Forum

[PeteF]

Your choice Papa but just because it's got good compression doesn't mean you can't kick start it. BSA Gold star ??

[papasmurf]

PeteF I cannot physically kick start it due to my short legs, plus disability.

[Beezabryan]

Now I have turned to page 2 I will change my reply
I have a bodily frailty that is compensated for by having long legs. The older Bullet & me have an understanding built over many years, it starts without fuss and I don't mess about with it

[pd110961]

hi. I had this problem for a few weeks, but thanks to the forum I've got it sussed now.

ignition on, decompresser in, kick her 10 times. turn idle screw in 1 full turn on the carb. get to TDC, ease over with decomp devce, then one long kick with NO THROTTLE.

mine does no like the choke either. when it fires, catch her with the throttle and let her warm up, then back off idle screw.

This works for ME and MY bike. there has been many comments, ie why 10 kicks, crab must be set up wrong if it doesn't need choke etc. Either way, it works, and the bike runs brilliantly.

[PeteF]

pd110961, sounds about right but 10 kicks seems a lot - 4/5 usually does it.

It's also useful to kick through with the clutch pulled to unstick the plates.
Funny how they are all different, mine insists on a tad of throttle or it won't play nice.

[papasmurf]

Several kicks with the clutch pulled in to free the clutch plates up is normal practice if you don't want a horrible crunching sound when trying to put it in gear. When I bought my Electra 2nd hand, it had been kick started regularly but not ridden for a year, or the clutch pulled in. (That is why I trailered it home.) After fitting a new battery because the one on it was knackered, the engine had to be run for an hour with the clutch lever bungeed in before the clutch freed off.