Forum

[theWoosh]

and...
5) from the same source ( http://royal-enfield.10950.n7.nabble.co ... 14848.html ), the following:
'The 'valve lifter' lever on the Electra X was originally the choke on a
Suzuki.
What is needed is a 'proper' valve lifter lever with correct leverage.
I use one from off a 1950s B series BSA. End of problem. '

... !?
Time to get back to some work!

[theWoosh]

on 5) - it does look like (judging by pictures on ebay - search for 98 SUZUKI KATANA 600 GSX600F GSXF600 GSX CHOKE CONTROL LEVER) that he is right... So replacing the handlebar lever with a 'proper' lever giving more leverage would solve the decomp problem?

Something like this? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-ROY ... 2a3fff7634

(Ebay BRAND NEW ROYAL ENFIELD BRASS CHROMED DECOMP LEVER)

I find that hard to believe in the light of previous criticisms of this system...
(now REALLy back to work!)

[Norm]

Whoosh, do yourself a favour and fix the Electra then offload it and get a Honda. I don't know why but some of the Electras and Cast Irons kick back and bust sprags some don't you obviously have one that does and no matter what you try it will continue to cause you grief. Another problem with the decomp on the Electra is that it is really a valve lifter and the entire mechanism is under designed to compress the exhaust valve spring including the tappet that was reduced in diameter from 9mm to 6mm to get the lifter to fit in the existing cases. Wish there was something more positive I could add, problem is they are what they are and if you can't manage to kick start it then it probably should go. Cast Irons are easier to kick start with a decomp that works

[Thack]

I've never had my Electra X kick back, thankfully, but very often when I stopped the engine it would "bounce back" off compression as it came to a halt, engaging the sprag clutch and giving a brief "whizz" sound from the starter motor. I suspect the automatic decompressor on the UCE/EFi engine will avoid that?

[theWoosh]

'Whoosh, do yourself a favour and fix the Electra then offload it and get a Honda'
I guess if I come to sell there'll be no point advertising it here!...

[Thack]

Hey, Norm, it's interesting what you said about the tappet stem being reduced in diameter on the AVR engine, because when mine was in the warranty period I was tootling along at about 60mph and it suddenly cut out. A roadside inspection showed a pushrod had jumped. It was recovered to the dealer who told me that one of the tappets heads had broken off. They fixed it and it never happened again, but do you think the tappet stems are too thin on the AVR engine?

[Norm]

Whoosh you have to find some mug to buy you Electra and they are still out there

[Thack]

Well..... apart from that one-off tappet failure on my Electra, I was well pleased with it and never had the slightest trouble with it apart from that one occasion where it oiled its air filter after a 6 month lay-up. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Electra to anyone, but of course I've only had experience of the one I owned.

[Davie Hall]

My electra,has just undergone a full engine rebuild and at present doesn't have the decompressor working. What I have noticed is that when I'm using the electric foot , is if I release the starter button as it fires it will kick back so I hold it on for a second or so to make sure it is running properly and is ok to release the button. As for kick starting I am heavy enough to kick it over compression if need be

[Adrian]

Expecting a good word from Norm about the Electra-X would be a bit like asking survivors of the Titanic to endorse Harland and Wolff's design of their water-tight compartments, I seem to recall he had more than the usual share of problems with his... When I put my Redditch AVL hybrid together I made sure it was K/S only and had the extra-wide stem Samrat cam followers our hosts used to sell for the classic models (and a BT-H magneto as soon as I could afford one). Perfect - just don't ask about the gearbox.

Regards,

A.