Hitchcocks Forum

My kickstarter doesn't work anymore. I guess the pawl is gone. However, he sometimes works, but then something like 30-40 degrees further down. Is that due to pawl damage ? Or to a spring ?

Sounds like the pawl is worn or just sticking with hardened grease and dirt..

The spring only lifts the kickstart back to the start position after the kick down..

Heres how to repair from the technical notes..


http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/pi ... -08-17.pdf

The pawl assembly consists of the pawl itself, a plunger and a spring. I suppose it could be the pawl spring that has given up but more likely the pawl itself is worn.
Anyway, you will need to go into the gearbox to check. Mr H sells a kit of all the bits you will need (pawl, plunger, spring, gasket, lock washer, kick start O ring)
When the pawl is replaced, make sure it "parks" in the little cutaway properly. If it doesn't, it ratchets all the time and wears out in no time.
While you have the gearbox end off it's worth thinking about whether you want to replace the case screws with hex equivalents. Also, depending on mileage, whether the grease needs replacing. If it has 00 grease in you can do the job and keep most of the grease in situ.
It's worth checking the kick starter shaft bush while you're in there as they are prone to wear.

Thanks for the replies
I couldn't wait and opened the gearbox. It was both the plunger and the spring that weres stuck. The pawl showed little signs of wear. I am expecting the kit for overhauling the kickstarter one of these days, and will install a new spring, plunger and pawl.
The mix of grease and oil looked very recent and hardly "polluted". I think I will put it back, and top up a bit. The kickstarter bush looks really alright.