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For those of you restoring old custom motorcycles, you have probably come across the issue of how to size a replacement motorcycle kickstand spring.
Maybe the old spring is completely rusted out or maybe it no longer creates enough force to hold the kickstand tight against the frame.
Obviously, this isn’t an issue if you have a custom, aftermarket kickstand for which replacement springs are readily available. This is for the pure custom, DIY situation.
Below are a few tips and trips for how to size a replacement motorcycle kickstand spring.
Tip #1: If you haven’t removed the old spring yet, make sure you save it after removal.
This is my first and most important piece of advice. You can save yourself weeks of trial-and-error induced agony by saving the original motorcycle kickstand spring.
The condition of the spring after removal is irrelevant. The point of saving it is to match it one for one.
You can take it to the local hardware or auto parts store and see if the they have something of similar length, diameter, and coil strength.
Alternatively, you can use a set of calipers, take measurements, and shop online. There are many custom metal springs shops online if you simply do a Google search for “metal springs.”
Tip #2: Start with a variety pack of springs from your local hardware store.
You aren’t going to keep these springs (unless one is a perfect match). The idea here is to get a ballpark about what you need.
There are so many varieties of motorcycles out there and even more motorcycle kickstands. Therefore, before buying the right spring, you are probably going to have to do a little trial and error to narrow things down.
A variety pack is a good way to quickly hone in on the right spring. Focus on determining the proper length and the amount of spring force (directly correlated with diameter) needed.
Remember that the spring needs to exert enough force to hold the kickstand up against the frame (partially compressed), but also be extendable to the point you can put the kickstand down without the spring snapping.
As a baseline you are probably looking for something 2 to 4 inches long with a diameter between 0.4 and 0.6 inches. Size will ultimately depend on the configuration and weight of the kickstand.
Tip #3: Shop online and be patient.
At the end of the day, you probably aren’t going to find a perfect match at a local hardware store. You are probably going to have to buy online.
Use calipers and be precise with your measurements. Once you determine exactly what you need, you can get a custom spring that is already ready-made from a variety of vendors.
If you have only narrowed the potential “correct” spring to a range, you can again buy a variety pack off a website like Amazon. These variety packs are much more affordable than local stores (often 10-15 buck for almost 200 extension springs – no need to buy a variety pack that also includes compression springs).
This is great if you want this mini project over and done; and this will likely include a backup spring of two for the next replacement down the line.
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Didn’t find what you needed in this particular post? Check out the HappyWrench Motorcycle Repair Link Database. It is a one-stop shop for all your DIY motorcycle repair information needs.
Also, forgive any typos or grammatical errors a I wrote this blog post from my phone.
