Hitchcocks Forum

Calling all you Contiinental 535 GT owners, I purchased the new bike a few months ago and have clocked about three hundred miles, I'm really pleased with bike it's all that I expected, but I carnt get the bike to start by kicking it over, it has never even fired once, hot or cold. The bike is still standard as it left the dealer. I'm just wondering what other 535 owners experience with kick starting ?

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Hi Dennis

My GT has 1300 miles on it so far. I used the electric start solely at first, but tried kick starting it just so I can say I've done it! ) The 1993 500 BulIet I used to own was a one or two kicks to start hot or cold.

The technique is the same with the GT as any other big single except the UCE's have automatic decompressors:

With the ignition off, kick the engine over until you feel solid resistance, then gently ease it past until the lever goes free then stop.

Switch on the ignition and wait for the fuel pump to pressurise and the engine light to go out, then I hold the cold start lever open and bring the lever to the top and give it a good kick.

I haven't managed to get it to start from cold in less than about 4 kicks. Once the engine's warm, first kick is easy. I've found that the cold start lever is needed most of the time unless the bike has only been switched off a few minutes.

Obviously kick starting needs to be done either with the bike on the centre stand with the side stand retracted, or by straddling the bike - side stand cutout switch will prevent the bike starting. Twice I've had the bike on the side stand, brought it up onto the main stand to kick start it and after several attempts, realised the side stand was still down which can't be seen when you're standing on the right side to kick start it.

Hope this helps.

Regards

John

Thanks for your reply JohnL, I've just spent some time trying to start the bike doing exactly as you said, but it just won't have it. I'm sure my right legs longer than the left now. I've fitted a pair of heated grips a couple of weeks ago, British made ones that connect direct to the battery, I would like to know that I can start the bike by kicking it over just incase I drain the battery. Oh well I'll try again when I've had a rest in a dark room and my legs back to normal

Dennis, run the grips through a relay and then you won't flatten the battery by forgetting to turn them off

If it's anything like my Electra EFI (UCE) it is virtually impossible to start on the lever. I recon it is all to do with the auto decompressor. Mine requires the engine to be spinning quite fast when it is first started from cold before the decompressor trips out. It clicks noticeably with every revolution until I blip the throttle when it will normally take up its operational position and the engine idles quietly. I believe that you simply can't rotate the engine fast enough with the kickstart to close the exhaust valve and maintain enough compression for the engine to fire. Maybe some of them are a bit sticky or the return spring is a bit strong or something. Mine has always been the same and it has done 14,000 miles. All a bit irritating though.

Clive, I don't think the electric starter spins it fast enough to disengage the decompressor, either.



I experimented with mine - before disabling the decomp - and it will, in fact, run with the decompressor doing its thing. It doesn't remove the compression completely, like the old lever-operated one. Rather, it just extends the exhaust cam timing a bit to *reduce* the compression.



I'd be surprised if it really were the decomp preventing it from starting.



Dennis: are you definitely taking it up to compression, easing it through, and then returning the kickstart lever before taking a full swing?

I wish people wouldn't call them kick starters, that's the last thing to do.
A solid swing from right at the top and follow through right to the bottom is what is required.
Having said that, I've started EFI models on the foot starter and it's not easy. The angle of the lever is not good and it's difficult to get a proper swing. If I owned one I would look to find a way to get a longer swing.

Hi Dennis - I had exactly the same problem with my Iron barrel 500. Everything was well maintained and in good order but starting was always hit or miss (usually miss). And without an electric starter the problem was infuriating. HOWEVER I read on this site of a technique used by a guy called LES H and it solved my problem - hope it does the same for you! Here goes. Follow the normal procedure of finding top dead centre, and easing the piston over TDC as outlined above. However rather than swinging on the starter pedal at this stage, ease the motor a bit further on in its firing cycle. In effect this may mean about another SLOW half an downward push on the starter pedal - perhaps a tad more. BUT don't go TOO far otherwise you'll be back on the compression stroke again. NOW give a firm swing on the pedal and with luck she'll fire up! You may have to practice this technique to find the right position of the engine for your bike, but the principal is this:...... Swinging on the starter pedal just after TDC means you have to turn the engine right through its cycle before you get to another firing stroke, by which time the motor has lost most of the momentum you gave it with your boot. By moving the engine further around its cycle and then swinging the engine you'll be applying momentum THROUGH its compression stroke and thus giving the motor a better chance of firing. Well that's the theory and it works for me - hope it does for you! Cheeers. TONY.

Pete F, I agree, but that term will never change, especially with the additional "if that lever don't start the bike, then give it a kick in frustration' That many feel



Anyway, my EFI is a Woodsman with no problem with the exhaust as it is high level and on the left.



Somebody mentioned this here or in another thread, about always using the cold start lever, unless the bike has only been stopped for a few minutes.

Before this revelation, I had difficulty starting and had to open the throttle a little, but using the cold start with no throttle seems to work wonders, and usually on the first "controlled and smooth operation of the starter lever" - sod it, 'kick'.



But as ever, every RE seems a little bit different!