Topic: 550K Sidestand Question

[That70sGuy]

I recently acquired a '78 550K and am wondering if it is fitted with the correct side stand? When I compare it to the parts diagram or pics of other 78's, it looks like the correct part and it does not appear to be bent at all, but the bike seems to lean too far over when it is sitting on it.
I've attached a pic of the bike showing the lean angle as well as a close-up of the side stand with a ruler showing the length from the bolt to the foot. If anyone would care to measure their part and let me know how this compares I would be very appreciative.
Thanks

[bryanj]

Does look too bad in the pic

[BenelliSEI]

How does it line up on the bumper rubber on the bottom pipe? That’ usually a good clue. If it lands on it squarely, leave it.

The end where the bolt goes through seems a bit out of line with the main shaft. I had an even more dramatic lean on my most recent project and just a very small “push” in the press, up at that end, made a huge difference in the lean angle. If you head to the press, wind the shouldered mounting bolt right in, so you don’t end up squashing the gap in the “fork”.

[HondaMan]

I have reduced the lean angle on the 750s once in a while, when the blade on the frame has become worn and thinner, by adding shim washer(s) in between the frame's blade and the kickstand. I add them on the top side, which usually means you'll have to grind the washer's hole bigger with something (File? Moto-tool?).

I have also found the frame's blade to be bent on both the 750 and the CB500 SOHC4. When that happens the shims don't help. While a 2-lb sledge finally did, the engine had to be out of the frame to allow for swing...

[Little_Phil]

I have a 78 550. For some reason Honda fitted a shorter stand than on earlier models. I measured 8.25" from centre of pivot to base. I sourced an earlier one and fitted that, 9" from pivot to base. Oversize tyres will all make things worse.

[That70sGuy]

Thanks for all the replies.  I will add that there is substantial back and forth play when the stand is extended. I tried tightening the bolt in order to squeeze the mounting brackets together a bit, but that made it difficult to retract the stand all the way, so I think the brackets are worn unevenly which may contribute to the issue. I’ll try the washer solution and see if that helps.
Also noticed rear wheel was fitted with a 4.00 x 18 tire, but doubt that makes much difference since I set the shock adjusters to the second softest level with little effect.
It looks like my stand is about 7.5 from center of pivot to base, over an inch shorter than Little_Phil’s, so it could be this part was from some other Honda of the era that used a similar design.

[Deltarider]

It's certainly something to watch. Last year I had parked my bike for a minute using the sidestand. Not had I turned my back, or I heard that sound you definitely do not want to hear. Bike had fallen over to the floor due to some weighty stuff in the tankbag. Where the clutch grip pivots was broken off. Impossible to repair. The bottom half of the LH switch assy is part of it. These 35200-341-600s, are rare. Luckily friends had a used one. Identical, but for a detail you can't see: theirs lacked the wire to the turn signal buzzer. I can live with that as I have had that buzzer disconnected for the past 40 years. So we transplanted the bottom of theirs to my upper switch part, which saved us the trouble of routing the wires through the handlebars.
Over time the sidestand's angle must have widened without me noticing it...

[scottly]

I will add that there is substantial back and forth play when the stand is extended. I tried tightening the bolt in order to squeeze the mounting brackets together a bit, but that made it difficult to retract the stand all the way,

The pivot bolt has a shoulder, which is bigger in diameter than the threaded end. The shoulder bottoms out on the inside of the stand, so no matter how much you tighten it, it can't pinch the brackets together. If you have a straight bolt instead of a shoulder bolt, it will allow a lot of play, since the hole in the frame mount is larger than the threads.

[HondaMan]

Using a 4.00x18 rear tire will definitely cause the lean angle to increase: changing the front to a metric size of 100/90x[18 or 19 as required] will also make the lean bigger. For a long time I used the MT90-(19 or 18 as required) profiles on the front tire because of this problem. They are slightly undersized, though, so if the loads are heavy they can wear quickly. In general touring-commuting they work out OK: in the mountains, not so much.

Back in the 1970s era there were clamp-on "foot" devices for the sidestands for when longer forks were installed. They have a U-bolt that straps over the top of the foot and a "foot" with recesses in it for the screwdriver-slotted nuts that you installed them with. We had to always used Loctite on them so the fancy nuts wouldn't come off: some did at first.

Some guys who welded also just added a little foot to the sidestand that could be later ground off if needed when "chopping" or "customizing" their front ends.

[Don R]

 I bought a Honda once that had a section from a severed 6" crescent wrench handle welded to the bottom of the stand as an extension. It looked right and also worked well in soft soil.

[That70sGuy]

How does it line up on the bumper rubber on the bottom pipe? That’ usually a good clue. If it lands on it squarely, leave it.

The end where the bolt goes through seems a bit out of line with the main shaft. I had an even more dramatic lean on my most recent project and just a very small “push” in the press, up at that end, made a huge difference in the lean angle. If you head to the press, wind the shouldered mounting bolt right in, so you don’t end up squashing the gap in the “fork”.

BenelliSEI, can you elaborate a little on the rubber lining up on the bottom pipe? I'm attaching a couple of pics with the stand retracted so you see how it lines up.
Thanks again!

[HondaMan]

I bought a Honda once that had a section from a severed 6" crescent wrench handle welded to the bottom of the stand as an extension. It looked right and also worked well in soft soil.

That's not at all a bad idea for hot summer days and asphalt pavement! Colorado is 90% asphalt as concrete lives a short life here.

[BenelliSEI]

The stick part of the side stand should hit the centre of the small rubber bumper on the underside of the exhaust pipe. If it’s bent “up and out” a significant amount, it will miss the rubber. If it hits centre then I wouldn’t touch it.

As suggested above, pop it off and weld a small plate on the bottom for some extra extension and better gravel parking….

[BenelliSEI]

These work well too….. Amazon.