Hitchcocks Forum

Hello All,

I recently bought my first classic bike (1953 Redditch Model G) and I'm just starting to put together a list of parts needed to hopefully get it roadworthy in time for the summer. Before I dive too far in and start stripping things down further than I need to I just wanted to ask for some advice about the kick start lever.

When the engine isn't running the kick start lever sits in its normal position but once the engine has been started it remains in the rear most position. If you lift the lever back up to where it should be then it flops backwards as if a return spring isn't being applied.

If it helps in any way... The lever didn't do this when I first bought the bike, it only started when I removed the foot rests and the foot rest shaft to start looking at and oil leak from the chain cover. I don't know if this has any relevance but it's the only thing that I've touched so far.

Any suggestions as to how to resolve this would be much appreciated.

Don't be put off, I don't think your work will have caused this! It sounds as if the kickstart spring is weak or not sufficiently tensioned. These early springs can be a bu**er to get properly set. Check that there is enough tension on the spring itself (you can sometimes wind it round one more turn from it's natural resting point) and that the spring cup which sits over it on the kickstart shaft has good square edges which will keep the cup tightly in place while the k/s lever is fully tightened.

REgards, Mark

As mark suggests those springs are a bugger to tension. It's all too easy to not wind the spring up enough and the result is that the lever will return with a dead engine but not with the engine running. The friction from the shaft turning will defeat the spring.

Personally I have always found tensioning any kick start type return spring difficult and needing of disinfectant and field dressings handy.

Thanks chaps. I really appreciate the suggestions. It sounds like gloves and some patience are required. If anyone else has a model G and is happy for me to ask them some basic questions I would be very grateful. I have a sneaky suspicion that some of the parts that are fitted are from a different model enfield....

Mr G, if you can post pictures I'm sure we can help!

REgards, Mark

Thanks Mark. I'll start a new thread and upload a photo.

Hello Mr Ginger,
You have to make a few turns on your spring coil to have it tensioned...
Have a look too at the spring cover : normally, it turns with the kickstarter shaft, holded on it by a "flat" on the hole where the shaft goes through. The problem is that when there is some wear on that "flat", the cover tends to sleep off it's lodging because of the spring tension. One mod I made it to fit a screw on the cover, just behind the kickstarter lever. Like that, the strenght of the spring tension on the "flat" that keeps th cover in place is reduced. I can send you photos of that mod, if you want.
Hope it will help you
Claude

Thanks Claude. That tip may be really useful. I haven't been getting home until it's been dark all week and not likely to have a chance to look at it properly until Saturday morning. I'll update this thread with the fix (once i've actually fixed it). Thanks again

Here is a photo of the small bolt against the kickstarter. It greeatly helps, even if I have to resettle it, to ease the movement of the spring cover.