Forum

[jefrs]

PeteF, actually easing it over TDC is a sensible precaution, it is after all what you would do with a kick start, especially with no decompressor. In fact if you have a kick start, to use that and then hit the button.

Try kicking a goldie, it's street performance art, you always get an audience. For theft prevention they're left in gear on full advance and with the air slide closed to stop stuff going down the bell mouth, woe betide the foolish. The ElectraX should not need the arcane ritual of tickling, rolling the bike about to find neutral, priming, calling St Johns Ambulance, freeing the clutch and waggling levers, easing it over and praying. It's just too much effort and it looks like you're throwing toys out of the pram - the starter should be able to do the job. Check the battery condition

[PeteF]

Oh, I've kicked Goldies! Not a problem once you have the knack (actually several knacks)

[papasmurf]

[PeteF]

Gaz, I just remember a slightly easier way. I had an M20 years ago with a broken kickstart (and couldn't afford to fix it) so it was push start or nothing.
I used to put it in gear and push the bike backward onto compression. That way I lost no travel by accidently going too far past TDC. Then it was into neutral, push like mad and jump on (usually several times if I remember) Fortunately my place of work was at the top of a hill so homeward journeys started a lot easier. Morning starts from home certainly warmed me up!!

[Beezabryan]

"...... on the kick start it spins the crank several times."
Does it? Mine doesn't

[Dennis C]

I bought a bike that did Bryan, it had no compression and just kept spinning, a rebore and piston stopped all that though then it was a brute to kick off.

[sofiaspin]

People moan about Velocettes, well I have had three and the current '38 MSS 500cc is a doddle to start. Compression, then down to 6 O'clock then a firm and assured swing, having tickled the carb and with the choke off, then wind in fast idle on pre-mono and away ye go. The leanburn is a complete bastard to start in comparison, with compression up there with a Velo Thruxton.

[Bet]

90% of using a kicker is sussing out a routine/sequence that works for you and the machine. I am only 10 stone just out of the bath, but if I don't kick start my V-twin american thingy (1200cc, 9:1 comp.), I don't go anywhere. The other 10% is tolerating any pain caused by it biting back. Never have appreciated the idea of having an electric foot.

[Rattlebattle]

I very much doubt that the C5 kickstart turns over the engine more than one compression stroke after having positioned the piston just past tdc on the firing stroke. It certainly doesn't turn it over several times. The only engines that do this in my experience were Jap 2 stroke twins. I agree that each engine will respond best to a specific routine. A friend of mine actually had a nosebleed trying to start his Goldie. Mine always started first or second kick, hot or cold, providing the same procedure was followed. Then again, it did have a concentric carb. Trying to start one with a GP carb is bound to be fraught with difficulty because they don't have an idle jet. When you consider that big twins with cylinders well in excess of 500cc start reliably enough, there is no reason why a properly designed and specced electric start/battery on a 500 RE shouldn't either. Mine starts quickly on the button every time, though I prefer to use the kickstart. On any electric start bike or car I always dip the clutch to give the starter motor a slightly easier time.