Hitchcocks Forum

I have a '59 Crusader which is making a noise which sounds like the kick start pall is still running inside the ratchet. The kick start is returning hard up to the stop but whatever is supposed to pull the pall in,is not doing it. I have not found a diagram or exploded drawing of the engine which gives me much of a clue about what I'm likely to find wrong when I go inside the box. Can anyone just give me some ideas before I dive in.

Sounds like the pawl is not "parking" properly. A bit of judicious filing/grinding will sort it out. Best to fit a new one while you're in there as the present one will be worn with rubbing.

A good way to establish if the pawl is not disengaging is to put the machine into gear, any gear, with the engine either running or not and pull the clutch in. Now try to roll the machine backwards - if it wont back up, then the pawl is not disengaging. I had this happen on a Crusader once and I found it would not back up when I wanted to at a T junction, it wasn't nasty, but could have been !
Cheers, Paul.

Yes, that's exactly the symptoms and thanks for correcting my spelling of 'pawl'. I did wonder when I wrote it..

What does the pawl park against, some of the drawings I have looked at seem to show a small triangular item and screw on the inside of the case.

You'll see when you strip it but the pawl will come up against a steel plate which pushes it into a recess. (if it's the same as the Bullet set up which I think it is)

Thanks for that. I'll have look at some time.