help.
Colm.

 

[dlim]

I use the center stand every day when I park at work. I park in garage where the space is limited. Is it bad to use it this frequently?

 

[Larry Fine]

I hadn't considered the possibility of bits falling off while in use . . .

Just wait until you're a little older.

Oh, you mean falling off your bike.

 

[Larry Fine]

I use the center stand every day when I park at work. I park in garage where the space is limited. Is it bad to use it this frequently?

It's not a problem if you're okay with looking like this guy:

 

[Al st1100]

Probably the center stand sits on concrete all winter. When storing the bike keep the stand on something water proof.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

I use the center stand every day when I park at work. I park in garage where the space is limited. Is it bad to use it this frequently?

No, it's not a problem. It's designed to be used frequently, the mechanical limit of engagements is probably way more than your life time, add rust and corrosion and you have to fix it. OP has a hole and the spring will probably fail if untreated.

 

[Willsmotorcycle]

 

[Larry Fine]

Disgusting!

 

[dduelin]

I use the center stand every day when I park at work. I park in garage where the space is limited. Is it bad to use it this frequently?

Mine sits on the center stand every day. I leave my bikes on the center stand to save garage space. It's not going to hurt a thing.

 

[dduelin]

Probably the center stand sits on concrete all winter. When storing the bike keep the stand on something water proof.

Concrete? Boy, I'm in trouble. My house, cars, bikes, tools, BBQ grille, lawn equipment, all sitting on a concrete slab. I think this is probably salt air or mist from the Irish Sea and the stuff they put on the roads there. Jfheath has talked about the high rate of corrosion in coastal areas of the UK before.

 

[SMSW]

Your center stand to me looks like it will need a reinforcing piece of steel welded over that hole which looks like it has expanded to a slit in the tube of the center stand. I see the reinforcement on the front, but cannot tell how much corrosion has weakened it. A few notes. As pointed out in your linked thread, WD40 is not penetrating oil, a cheap but excellent home brew can be made of 50:50 ATF and acetone (auto trans fluid). The acetone makes it particularly flammable so be careful.

When I pulled my center stand, IIRC, the hinge bolt only comes out one side (right side?) and I had to remove my exhaust header on that side. You will need 2 new copper sealing rings for the header and I think I replaced one of the exhaust pipe sleeves/gasket. It was not a big job for me, but I had little to no corrosion. Those two springs are powerful and I struggled with them.