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Does anyone know the size/pitch of the bolts that go into the paddock stand bobbin holes in the swinger?

I have bought some paddock stand bobbins which were listed as for a Falco, but I think they are just generic ones.

So I fitted them, but because of the fact the holes in the swinger are recessed, they needed a small tube/pile of washers on the bolt between the swinger and the bobbin to make the bobbin stand out enough to get a paddock stand on.

This extra leverage has now bent one of the bolts so thinking of getting some stronger bolts.

small typing

To the best of my knowledge the mounting bolts are only M6 x 1.0, so not very meaty. As you say, this is compounded by the way the mounting point is recessed relative to the rest of the swingarm. In order to make it work correctly I had to get some spacers machined up to a fairly specific size (from memory they were 7mm deep, 14mm o.d. and 6mm i.d, but I'd need to check those measurements).

With those spacers in place, normal M6 i.d. bobbins can be used and tightened up securely. Without them, it's basically a lash-up and an accident waiting to happen.

Or swap them over with the ones for the "luggage pins" on the undertray...

I think the standard type bobbins I have are ok, just need to sort some spacer tubes to set them away from the swinger and get some longer and stronger (maybe titanium) bolts for my piece of mind!

I wouldn't use titanium in that application - it would be far preferable (and cheaper) to use High Tensile steel 10.9 (or 12.9 if you're really serious) bolts. Titanium is funny stuff; it can be very brittle at low temperatures but becomes ductile at higher temperatures.

May as well go 12.9, the price difference will be tiny.

M6 12.9 HT cap head allen bolts are about £2 for 5 on flebay.

So I'll get some measurements tonight: bobbin + spacer to fit in recess + swingarm bolt hole depth, and order tomorrow.

Thanks for the help.

Or you could go for an easier safer option...
A paddock stand that has flat paddles that lifts under the swingarm, far more interface between stand and bike,more stable,can't fall off silly bobbins, no chance of flimsy lifting hooks failing.
I will never go back to trusting the bobbin lift again

Or forget the rest and get the best. An Abba stand. Job jobbed.

squadron Nero wrote:Or forget the rest and get the best. An Abba stand. Job jobbed.

Abba are far too over priced for what they do, get an old NWS ones off ebay for 1/3rd the price.

wayno wrote:

squadron Nero wrote:Or forget the rest and get the best. An Abba stand. Job jobbed.

Abba are far too over priced for what they do, get an old NWS ones off ebay for 1/3rd the price.

I couldn't disagree more with that. I honestly think it's the best £50 pound for pound that I've spent with regards to biking stuff.

£50 is ok as long as it has the correct adaptors for your bike when you buy it, but the NWS version is the same, but with universal lifting points so can be kept for every bike you own (instead of needing to spend more on different adaptors). I do like the look of the Abba sky lift though.

wayno wrote:

squadron Nero wrote:Or forget the rest and get the best. An Abba stand. Job jobbed.

Abba are far too over priced for what they do, get an old NWS ones off ebay for 1/3rd the price.

Oh yes - the NWS ulti-pro - like an abba but much more substantial.

Shame they don't still make them but for those of us that already have them or find them second hand, they are the business.

I have paddock stands too - horses for courses.

Pretty happy with the stand I have, and prefer hooks to paddles.

Just need to sort out the bobbins.

Have ordered two 60mm high tensile steel M6 allen bolts with countersunk heads, plus two 12mm diameter 10mm long nylon spacers. £3.50 for the lot on ebay.

These should do the job of fixing the bobbins, with the spacers counteracting the recess in the swinger and enough bolt to go right through bobbin, spacer and the swingers 30mm deep bolt hole.

We shall see. Biggest job was straightening the original bolt so I could withdraw it from the bobbin....

Obiwan Kenobi wrote:Pretty happy with the stand I have, and prefer hooks to paddles.

Just need to sort out the bobbins.

Have ordered two 60mm high tensile steel M6 allen bolts with countersunk heads, plus two 12mm diameter 10mm long nylon spacers. £3.50 for the lot on ebay.

These should do the job of fixing the bobbins, with the spacers counteracting the recess in the swinger and enough bolt to go right through bobbin, spacer and the swingers 30mm deep bolt hole.

We shall see. Biggest job was straightening the original bolt so I could withdraw it from the bobbin....

Agree regarding hooks vs. paddles on paddock stands. Hooks locate at a specific point and hold the bike there. Paddles can slip about and are more of a 'one size fits all' solution, which rarely work well in my experience.

I really feel that the requirement for spacers when mounting paddock stand bobbins is something we should publicise more. It's one of those little 'gotchas' of Falco ownership (of which there are mercifully few) that new owners should be advised about.

Good work on finding an off-the-shelf spacer supplier. I had to get a machinist I know to knock some up for me.

And I have to concur with Andy - an NWS Ulti-pro is the biz. Not knocking Abba stands (I have one and use it a lot), but the NWS is on a different level in terms of build quality. And like Wayno, I can see an Abba Sky lift in my life at some point...