I have a question. Farm boys have access to a more varied supply of things to work with than us city slickers. Are you referring to an honest 1 x 4 or a common 3/4' x 3 1/2" piece of white wood? Some times that 1/4" matters. 
If you don't have wood, then use the draw bar from the Massey Ferguson that is sitting in the corner.
.
Most of you know I've been on Guzzis since '71 and I've never seen a Guzzi fall over that had the police style side stand. I can't tell you the amount of Guzzis that were parked on the center stand and blew over, sank in the asphalt, etc.
Tex
