Help with centerstand install on 550 maxim

Help Please,
I bought a centerstand for my girlfriend's xj550 maxim and I'm having a little difficulty installing it correctly. I mounted it to the brackets on the frame and I may have the spring connected to the frame in the right place but what happens is this. When I push down to set it on the centerstand the stand doesn't stop at verticle. It goes farther under toward the front of the bike a couple of inches. This doesn't even let the rear tire clear the ground and it makes it super difficult to put the stand back in the resting position. There are "stops" on the brackets that keep the top of the stand from going any farther than it does. The prvious owner had removed the centerstand. Is there a part missing that is supposed to keep the stand verticle? I looked at the bike bandit picture but it is actually drawn forward to show mounting instead of showing it from the rear and doesn't show any other parts that I can determine. If anyone has had this problem or knows the answer I would certainly appreciate the help. Thank you. Sam

 

I really haven't "studied" mine since I've only maintained it and never removed it but you can check this link>>> http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/parts/home.aspx
To see if you have all the parts. Be sure to use the "Zoom In" feature to see the exploded view well.

Just my 2 cents. Which ain't much these days. :?

 

I had that happen on my bike as well. I took the stand off and found nothing wrong with it other than the bolts were not tight enough mounting it to the bike.

Tightened them down and the stand worked again.

Not sure if this helps but I can get a pic of mine and send it if you like.
Rich

 

Thanks Maxim the picture from the yamaha parts page is the same as bike bandit and doesn't seem to help me.
Thanks Rich for the offer of a picture. That would help very much. I'm always looking for another xj550 but they aren't that plentiful. If you had it on the center stand a picture looking up from the left side of the bike showing where the ears of the stand are attached and also where the spring attaches to the frame would help. The support bar of the frame directly above where the center stand mounts has a metal piece connected to it in the center of the bar. That piece has a large hole and also a small hole inside of it. I was wondering what that piece is for and if it has anything to do with the centerstand. A picture is worth a thousand words. Please send it if you can. The bike is an 81 xj550 h but the 82 and 83 are probably similiar. Thanks for your help..............Sam

 

Here is a pic of the stand

 

Thank you Rich for the picture. Was your bike stand fairly verticle and not leaning toward the front? For some reason when the ears of the stand contact the stops on the bracket the stand is way forward, so much that the rear tire isn't even off the ground. I can't figure unless the brackets with the stops have been bent. I see a fix in which I could have my stand verticle, mark the ears and then weld new stops on the brackets. Before I do that I would just like to know if I do have a problem with the bike or is the problem me. I'm bad about making round pegs go in square holes and such. Thank you for your help. I do see that other part in the center is used for the factory exhaust which my bike doesn't have now as it has a four into one kerker. I was wondering what that part was for. Now I know. If anyone else has any ideas about my problem and a fix please let me know...............Sam

 

Rich, I just looked at your picture again and looked at the stops that the ears of the stand come into contact with. It looks like your stops have more metal than mine. Mine are very small and cigar shaped and are angled like the angle of the stand ears which they mate with. Yours look like they have the cigar shaped metal on top but have some metal below. That would make your stand stop at verticle. Could be that mine has some of the stop broken off. Could you take a close up of your stop with the center stand down? That would either prove or disprove my theory. Thank you for your help.....Sam

 

I will get those other pics for you within a day or so. My daughter borrowed my camera and I need her to bring it back! Kids!

 

Thanks Rich,
I'll be looking for them. I really appreciate that you would do that for me. I keep looking for an xj to look at but no luck so far. Sam

 

Both of my Bikes, when placed on the Center Stand, do not sit with the Center Stand actually "Vertical"

The Stand continues beyond Vertical several degrees to "Lock" in place and keep the Bike from toppling-over.

That's why its such an adventure getting some bikes up on the Work Stand ... to say nothing about what a challenge it can be to get the Bike OFF it when you are done!

 

Hi Rick,
If the bottom of your stand isn't directly under the mounting bracket, being vertical, is it more toward the front of the bike like mine? The stops did keep the stand from folding up under the bike but it was so far under toward the front that the rear tire didn't even leave the ground. What do you think the problem could be. Thank you for your help.... Sam

 

I couldn't say without actually looking things over. My first inclination would be:
Wrong Part?

Either that or "Modified Right Part"

Does it seem to you like it fits the Bike OK?

 

Hi Rick,
The fellow that listed it on ebay said it came off a xj550 maxim. It looks like it fits perfect except that once you put it down it keeps going too far forward. The bike is my girlfriend's and I don't have it here at my house or I would take a picture of the way the stand supports the bike. I was hoping that the stops on the brackets of one that worked properly looked different than mine. Thanks for the help....Sam

 

If you think pics of a 550 Seca would help just say the word and I can take a couple when I get home. Maybe a side view of the bike with the stand deployed to judge the "over center" angle? I don't know how different the Seca is from the Max, according to the parts fiche the centerstands are the same but the frames are different.

 

OK, here you go from my stock '81 Seca 550, already confirmed the centerstands have the same pn, Seca to Max. Note in the "angle" pic the foot pedal part ends up parallel to the ground when the bike is on the stand.

 

Thank you Bigfitz 52 the pictures are great. That will be one thing to check if the rest part is parrallel when extended. The stops on your bike looker "fatter" than mine. It could be that mine are worn and give it more play. I'll have to do a close up inspection when I go visit my girlfriend and check the bike. I'll get back to you . Thanks for the help. Sam

 

Hi, I'm finally back. I brought my girlfriend's bike home so I could work on the centerstand. When I first put the centerstand back on I noticed that the "stops" seem to be o.k. What was wrong was the part that you push down with your foot to set the stand. It would hit the floor and keep the left foot of the stand in the air tilting the bike to the right and the rear tire still on the ground. I did some Swedish engineering and ground the brace off the foot piece and then bent it up. With that the stand would then sit on both feet but still forward so much that the tire doesn't clear the ground. I was wondering if I have the right centerstand. Here are a few pictures. Any comments would be welcomed. Sam

 

You got it. You have the wrong stand. You saw how mine fits on my Seca, the centerstands have the same part number, Seca to Max, so it should fit the same. I think you have one from an XJ, just not a 550. eBay sellers can't get it right a LOT, my '83 Seca was listed as a Maximum. Chalk it up to lessons learned and keep looking. The right one will look just like the one on my Secas. If you REALLY need it, I can pull one off and take a pic but you'll probably have to wait until the weekend.

 

Thanks Bigfitz52 for the help. This stand must be for a smaller bike since the tire doesn't even clear the ground. The ebay seller said it came off an xj550 and I took him at his word. I'll be more careful next time. I may be able to weld some feet on it to make it taller and modify the bracket a little or maybe take the easy way and look for the right part. You've been a big help and I sure appreciate it. Anytime I can help you please let me know. Sam

 

It might be off an XV550 (Vision) or one of the 400's. If it were me, I'd simply look for the correct part. If you can't find one on eBay send me a PM and I'll get you email addresses for two or three salvage guys that might be able to help. Even if you modify the one you have, it's never gonna be right, there are a lot of these bikes being parted out it won't be hard to find the correct one. Start with a post in the "Sell, Trade, Swap, Wanted" forum you may not have to look further.

 

It might be off an XV550 (Vision) or one of the 400's. If it were me, I'd simply look for the correct part. If you can't find one on eBay send me a PM and I'll get you email addresses for two or three salvage guys that might be able to help. Even if you modify the one you have, it's never gonna be right, there are a lot of these bikes being parted out it won't be hard to find the correct one. Start with a post in the "Sell, Trade, Swap, Wanted" forum you may not have to look further.