Chainstay dimples and kickstand kisses

[Eric Marth]

Iecently removed my Pletscher bipod kickstand and noticed some mutilation to my chainstays. Pictured below is my LHT, the kickstand was installed by the previous owner. The sight brought to mind Grant's warning on the kickstand hardware listing: "This is one of those terribly useful aftermarket problem solvers that can save the day or wreck your frame, depending on how you attach it." 

Just how bad is this? Cause for concern or shall I carry on? 

Thanks for your collective wisdom. 

[Eric Norris]

From what I see, this is unfortunate but not dangerous. I have a 1970s frame with even worse flattening due to a former kickstand installation that I ride all the time. Steel is very strong and can easily deal with little dimples like this.

The same frame in carbon fiber would probably be a total loss.

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com

Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy

YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy 

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[Eric Norris]

P.S. My Soma Saga came with a kickstand installed, and whoever built the bike (probably American Cyclery in SF) used thick rubber between the kickstand and the frame to prevent dimpling of the top of the chain stays (there’s a kickstand plate on the bottom).

--Eric Norris
campyo...@me.com

Insta: @CampyOnlyGuy

YouTube: YouTube.com/CampyOnlyGuy 

On Dec 28, 2020, at 8:27 AM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Eric Marth]

Thanks for the input, Eric, I appreciate it. 

My stand had the same pieces of rubber on the top of the stays (one was cracked) but crunched the bottom!

[Dave S]

Maybe too late but Surly makes a specific CNC'ed plate set to prevent this from happening.

https://surlybikes.com/parts/kickstand_plate

Probably slap those on there if you're going to reinstall the stand.

[James Valiensi]

Structurally you are okay.

You can get a kick stand plate brazed on, if you ever decide to repaint the frame.

On Dec 28, 2020, at 8:27 AM, Eric Marth <eric...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Eric Marth]

Thanks Dave and James. That pre-fab kickstand plate looks like the ticket. 

[Mark Roland]

Does installing the kickstand with the upper part of the "sandwich" confer some benefit--maybe spreading the stress load a bit more? I thought having a brazed on kickstand plate like Rivs (and this Surly) have eliminated the need for that top clamp.

I agree the bike should be fine with those dimples. Long term, if the paint was compromised, it may start to rust in that spot and eventually be an issue. But even without attention, should last till most of us are no longer concerned about it.

On Monday, December 28, 2020 at 12:36:21 PM UTC-5 campyo...@me.com wrote:

[Ken Yokanovich]

I have a HubbuHubbuH tandem with a kickstand plate. I found that when I added the upper part of the "sandwich" that there was SUBSTANTIALLY more stability to the kickstand.  Loaded with panniers, I was convinced that the kickstand plate alone would have been torn off. YRMV

[ascpgh]

While alarming to discover, I think you're fine structurally but that's a place you should clean to bare metal, and get covered with primer and paint.

Those kickstand clamp mounts seem to do the most damage when they get a bit loose and let the edge of the plate get levered into the tubes instead of spreading the force across the face of the plates.

Andy Cheatham

Pittsburgh

[Mark Roland]

I have a double kickstand on my El Clem, sans sandwich. No problem so far, though I heard some early kickstand plates on other models were susceptible to breaking or bending. I have a Hubbuh as well, but I do not like kickstands on tandems, prefer to lean. My Susie has a place holder, aka  "kickstandholeplugmonkey "

[Eric Marth]

Thanks again to all for input and replies.

And thanks to Dave S for recommending the frame-specific kickstand plates. Got a pair, they work great. Part of the trouble with the existing plate (installed by previous owner or their mechanic) is that it was a modified Pletscher plate. Had to be modified to clear the chainrings. 

I removed the stand because it was super stiff and it wasn't closing. I dry brushed it and then blasted it with penetrating oil, which is disgusting. I then cleaned it as well as I could with several passes with brushes, rags and compressed air. Then appleid some Boeshield. 

I touched up the frame damage shown in the original post by lightly sanding and then applied some Testors. I wrapped some Newbaums on the stays and carefully re-installed the kickstand. It works like a new kickstand with lots of snap and a feather touch to open and close. 

[Tom Wyland]

kickstandholeplugmonkey  -  where can I find one - TAKE MY MONEY!

My double Pletscher has one of the Pletscher-specific rubber top plates. Where it contacts the bottom of the frame I used a folded-over (2-layer) piece innertube. I'll let you know how it turns out when I remove it (haven't touched it in 6 years but will soon).

Tom 

Reston, VA