The side stand on my 98 Tourer went down with little resistance from the spring. Stopped for gas leaving town for a ride. The stand was hanging low

when raised got a bungee cord and pulled it up. The spring was still there I was lucky.
Laying beside the bike at home the upper bolt was bent sideways and cracked. Of course the bolt broke trying to remove so replacement bolt & spring were ordered.
Looking at the bend of the bolt I figured the only thing that could have bent the bolt was me.
Got my Sears jack and carefully pushed the jack under the bike. If the jack is pushed a little bit to far under the bike it does bump the side stand pivot. I cut a short piece of 2x4 measuring the distance from the side stand to the face of the jack. I keep the spacer on the jack and always toss it under the side stand before placing the jack. No problems since.