Inspect and Lube Jiffy Stand
Mike RoenDescription
Jiffy stand, side stand, kickstand; doesn’t matter what you call it. We are all talking about the same thing. It is important to take a couple of minutes to inspect and lubricate your kickstand at every service interval. Neglecting to do so can result in serious damage or even injury. Lubricate the jiffy stand assembly with a sprayable grease or something similar. Inspect the jiffy stand spring for wear or damage. Make sure that the kickstand bumper is securely in place.
If the spring is ever in question, it should be replaced with a new, factory spring. Do not risk using an aftermarket spring. The quality of the metal is always horrible. Also, aftermarket springs are usually chrome plated. The plating process seems to weaken the cheap, Chinese metal even further. After lubricating, verify that the jiffy stand can operate freely and swing swiftly back up against the bumper. Make sure that the stand does not hang down loose. If it does, the bike should not be ridden until a repair is made. This scenario is extremely dangerous. If the kickstand grabs the road while cornering, the outcome can be fatal.
Inspect the jiffy stand on your Harley at every service interval. It is an important inspection during regular maintenance.
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Okay, we're gonna check the jiffy stand a little bit. I like to call it the side stand, Harley calls it a jiffy stand. But either way, the more time you get on your bike, the more you pressure wash it; the more you ride in the rain, the more this thing is gonna need to get a little bit of lube. So get yourself some sprayable grease. Get down there, kinda give it a shot.
And really what you're doing, you want that thing to operate freely. And what you're looking for is you want that thing to spring back. Now, what happens is people for some reason they trailer their motorcycles sometimes. And what they do is they damage this return spring, they'll bottom out. Or if you happen to go over a curb or whatever, and then the spring gets all buggered up.
Now, your side stand is kinda dangerously dangling down a little too far. You hit bump, side stand comes down. You don't know it. We're talking big crash here with the side stand down. The first time you start leaning left, that's not good.
So it's pretty important actually. So if that side stand's spring is feeling clapped out or buggered up, or your tabs bend on your jiffy stand; deal with it, put a new one on, fix it 'cause it really is pretty important. Okay, let's move on down the list.
I've never been able to get used to the creep and get a "not so fresh" feeling every time! My H-D Engineering friends at the PDC tell me it's a safety mechanism to lock the stand in position to prevent further roll (which it does).
Replace kickstand spring
I also have the same "creeping" problem that Victor mentions. I have a 2013 used Road King Classic that has this when purchased (did not notice until after deal was done) Got the bike up on the jack and inspected for any looseness in the assy and found none. Before I get off of it I always have to roll it forward a little just to be sure the stop is engaged.
What about a jiffy stand that lets your bike creep forward as you walk away