AJS & Matchless Owners Club

Apologies if this has been covered before. I am rebuilding my bike (1946 rigid Matchless) from scratch and have had the frame powder coated. I decided to buy a new spring and bolts for the rear stand but now am wondering how I can fit the spring which is obviously much shorter than the distance between the spigot on the frame and the rear stand. Is a special tool needed? Removing the old one was reasonably easy using the trick of inserting coins in the coils of the spring. Any suggestions most welcome. Thanks.

You must have a very strong spring. I fitted one on my '47 by heaving on a loop of cord (fed through a bit of fuel pipe as a hand grip) and hooked onto the end of the spring to stretch it into place.

I have done 3 fairly recently using washers. You have to be careful if the springs are painted, I have read that you can use pieces of plastic, maybe big cable ties. It's a tedious business bending the spring one way then the other to insert from each side. But it does work.
Stan

Hi

I use a loop of para cord and a piece of wood as a handle or lever depending on how strong the spring is.

These were on offer from Venhill recently, https://www.venhill.co.uk/tools/long-sh ... -vt11.html so bought one.
Only used it once so far but seems quite handy.

Regards Mick

Thanks for you helps guys.

I have one of these tools that came with a trampoline but there is no way that I can even begin to stretch my new spring for my 1949 that is at least 1/2" shorter than the one on my 1950 model 18 . Even bending it to try to wedge cable ties in between the coils is very difficult. The spring has to be stretched over 1 1/4" to get it to fit. Plumstead must have had some very strong workers back in the day, or maybe my arms have got a lot weaker in my old age Does it matter which way round the spring is fitted?