English French German Italian Spanish

Paddock stand

Submitted by philip_morrison on Thu, 05/08/2021
Forums
Commando

Hi, I’ve searched both on here and the Access Norton forum and the only commercially available paddock stand for a Commando Mk3 that I can find is made by Pit Bull. Unfortunately they are relatively expensive to start with and being State side the additional shipping costs to the U.K. makes them too expensive for me to consider buying.

My bike has 19” wheels front and rear and of course when on the centre stand both wheels remain grounded. I haven’t been able to find any mention of how to get the wheels off the ground other than to place wooden blocks under the centre stand. I’ve tried 1” blocks but still both wheels were remained grounded. Any recommendations for lifting the wheels would be greatly appreciated. 
 

 

Submitted by hans_taylor on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Phillip, I fear that your stand is well worn. On any commando the stand will lift the rear wheel about 1 inch clear of the ground,  and this is particularly important for the mk3 as you're supposed to be able to pull the rear wheel out !!

I would check if the stand top lugs are worn, or even worse if its cut into the gear box cradle , as it sits there and vibrates its way through the metal. But all is not lost because you can build up these two areas with weld and grind flat to suit.

Ps, to get the front wheel out, put it on the centre stand and place a block if wood or car jack under the front isolastics. Good luck. 

Submitted by philip_morrison on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

Thanks Hans I will check it out as you described. I’ve only had the bike a couple of weeks and spent most of that time out riding her. Now ready to start some mechanical checks hence I dare say I will be seeking all sorts of advice as I go along. So far covered 200 miles or so and she hasn’t missed a beat. Can’t tell you how happy and proud it makes me to finally own a Commando, absolutely love her to bits.

Submitted by john_holmes on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

I had this issue, had the cradle and the mating surfaces on the centre stand welded and then angle ground until I got the 1" lift at the rear wheel. 

Submitted by philip_morrison on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Guy’s, I cannot see what is wrong. I have taken some pictures and hoped perhaps you could describe where the fault lies or perhaps send a photo of your bikes to show how the stand should look.

Thanks Again

Phil

 

 

   

Submitted by john_holmes on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

I have marked up one of your photos showing where to get the weld applied. You cradle does not look too worn so on yours you could just get the 2 flat pads on the centre stand that touch the cradle welded. My guess your stand has never been right as I replacement I bought in the 90's was with the pads in the wrong position.

I have done 2, one where the cradle and centre stand were worn so both needed welding, a second where the centre stand had the large pads in the wrong position so that just had the pads welded.

 

 

Attachments
EBDF86B6-0C09-499F-B8A9-6A3FD215D0AA.jpg

Submitted by philip_hannam1 on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

That looks like a very newish TT100 on the back wheel. If you have something similar on the front then your mainstand is fighting a losing battle against the increased ground clearance. The wear in the stand stops probably do not help either. For a simple solution I would be brazing some pads on the stand feet.

Submitted by philip_morrison on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

Hans, I did try to show a picture of the bike with the stand down but the image is always just over 5Mb so won’t post. I will try again tomorrow. 
 

Phil, correct that’s a pretty much brand new TT100 and the bike has the same tyre on the front. So your saying the profile of the TT100’s is too high for the stand hence the ground clearance problem? I did try wedging some wood under the stand which although I stated was 1” in height in my original post was actually only 1/2”. Anyway it made no difference at all, the wheels remained grounded.

Again thanks ever so much for responding and offering help Guy’s it really is appreciated. Please keep patient with me I am very new to the Norton and am a complete novice when it comes to British bikes. I have to admit I have missed a massive trick not owning one for so many years but better late than never. It really has been a total revelation and a completely new experience of biking with so much character and joy to behold it’s nothing less than totally addictive.

 

 

Submitted by jan_nelder on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

are they longer than standard?

Submitted by philip_morrison on Fri, 06/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Jan, Just checked and they are 33cm (13 inches) from bottom bolt to top bolt in length. That’s measured whilst on the centre stand.

