One of the most important projects  I've been meaning to get onto has been working out a side stand or main stand. Since the engine plates are different from the Atlas (wider) I am unable to use an original Atlas main stand - bugger, this will be put up for sale soon. So really that left me with only a side stand option. I did a lot of research and found RGM seemed  to offer the best type of side stand that won't completely crush the frame tube. They say: "DESIGNED TO LOCATE ON THE FRAME RAIL WITHOUT GRIPPING OR CRUSHING IT, THE ROTATIONAL LOAD BEING TAKEN BY THE FLAT PAD AT THE TOP OF THE REAR CLAMP WHICH LEANS AGAINST THE ENGINE PLATES.  THE STANDS ARE SUPPLIED ASSEMBLED BUT UNPAINTED ALLOWING THE FITTER TO ADJUST ANGLE OF LEAN AND PARKED POSITION OF LEG TO OPTIMUM REQUIRED FOR HIS APPLICATION." SO I purchased it and then had to come up with a plan of where and how to position it against the Triton engine plates. What I've come up with is moving it back to slightly behind the old center stand mounts. This was a good round size on the clamp (parts of these frames are anything but round after 50 years). Then I needed to fill the gap between the bracket and the plate so I used a cardboard template to measure how much I needed to build it up. I took my idea down to Ken McIntosh and he fabricated a steel angled plated and welded it to the bracket. I've brought it back, cut it down a little and voila! It fits extremely well and has even great surface area on the plates so less chance of crushing and twisting. Very happy with this, now I just need to paint it.


What I also found when mounting the front mudguard was that the RH mudguard stay bolt/stud hole was extremely weak and broke off. Unfortunately there is no alternative but to remove the front end and pull the fork out. This slider will be sent down to Ken for repair. I wanted to go over the front end again anyway as I want to paint the headlight the same matt black as used on the engine cases. I will also pull the RH fork as their is a slight leak from that which I need to take care off, suspecting a dodgy washer.