centre stand spring (2008)

That little gaff hook is a neat trick. I always just grabbed to straight part between the coils and the end with a vice grips and stretched it on.

LAB beat me to it

Used the coin method with no hassle as others have - correct spring?

L.A.B. said:

Simple one person method:
[video]https://youtu.be/Mx_OWSEfeak[/video]

Click to expand...

Notice how clean and shiny the undercarriage is? I don't think that's a real bike. Or a real person's hand, for that matter. Smoke and mirrors!

Nater_Potater said:

Notice how clean and shiny the undercarriage is? I don't think that's a real bike. Or a real person's hand, for that matter. Smoke and mirrors!

Click to expand...

No smoke, and the mirrors are up on the handlebars! :roll:

I'm sure the bike looks cleaner than it was. The hand is genuine (and is still attached to my arm) but then again, I suppose I could be a figment of my own imagination so I may not actually exist, which then raises the question, just who IS typing this? :shock: :? :lol:

I know the problem has been solved several times over, but this trick worked really well for me:
Bike on side stand, centre stand propped up to its closed position.
Attach a length of chain (fairly small link size) to the hook end of the spring via a D-shackle.
Lie on ground with head near back wheel.
Pull on chain to stretch spring and pop into hole in stand.

I was able to use both hands which made stretching the spring quite easy.
I was a bit concerned about how tricky it might be getting the hook into the hole, but it dropped straight in without a problem.
Once the preparation was done, the last step - fitting the spring - took all of about 3 seconds.

Fitted mine today. Used a simple pulley arrangement that gives a 2:1 mechanical advantage ( leverage ). Tie some rope/twine to some rear wheel spokes, wrap string round spring hook and pull tail of string. It is much easier than just a straight pull. It's a hell of a spring.