Hitchcocks Forum

Does anybody know why my kickstart lever moves back when I put the power on in 1st and 2nd gear , no strange sounds . I have the close ratio kit with all new main shaft bearings and layshaft bearings , the gear box works fine . This is a 1995 export classic in a high state of tune pumping out about 40 bhp or more .

My year 2000 Bullet 500 did this regularly for about the first 3 years but only does it occasionally nowadays.. Is it a case of "They all do that, sir" ? Do be careful not to look down and see what it is.. I did once, which was a mistake.

It's the kickstart spindle that's moving with the layshaft, probably worn a bit. This spindle forms the bush for the layshaft on the offside. They don't "all do that" but it is a common fault. The more power you have the worse this will be.

Hi Phil,

Could be the pinch bolt on the gear change pinching the shaft a bit and slightly engagening the kick leaver, try slackening off a wee bit. this happende to a mate with his 3003 bullet 500.

If your talking the lever with the rubber on, mine started doing that after oiling the hinge pin,it`s sprung loaded and should click into the off position.

I replaced the bearings and layshaft bushes on my Inter but it still does it, not all the time just occasionally and it has oil in the box

-----------mine does it as well (2005 Classic 500, 4-speed box). If you pull away "smartly" from a standing start it will do that, then comes forward and smacks the back of my R/H boot !!---- I altered the kickstarter anti-clockwise by about 3 splines---it still moves but doesn't clout my boot anymore. I also employ the "LES H patent starting technique" with good results.

Yep they all do it. It is a demostration of the friction of the layshaft in the bush that fits in the lickstart 1st gear, so perhaps a needle bearing would help? Don't forget there is also the effect of inertia as you accelerate, in effect leaving the top of the kick start behind as you move forward which pivots the lever backwards. I think a stronger return spring might be the answer, Perhaps Mr H could get one fabricated and sold here? You would also imagine that this fairly regular event would speed up the wear on the kickstart ratchet pawl.