Center stand making buzzing sound when riding

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:15 pm

Does anyone else have problems with the center stand vibrating, buzzing or otherwise rattling?

I recently took mine apart and cleaned it because I was tired of adding lubricant every-other day for the squeak. I cleaned it up and re-installed it with fresh grease on all the contact points but it makes a ridiculous buzzing noise when riding. There is a little bit of play in it when I move it by hand with the scoot on the side stand.

I tried shimming it with an extra washer but it didn't help. I'm thinking maybe the bushings that go in the bolt holes are just worn (~23K miles) so maybe I can try to order those.
Or maybe the spring is stretched-out.
Or both.
Or something else.

It's to the point where I want to remove the center stand but I'd rather not.
Anybody ever have the same problem and come up with a solution?
I can't "stand" it!

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:18 pm

is it the spring or the stand that is buzzing? See if the spring is vibrating against something.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:30 pm

viney266 wrote:is it the spring or the stand that is buzzing? See if the spring is vibrating against something.

No, it's the right side of the center stand. I can wiggle it a bit when the scooter is not sitting on it. When riding, I can reach my left foot back and extend the center stand a little and the buzzing stops.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:43 pm

What stops the stand from rotating even further back? Maybe you could take a peel and stick cabinet door stop and stick it on the centerstand to keep it from rubbing against the stopper thingy (I hope that makes sense).

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:55 pm

Has the diameter shrunk? or a "bushing " worn out?...Sounds like you need a few wraps of copper or aluminum tape to make up the difference?

Was it buzzing before you cleaned and greased it? Make sure you didn't leave out a spacer?

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:32 pm

Did you check to see that the rubber stopper it rests against when closed has not fallen out? I've seen posts here where that happened.

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 9:41 pm

The rubber bumper is still in place. I cut it down a long time ago so that the center stand rests up a little further and allows me to take left turns a little steeper.

I think the noise is much worse since I cleaned the pivot points and re-installed the center stand. There are small bushings that go in the holes of the stand where the bolts pass through on their way to the threaded sections.
I'm thinking these bushings may need replacing so I think I will try and order these. I know I have everything back together as it was

.

I was just wondering if anyone else had come across the same problem and had a solution. I'm pretty sure the noise was present for a while but I didn't know where it was coming from and it definitely got louder after cleaning everything.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:52 pm

Tocsik wrote:I think the noise is much worse since I cleaned the pivot points and re-installed the center stand...

No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. While you had it apart, did you ride it around to eliminate everything else?

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 1:54 am

Syd wrote: No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. While you had it apart, did you ride it around to eliminate everything else?

No, but when I extend the center stand a little bit while riding, the buzzing stops.
I was just now looking at it and had another thought. The position of the center stand depends on the compression of the rear shock. That's why there is a long strip of metal for the bumper to ride on. When I am sitting on the scooter, the rear shock is compressed a little and the bumper slides forward on the metal stop toward the front of the bike.
Maybe my rear shock is too worn and the bike is riding too low. I did hit the center stand lever a couple times on my way home tonight making turns that didn't seem too aggressive.
I should probably replace my rear shock.
Yeah, that's the excuse er, I mean "reason" I need a new shock!

mattgordon · Post by **mattgordon** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 3:26 am

Earplugs.
Just saying....

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:21 pm

^^^^ Hahaha, yeah turning the stereo up works in a car!

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:32 pm

I know, I know. It sounds like I'm making too much out of this but, honestly, the noise is really loud. As loud as the Prima pipe under load.
Maybe I hear it so much because I wear a full face helmet and there is no wind noise in my ears.

I took the center stand off last night and the ride to work this morning was incredible. I think there are lots of sounds coming from that stupid center stand.
I'm gonna order all the hardware for it and see what happens.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 6:50 pm

There is a forum member parting out a St. Tropez. Maybe you can get a cheap center stand from him. Check the for sale section. Could be a simple solution.

agrogod · Post by **agrogod** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:59 pm

http://www.scooterworks.com/Search.aspx?k=center+stand

Looks like they sell the parts but all out of stock

Tocsik · Post by **Tocsik** » Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:08 pm

Skootz Kabootz wrote:There is a forum member parting out a St. Tropez. Maybe you can get a cheap center stand from him. Check the for sale section. Could be a simple solution.

Yep, I've been thinking about that post.

In fact, I just used the For Sale section to buy a rear shock and the center stand parts!

Love this forum!