Forum

[Frank]

Norm, thanks for the warning. Best not to try the valve lifter method then.

[Beezabryan]

The more I read of these elctro mechanical starting devices fitted to engines that do not need them the more I am content with my human starting interface arrangement

[simon]

Norm has it, it's a retro fit issue. These bikes were never designed to be electric start and as a consequence they are a bastardisation that will never be the thing they were promised to be. The 864 cc Ducati V2 was the same. In order to sell to the American market they retro fitted an electric start first with a bendex (truly hideous) and then with a sprag clutch with exactly the same issues. The question that occurs to me is why buy an Enfield if you don't feel up to kick starting a motor? Get a multi or a modern machine with computer controlled electronics that won't kick back.
My tuppence worth. S

[Barry_Q]

I'm with Simon on this one. The electric start was a bodge job as the engine wasn't designed with an electric starter in mind. The valve lifter method of stopping the engine is fine, but it does depend if your valve lifter works properly in the first place (Yes, I had to adjust my Dads Electra X lifter before it worked). At the end of the day, it's your choice. Personally, I think the electric start is ugly. Glad I don't have one.

[Gwilly]

I agree always stop the motor on the decomp or valve lifter, then turn off ignition..

I will also stress that good battery maintenance is vital especially if over 3years old..

Keep plugged to a modern batt tender all the year round.. A lazy turn over is an open invitation for a spit back..

This applies also to starting the bike on the kicker. Kick back will still bust the sprag. gwilly

[Alan (Lancashire)]

mike , are any of your bikes with electric starts , singles?

[Cafeman]

On my 01 when I had the primary apart I noticed the gear in the housing that engages the starter was binding severely in the bronze bushings. This came like this from the factory! It turns out that the bushings were off center from each other, so I slightly honed one bushing to free things up. That's something that anyone might want to check if they are adamant on retaining the thumb start. I don't use it now as I have a small lithium battery and prefer to kick it to life, but with crappy tolerances, thin battery cables, an under powered battery and poorly tuned engine they can all add up to a sprag failure as well as kickbacks.
And what's with this "cafe racer fashionistas" non-sense?? Give us a break Madmike. Why all the hatred? LOL

[Alan (Lancashire)]

micheal , the bikes that suffer most with the sprag failure , are the early bikes , that were designed before electric starts were common , ie: bullet 500 , 4 speed /5 speed and electras ,with a separate gearbox. the later UNIT designed engine fitted to the café racer is a different beast (ok sheep) . the big 500 single (unlike a twin or triple) "rocks merrily" when you stop her , and can easily "go over centre" and swing back, damaging the sprag clutch , this is also a common failure on larger 2 and 3 cyl when using a weak battery.

[grunda 12]

have i got this right from what ive read here electric starts are no good on big singles ?funny that i had a suzuki savage 652 big single for nine years and guess what it didn,t have a kick start did i have any electric starting issues other than tired batteries no i didn,t was i lucky or did mr suzuki do a proper job ?hi mike hope your well or just madder happy days paul