Looking down on the Jiffy retaining bolt.

I got home from a grocery run on the RKC, and decided to park it outside the garage. I've got a ritual few steps to park it on the jiffy stand; I use a quick flick of my heel to fling the stand with enough speed that it carries out to the stop, and I simultaneously start leaning the bike over onto the stand.
This time, when I heel-kicked it, it sounded different, and I noticed the tip of the stand swinging back-'n-forth, instead of resting at the stop. I had already starting to lean over onto the stand, but I could see/feel that the bike was leaning too far. I caught the weight just in time to keep it from going over...barely! I backed the bike up, and pulled the right side up to the garage door opening, with just enough right-side lean over-center. Leaving it in 1st gear, the crash bar rested solidly against the garage opening.
I laid a pad on the concrete, and got horizontal to investigate. The spring had come unclipped from the jiffy, but was still hanging on the frame. The bolt and the clocking tab under it were obviously WAY loose, only a few threads holding it in. I re-oriented everything, then tightened the bolt securely. With the jiffy in the "stowed" position, it was easy enough to stretch the spring enough to hook it onto the hole, by putting a long small diameter screwdriver thru the hook on the end of the spring and pulling on the screwdriver shaft with both hands.
This bolt will become an additional maintenance check whenever I have the bike on the lift for oil change, tires, or just washing. Please check yours.
*edit* - dammit, I really can spell "close". Can't seem to edit the thread title, though.

 

You run the risk of "stretching" the spring installing it that way.
Once it becomes stretched (even just a little), it might just come off again.

Jiffy Stand maintenance should be part of everyone's normal service procedures.

This video shows the correct way to install the spring.

 

got a manual? ever read it? not being snarky, but if you read your service manual, it shows you the correct way to install the jiffy stand spring (like the video above). trust me, it is a lot easier to do it the 'right' way, than it is to punch yourself in the nose while trying to stretch the spring so it can hook up. also, you should check it at each oil change (you know, those 'critical fasteners')

 

I take apart my bike's jiffy stand at every oil change. Clean it and reinstall. I follow the service manual - a relatively easy maintenance task.

 

excellent video. thanks.

 

You're kidding around here, right?

 

15 years and 42 k and I just replaced my spring. It wasn't bad but thought it was time. A little tighter to the frame

 

And use blue lock tite on it - as in most everything else on a Harley

 

Some new info! JR

 

On my 14 Limited, I checked the bolt for the jiffy stand after reading another thread of a jiffy stand falling off. I found it to be very loose. I used loctite and so far no more issues. This forum has opened my eyes on all the things to check routinely on this bike. My other bike has the B motor and has never had anything come loose. I guess I was spoiled.