R51/3 center stand refurbishment

[Vegtamr]

The center stand on my R51/3 has gotten progressively more difficult to deploy, requiring a lot of effort to lift the bike up and back rather than rocking smoothly. I've been through this on my airheads, and it resulted from the mounting holes gradually having worn out of round. The fix was to drill them out oversize and install a set of bushings that took them back down to the correct diameter.

Is it likely the same issue on my /3, and if so does anyone sell a set of bushings that will work for the repair?

Thanks

-J

[schrader7032]

I always thought the issue with the pre 1970 center stands was that they would eventually go far over center. From my R69S, the rear tire is about a couple of inches off the ground. If both tires are essentially touching the ground, then the stand is probably going too far past center. There's a stop for the stand and that gets deformed resulting in moving to far, making it harder to get up and over.

[Vegtamr]

Rear tire is still well clear of the ground. The challenge is getting the bike to start rocking up onto the stand, like the normal leverage is gone.

[vechorik1373]

A good, permanent fix, is to find a piece of heavy wall steel tubing, that the center stand pin slips nicely in, and cut it to the correct length, and WELD the tube, between the two center stand ears on the frame. This will support the pin full length, and you will never have any problems ever again. And no need to worry with the original oblong holes in the ears. Just remember to grease the pin, before you put it together for good..

This is the way I always repaired them, on all my plunger frame bikes.

[wa1nca]

Hi Vech
Not sure exactly what your saying
Remove the two #2 spacers and weld a solid tube inside the top ears to support them better so the #3 center stand bolt still slides in

[vechorik1373]

Take the center stand off completely. Set it aside.
You weld the heavy wall tube between the ears of the FRAME not the center stand. You need not worry about the elongated holes in the ears of the FRAME. The tube will support the pin full length across the ears on the FRAME.
You must take care to get the tube lined up precisely between the ears of the frame, so it will hold the bike dead vertical.

So when you put the center stand on, (hopefully a new one with good clean holes and a new pin) all will be well.