Norton Electra Side Stand

[ramwing7]

I just picked up a 1963 Norton Electra for restoration.  It looks to be in pretty good shape for it's tender years.  The center stand is missing and the side stand is loaded like a switch blade.  Any time you take the slightest weight off it, it snaps up like a switch blade.  Getting it down is a bit of an exercise too.

Does anyone know if they are designed to do this or has someone put the wrong spring on it?

Thanks.

[Rex]

That was usually a trick with Italian side stands rather than British ones. If it goes over-centre (which they usually do) it shouldn't matter how strong the spring is it still won't "retract" on it's own.
Maybe someone's built the worn spot up with weld and put too much on?

[ramwing7]

Figured this one out.
Seems that somewhere in the bike's history, someone put the bolt holding the side stand on in backward.  As a result the threaded end was interfering with the movement of the spring.  Reversing the bolt solved the problem.  It now works as designed.