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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: pnaberhaus on September 07, 2008, 07:15:04 PM

Title: 20 year component life?
Post by: pnaberhaus on September 07, 2008, 07:15:04 PM
Today, rolling my '89 GS off the center stand after doing some light maintenance, checking, and cleaning, the friggin' center stand sheared completely off about 1'' below its' pivot point on the frame. :o Looking at the broken "legs", not surprisingly, it revealed its' construction to be thin-walled steel tubing. Replacing the center stand can't be too tough, but, rather than trying to source  another 20 year old piece of brittle steel, I'm wondering whether later model center stands can be retro-fitted back to a 1989 model. Anyone know or tried this?

Paul
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: tripleb on September 07, 2008, 07:38:57 PM
I would think any model year's center stand would fit, but someone correct me if I'm wrong.  See if you can pick one of ebay for cheap.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: The Buddha on September 07, 2008, 07:40:11 PM
Oh F*(k, but hey, that's a first ... never heard of it happening in a non crash ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: yamahonkawazuki on September 07, 2008, 07:56:30 PM
indeed. you wouldnt happen to have a pic of the broken parts, would you?, i took mine off when i modded the exhaust. cause wiht it on the chain rubs, . so it only gets used when needed
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: pjm204 on September 07, 2008, 08:38:47 PM
just weld it back together DUH....jk, I'm sure you can find one cheap...I'd sell you mine but as stated above...sometimes it is nice to have one for maintainance.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: GI_JO_NATHAN on September 08, 2008, 05:11:46 AM
If everyone thinks one from an '04 will fit your bike I'll send you mine for price of shipping. I have no springs or bolts or anything, which is ok 'cause i assume you have all of that.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: sledge on September 08, 2008, 07:52:26 AM
Quote from: pnaberhaus on September 07, 2008, 07:15:04 PM
rather than trying to source  another 20 year old piece of brittle steel, I'm wondering whether later model center stands can be retro-fitted back to a 1989 model. Anyone know or tried this?

The part# for the stand (496848-001) didnt change until 2004, that suggests all stands made between 1989 and 2004 are identical and will therefore be interchangable.

Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: bobthebiker on September 08, 2008, 11:42:39 AM
I"d imagine it cant just break without some form of crash/rust damage helping weaken it prior to it breaking off.  but that is DEFINATELY a first to me.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: pnaberhaus on September 08, 2008, 05:26:00 PM
(http://i37.tinypic.com/2eai9tu.jpg)
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: pnaberhaus on September 08, 2008, 05:31:25 PM
....and (http://i34.tinypic.com/mh90g5.jpg)

I should also mention that I use (or used) the center stand 99.99% of the time when I parked the bike. It always seemed to be more stable and less likely to be accidentlly tipped over.

Paul
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: fred on September 08, 2008, 06:38:51 PM
Wow, that is a really clean break. Almost looks like someone took a hacksaw to your centerstand when you weren't looking...
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: The Buddha on September 08, 2008, 07:21:41 PM
Yea and so little corrosion ... bizzare ... maybe the forgot to weld it all the way at the factory.
BTW the wear on this section of the stand in the direction you broke almost 90% is at the point you put it on the stand. 20 years matters a lot less than how many times you put it on the centerstand. I guess its proportional to miles on it ... sorta ... I ran mine on long commutes for the 10K to 35K section of its life, and 35-48 K it was all short commutes.
So you can check if yours was more used or not. BTW I do side stand very often, I bent, and damaged more than 1 of those.
Cool.
Buddha.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: pnaberhaus on September 10, 2008, 05:35:49 PM
Quote from: GI_JO_NATHAN on September 08, 2008, 05:11:46 AM
If everyone thinks one from an '04 will fit your bike I'll send you mine for price of shipping. I have no springs or bolts or anything, which is ok 'cause i assume you have all of that.

GI,
Thanx for the generous offer, but the dealership advises me that only 1989-2002 model year center stands can be fitted.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: starshooter10 on September 10, 2008, 07:17:16 PM
PM me...


my buddie just dropped his bike and is parting it out
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: GI_JO_NATHAN on September 10, 2008, 07:25:25 PM
Quote from: pnaberhaus on September 10, 2008, 05:35:49 PM
GI,
Thanx for the generous offer, but the dealership advises me that only 1989-2002 model year center stands can be fitted.
No Problem.
Title: Re: 20 year component life?
Post by: GeeP on September 10, 2008, 09:07:10 PM
Hmm.  The weld around the circumference of the right tube as well as half the left tube looks terrible. 

"gorilla snot dribble" about describes it.

Wonder what the mean fatigue life of a GS frame is? 

Do I really want to know?  Probably not.   :laugh: