Motorcycle Repair: How to stretch a spring assembly?, worse case scenario, anchor pins

Question
Hello.  I have a 2000 Honda Nighthawk CB 750.  I purchased a center stand for this bike and have it all assembled on the bike.  My problem is with the spring.  How do I stretch this spring from the hook under the bike to the center stand?  I have tried to stretch the spring by hand and that just does not work.  Thanks.

Answer
Ron, they are a bear to install w/o a brake spring tool. What is used is an automotive tool with a long curved shaft and a hollowed out tip that goes over the tip of the anchor pin. The tool is inserted into the spring loop, the tip of the tool is located onto the anchor pin tip and then a big push is needed to arc the tool over the pin and the spring end scoots along the tool, pops over the tip of the anchor pin and snaps into place. You have to hold the tool just right or the whole thing goes off to the left or right and you start over again. A suggestion on the web was to stretch the spring before you install it and place pennies inbetween the coils, to artifically lengthen the spring to allow easier installation, then pull the pennies out with a pair of vise grips.

Here is an interesting option on the web...
http://www.twistedthrottle.com/imagecatalogue/imageview/2687/?RefererURL=/articl...


Without the tool, you can sometimes install the spring by hooking it over the ends of both spring anchor pins BEFORE you put the shaft through it. Start the shaft through the stand, but don't push it all the way through on the spring side. Using the leverage of the stand itself, you can stretch the spring enough to get the hole lined up and then push the shaft through from the far side. Probably a two man job, though, as you still have to hold the bike steady through it all.

Worse case scenario.... tie up the stand to the bike and take it to a shop to have them install the spring....

Bill Silver