Shop stand question

[Woody]

Hi All,

 

I'm a relatively new Guzzi owner having bought an '04 Cafe Sport in late June from Moto International. I'm really enjoying the bike and have already gotten my hands dirty replacing a couple parts under warranty (speedo cable, cracked headlight) in addition to a valve adjustment and TB sync. After a longish wait

( shop stands are scarce as hen's teeth these days) I received my unit today from MG Supply only to find that the stand is seemingly about 1/2" too wide to fit the lower nuts on the porkchops. Placing it properly on one side results in the it the opposite side resting on the very edge of the other nut.

 

My question is; are these stand made in a jig? The folks at MG have offered to send me a replacement ( probably after another wait) but I'm assuming this would probably be for nought. Has anyone else experienced this problem? The only thing I can think of is to have an additional piece of steel welded to one side to increase the lifting surface on that side. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[Guest ratchethack]

Woody, this is just me, but I'd clamp the vertical leg of the end of the stand opposite the handle in a walloping big vise, slip a length of pipe over the vertical tang, and reef on it until it measures to fit exactly, and Bob's y'er Uncle. Optionally, put the thing in a big arbor press, and press to measure.

 

The Idaho panhandle's a fur piece, and there's bound to be a great passel o' vises and presses betwixt y'erself and them, but I'll bet the boys at MI have both a big vise, and a big press -- or at least one o' the 2!

[jrt]

Someone here on the forum modified their shop stand so that the forks were padded. This is a great idea if you want to preserve the paint on your pork chops.

[Woody]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. I think I'll probably go with widening the lift point on one side so as not to change the the basic cofiguration of the stand. Good suggestion about padding the contact point - Ive already put a scratch on one porkchop trying to use the stand as it is.