Hitchcocks Forum

Hi used Hitchcocks a few times found them very helpful so thought i would join the forums to ask my question.

I have a 2007 royal enfield electra x and see loads of posts about the sprag clutch which worries me a bit, mine starts find with the electric start, but if i try to kickstart the bike most times it kicks back but mostly when it's hot. So find it really hard to kickstart which i would like to use more than the electric, any tips or help would be great.

I did have an old 350 which was so easy to kickstart compared to this one.

If it kicks back I am surprised you have not fubarred the sprag already.

Well, the 350 would be a lot easier to kick than the Electra. Perhaps it's your technique? If it was trying to kick back against the electric start the sprag would soon have been toast.

I think it only kicks back when i try to kickstart it, but today i have been trying again and managed to do it twice so hopefully i have have found a way.

Electric start works great, but just worried that it might go.

Sorry forgot to ask so when it kicks back when i kickstart it can that still break the sprag clutch ?

No, it shouldn't harm the sprag if it kicks back using the kick start (though it can harm the oil feed drive gears which doesn't like going backwards)

Think i might sell it and buy a newer one, but this one is really nice and will be gutted letting it go.

If it is any comfort I've had mine 11years and 15000 miles and always used the electric start without problem. Someone else I know has wrecked 2 sprags whilst using the kickstart. Besides there is no point in trying to save the sprag if you are not going to use it. Make the most of it while you have got it.

Thank you Frank but someone said kick starting them will not harm the sprag

If the engine goes backwards even a short distance that can fubar the sprag.