 

Submitted by james_fanning on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Both my 850's , Mk 1A and Mk 3 , rock easily back onto their centre stands but do end up with both wheels touching the ground. I've always found it easy to slip two one inch thick wood blocks under the centre stand by tilting bike first one way then the other nudging a block under each stand leg with your foot as bike is tilted - 20 second job.

The rear dampers aren't too long. So perhaps the front forks have been fitted with longer damper rods or a damper upgrade that has increased the travel ie greater extension.

I've modified a paddock stand for my Mk3 to lift the centre stand clear of the ground to enable me to slip under a turn table pad. Its a real "bodge it and co" mod but works a treat. If you're interested I'll take a photo or two of it.

Submitted by john_holmes on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

The foot tang on the stand looks to be touching the road, the wrongly made stand was the same on mine but worse, so bad it broke off. 

Submitted by philip_morrison on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Dave, That’s an interesting point you make concerning the front forks. They have the Lansdowne internal dampers fitted and of course they have also been modified for the twin AP discs. So if they are slightly longer in extension that would sit the bike further back on its centre stand causing both wheels to be grounded. Not sure how I find out if that’s the case but will look into it.

 

   

I can only get these three photos on. It's just an old paddock stand squeezed in to achieve the correct width, Spacers fitted to get the adapters to the correct height, two modified spindle Hex sockets and a couple of lengths of steel pipe. A bit rough but it works.

Dave

Attachments
20210807_161405.jpg

Submitted by philip_morrison on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Hi John, Your correct the foot tang is virtually parallel with the stands feet so almost touching the ground. I will keep my eye on it.

Submitted by john_holmes on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

So if they are slightly longer in extension that would sit the bike further back on its centre stand causing both wheels to be grounded. Not sure how I find out if that’s the case but will look into it.

There are mods to the front forks which give an extra 1" of travel if you do not also extend the top bush or install a spacer. This extra travel allows the top and bottom bush to get too close at full extension and with the loose clearances of the day the legs can momentarily jam giving stiction.

 

 

Submitted by ian_hind on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Hi, my MK3 was exactly the same and its been like that (both wheels on the ground) for the last 30 years, at the moment i'm part way through a well deserved full restoration and when i removed the cradle the wear was quite bad to say the least ! (see attached pictures).

A good friend of mine TIG welded the cradle and i dressed it back before paint, the bike isn't on wheels yet but hopefully this should have at least bought it back to factory standard hopefully.

Kind regards,

Ian

Attachments
IMG_6043.JPG
IMG_6044.JPG
IMG_6045.JPG
IMG_6255.JPG

Submitted by philip_morrison on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Dave, I think you do yourself an injustice. That is very neat and tidy and looks like it will be very stable. Definitely going to have a go at making one myself. Thanks ever so much. 
Kind Regards

Phil

Submitted by michael_sullivan on Sat, 07/08/2021

Permalink

Philip:

What tire (tyre?) size are you running on the rear?

350 or 410?  Might make a difference on how the rear tire is hanging?

Mike

Submitted by bennie_hulshof on Tue, 10/08/2021

Permalink

Plenty of wear spots here.

Resulting on a well used bike in elongated mounting holes in stand and in cradle, worn pivot bushes, scraped surfaces at the feet of the stand (the flattish part), dented welded-on stop strip on stand, dented cradle.

It all adds up.

I would think it could be hard to find a Commando fitted with these 19" 4.10 tyres with 1" room under the rear wheel. With say 90/90 front and 100/90 rear Roadriders, it's a different story.

Submitted by mike_sullivan on Wed, 11/08/2021

Permalink

Hi Philip,

Nice looking MK 3!

You could try something like this, also helps with storing bikes in small spaces...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ryde-Motorcyle-Centre-Stand-Mover/dp/B07GH53Y99/ref=asc_df_B07GH53Y99/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=375465821417&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957826966825907155&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006918&hvtargid=pla-815896594722&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=75109684965&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=375465821417&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16957826966825907155&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1006918&hvtargid=pla-815896594722

More robust versions are vailable for more dosh...

My MK 3 (with Avon RoadRiders) sits on one of these & the rear is clearly raised above terra firma, it's just like a skateboard ;-)

 



© 2024 Norton Owners Club Website by 2Toucans