I've just bought (seen only in photos), what I hope is the correct centre stand for my '69 Lightning.
Only after paying for it I remembered about all those cheap pattern stands that were floating around for Triumph Twins a few years ago.
The ones that started to bend as soon as you used them
Just wondering if there were any pattern A50/65 stands floating around too ?
Could I have bought a pig in a poke ?
Out of interest, is this a new or second-hand centre stand? If second-hand, there should be nothing to worry about if it appears to be straight. Unfortunately, if newly made, like most pattern parts, there's always a possibility of quality issue although buying from a reputable supplier should minimise this risk.
Looks like it's an original stand which someone has cleaned up and had powder coated.
There's a few rust pit marks that have shown through the new powder coat.
Looks straight.
Photos can be deceptive.
Fingers crossed
Hi,
There were loads of low quality pattern stands coming from India for the A50/65 awhile back. Look for the part number on the outside of the leg a few inches above the spring lug, the copies didn't have one. The BSA stand legs are almost 10" wide whereas the copies are less than 9".
Best wishes...
My stand arrived today.
After an initial moment of disappointment I spotted the casting numbers on both the main legs and on the top face of the "tang" or operating leg whatever you want to call it.
Just out of curiosity, would any of the engineers among us like to speculate on exactly what the material and construction techniques used for these stands was.
I'm making an educated guess at three steel alloy drop forgings and a piece of MS tube hearth brazed together.
Am I close ?
I remember the glut of Indian stands for the Triumph T140 and the like.
I was told that they were malleable iron castings stick welded together - looked OK but no tensile strength.
I just resprayed my stand, gone to bare metal.
The pipe between was brazed.
Greetz alex
The centre stand is formed from cast steel legs rather than being forgings - the numbers on it are casting numbers. As said, the cross tube is simply brazed in place which makes it much neater than a welding.