You may find it easier to put a car scissor jack or better yet, a hydraulic jack between the lugs and open them up. More control than swinging a hammer.

The econobob way to make it easier to get RX3 up on center stand and a way to keep rear tire up off ground while cleaning and oiling chain. Put spacer board under rear tire and it lessons the effort needed to get it up on center stand as you don't have to lift it as far up cause the board already lifted R tire up 1-1/2". Use it lengthwise to prop up the swing arm to do chain maintenance or removing R tire. Used this on my recent 1000 mile trip at Hell's Canyon ADV Rally. I had made it for my Honda NX250 years ago and it works good on the Zong, RJ

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...psrhr657nk.jpg

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/g...pslsg9zevi.jpg

What a neat invention! You can also use it under the side stand to either keep the bike a little more upright (checking oil window if you have one) or to stop the side stand sinking into soft ground. You should patent it and get it into production.

A cheap Box fan will do wonders for you while working in your garage....

It may be a little crude, but Vise Grips locked onto the tab will allow you to bend the tabs in or out as necessary. You can always lock the Vise Grips over a cloth if you're worried about the paint.

RJ, do you still have your NX? If so, I'd love to see it. If you have pics, please start a new thread.

:) Oh I brought a fan into the garage last weekend - it helped some :) Now I also know why I see photos of people's bikes inside their houses ;)

RJ - what a great idea :) Will have to see if I can't find some wood scraps to make one of my own!

Weld & George: Thanks for the ideas - probably won't get a chance to work on the bike again until this weekend...I definitely have a scissor jack that might fit in that gap - and worst case, I go after the stand with a file...

Weld, no I don't have the NX any more. Great little bike. I think the RX3 is kinda a updated version of the NX. It was a 1988 i think and parts were getting harder to find and left me stranded a few times with the CDI acting up.

JTHSPACE, I'd patent it but since it's so easy to make, nah, I'll let you guys design and create a better one. It did come in handy fixing a rear flat this past week out in the boonies though. rj

RJ, that's a great tip for making it easier to loft the bike on the center stand. :) In a pinch, one could also roll the rear tire onto a flat rock. ;)

Update time :)
I took a file after the stand....it took a while, but I eventually got it to fit.
getting the circlips on was a right pain in the posterior, but I managed eventually.

I forgot the loctite, but that screw took quite a bit to get on, as it had to cut its own threads into the hole in the frame...

Getting the spring on proved more challenging than anticipated - it's quite beefy and did not want to readily accept coinage....I eventually resorted to using some spectra cord along with another thicker cord for pulling on and we got the spring in place.

Here it is with the spectra dangling and the pennies still in place:

https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/331/19...48c5cc02_z.jpg

The stand does sit rather low, surprisingly so, even after I saw the photos from Fish, but since I'm new to riding, I don't think I'll be doing any crazy off road things any time soon :)

I had an assist to get it onto the stand, so haven't tried doing it myself just yet....but it's on :D I think I managed to scratch up the paint in a couple places while going at it with the file, debating on touching it up...the ends where I had to file are completely exposed, though the paint would just wear off during use in that location....and lets face it, it's a center stand...it's going to get dinged up.

Thanks for posting the update. :) You got 'er done. :tup:

Excellent job.

If you ever need to remove it and install it again, bend the spring to create a gap for coins. Try to alternate sides, so the spring doesn't create a big arc, and try dimes next time, because they're easier.

Some grease on the bare metal sections will thwart rust.

Center stand
 

CSC installed my center stand when I picked up my RX3.

My only comment is that this point is that this is
the Most difficult bike to place on the center stand. I am a big, and very strong man who has owned 800 pound touring bikes and None were Half as hard to get on the center stand.

On the plus side the bike is very stable once you get it up, I just don't use it unless there is a good reason since it requires so much effort to use the center stand.

I'm glad that I ordered the center stand because to check the oil level, oil chain, check air pressure in tires, and remove a wheel.

:) I should have greased it before install but was too excited to finally have it fit :P no idea if I'll ever manage to get the thing off again...

I did bend the spring to get the coins in....it just didn't seem to make much of a gap.

I do have a tube of white lithium grease, I could try to squeeze some into place... That's probably better than doing nothing at all :)