Using front paddock stand?

[rumpelstiltskin]

I feel a bit stupid asking this but does anyone else feel a bit uneasy about using front paddock stands?Im using the usual one with the two prongs sticking out at each side,one side seems to cradle the bottom of the fork just fine but the other side the whole weight at the other side of the bike seems to sit right on the very,very edge of just 'one' of the prongs,to the point i just won't let the bike out of my sight lol,the two sides just don't sit at the same places.

[muffles]

i've just got a set of paddock stands and i found that i needed to move it about a bit (when it was on the front stand - so very carefully) to get the prongs where i wanted them (well, to get the bottom one in the middle of the fork - the one at the side i don't care so much about!).

i'm actually a lot more uneasy about the design - seems like the slightest movement forward and the bike's going to roll off and do something stupid...the rear stand seems rock solid though (using hooks) - they're oxford ones btw.

[mtbr]

The type of front stand you describe is OK, but you may need to make some modifications to get it to fit you bike properly. Do the "cradle" pieces slide in and out of the frame? If so, some simple spacers cut from plastic water pipe will ensure the stand is always set to the correct width.

Depending on the length of the axle piece that supports the cradle, you can drill & tap a holes in the ends, to secure oversize washers. You can then put spacers on both sides of the bearing tube to fix the cradles exactly were they need to be, whilst still allowing them to pivot.

If you want to use the stand with a different bike, it is the work of minutes to cut new spacers.

M

[ballon]

rumpelstiltskin said:

I feel a bit stupid asking this but does anyone else feel a bit uneasy about using front paddock stands?Im using the usual one with the two prongs sticking out at each side,one side seems to cradle the bottom of the fork just fine but the other side the whole weight at the other side of the bike seems to sit right on the very,very edge of just 'one' of the prongs,to the point i just won't let the bike out of my sight lol,the two sides just don't sit at the same places.

I too found this with my Harris stand, I discovered that if you lift the bike with the stand at a very slight angle to the bike, ie, not square to the bottom of the forks the supports stay in the right place.

[rumpelstiltskin]

I've been in two minds whether to get the welder out and make something more secure myself.I'll have a tamper with it later on and see if i can come up with something,thanks!

[rsvmilly]

I only trust them to lift the bike for cleaning and then, only if already on a rear stand.

You can get adaptions which fit into a hole in the yoke. Much more secure

[muffles]

i think i might look into getting a different front stand, glad to see it's not just me thinking "hang on, that's a bit dodgy..."