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[theWoosh]

Thanks - I will get the primary casing off and take a look when it stops raining...

I guess I should leave off trying to use the electric start until I have sorted it out?

BTW I checked under the seat to find out what TCI is installed(after removing the top box and undoing the locked and rusted bolts) and discovered that it was a black unit labelled "TCI Unit - NTI 0014 Indian Nippon Electricals Made in India 28G7". From what I have read this may have contributed to the sprag destruction problems and there was a free upgrade to the 'green' one. Anyone recommend a course of action? Can I still get a free replacement from somewhere or do I need to spend £62 on Hitchcocks replacement unit?...

I'm in South Devon (Buckfastleigh) BTW if any helpful friendly types with time on their hands want to give me a master class anytime!

[Frank]

I believe the green TCI delays the initial spark on start up to lessen the chance of backfire and sprag damage. I doubt if you will get a free one now especially since the importers have changed. I got a used one from our hosts.I also tried our hosts performance one which did give a bit more grunt low down but has the annoying habit of firing a spark each time the ignition is turned on. If the engine is in the right place this can fire it and I'm not sure what that does for the sprag. To be honest I've gone back to the original black one. It seems to be the smoothest running of the lot. I guess component tolerances make them all slightly different. 11000 Miles, always use the starter, and no sprag problems to date. My time will come.

[theWoosh]

Just tried to kick start the bike for 15 minutes - didn't fire once and kicked back a couple of times (clang!). The decomp lever honestly doesn't seem to make any difference - just have to sit and wait for a minute or so pressing the kicker till it moves.

Tried the leccie start and clankety-clank rattle, so I thought I'd risk it once more and record it on my phone. started first time. and second time and third time - no rattle.

Doesn't make much sense to me - surely if the sprag clutch is gone it's gone? I admit I haven't yet had a look in the primary - need to get some oil to replace whatever comes out.

[Alan R]

Hi guys----------- thought this might help to visualise things ??------

[Frank]

The decompressor on on the Electra X is useless.Instead of having a separate valve it works by lifting the exhaust valve slightly. Or rather it should do but I find it totally ineffectual. Best forget about it. It shouldn't be too hard to turn over without it, I can just about turn it over by hand on the kickstart. It not a good idea to use it to stop the engine either, I would imagine the exaust valve is vulnerable to damage which could be what's happened here. When you try to use the starter does the engine always turn over or does occasionally just the motor spin? Unless there is obvious debris in the primary to check the sprag properly the outer and inner chain cases will have to come off and to do that the clutch, rotor, chain and engine sprocket will have come off too, then you will need the pullers and holders to do it...and so on.

[theWoosh]

Hi thanks for you replies.
Frank - I use the decomp lever to stop the engine based on advice I have seen in several places to avoid kickback clang when stopping the engine electrically and therefore minimise damage to the sprag clutch...
The starter mainly spins and clatters without engaging the engine (not like that quiet wrr you get when the battery is dead). Sometimes it engages the engine and sometimes enough to start, especially if it is warm (but having said that it often just clatters when it has stalled in the middle of traffic!).
...and I am wondering how I can easily start the bike with the kicker if a) the decomp lever is useless, b) the compression on this bike that has only done 2½ thou is pretty good - I certainly can't move it by hand and it takes ages to move by foot... and c) the ammeter doesn't work to help me out with finding TDC... and d) no starter

[PeteF]

It's no good to keep kicking if it doesn't start. You just flood the spark plug (worth checking that it's wet after a few kicks - if it's not then you're not getting fuel in there)

[PeteF]

Don't think it must be getting fuel as it will start on the E/S - it might not be getting fuel at K/S speed (and you only get one firing stroke per kick)

[theWoosh]

Here's what it sounds like on the electric start http://www.interxmedia.co.uk/wp-content ... arter2.mp3 (best on headphones). This was with choke engaged (it won't start without) and using decomp lever to stop the engine.

See what I mean about scary clanking? and then there were about 3 more times that it just started first touch which I edited out ... go figger...

[Frank]

Not sure really I'm any further forward with the audio to be honest, it sounds like a bag of nails like all the rest, but if the starter spins without engaging the engine then it surely must be the sprag. Time for a strip down I think. As for the advice on using the decomp on shutdown as far as I'm aware that's only applicable to the classic engines and not to the lean burn which is unadvisable. I wouldn't do it on this engine at any rate. You are just as likely to damage the sprag with a kick back when kick starting. I must admit in 8 years I think I've only used the kick start a couple of times, just to see if I could, and I can't remember any problems. Perhaps there is something else going on which makes it difficult and has also caused the sprag to fail.