Kick start won't engage

[RoyC]

Kickstart won't engage all the time.
I think that it's something to do with the quadrant.
How much damage can I do if I take the cover off the gearbox?
The box has STD stamped on it.
Thanks,
Roy.

[RichardL]

Is kicking over incredibly stiff, or is it that it won't engage at all (as in free-wheeling kick-start pedal)?

Richard L.

[RoyC]

Is kicking over incredibly stiff, or is it that it won't engage at all (as in free-wheeling kick-start pedal)?

Richard L.

The kickstart lever hits something solid and won't go any farther.
It will sometimes engage and kicks over normally.

[RichardL]

Do a forum seach for " pointy quadrant ". There should be info there to help you. Taking the outer cover off of the gearbox is not a major job.


EDITED. Yeah. Ignore all that. I missed what you said about otherwise kicking normally. That's what happens when you get an idea in your head that won't let go.

Richard L.

[Black Sheep]

Try putting it in gear, ease the bike backwards an inch or two, take it out of gear and then see if the kickstart engages. In this case it's just a bit of wear on the quadrant. Not uncommon.

[cotterpinkid]

Mine does this occasionally. As Black Sheep says, just pop it in gear and give it a little nudge and things should work.

[RoyC]

Thanks lads.
Just went down the garage, did as you suggested and it kicked over normally.
Is this an indication of troubles to come?
I only purchased the bike in January, been refurbishing it, haven't had it on the road yet.
I have changed all of the lubricants, no leaks or wet sumping just one weep from a new petrol tap, GRRR.
I'me having a Grand Prix Jubilee sidecar made for it by Watsonian.

[muskrat]

G'day Roy.
Yes my Cafe does that as well. Found it to be wear in the pinion bush. I find most after market bush's wear very quickly (especially kicking over a 10.5:1 monster). Next time I'll make my own out of something a little harder.
My 51 has the opposite problem of not engaging from time to time, again wear in other bush's.
A real pane if stuck in the fast lane at traffic lights.
Cheers

[JulianS]

I think most stick occasionally.

If in doubt about condition of the kickstart mechanism it is easy enough to check. Having drained the oil just remove the gearbox outer cover - 4 nuts and 3 screws and pull it off using the clutch lever to hold the kickstart. No need to remove the levers.

The first photo shows the mechanism.

If the pinion and/or bush are worn just undo the nut and slide the parts off. You will need to lock the shaft with bike in gear.

The pinions have often had a hard life and the one in the second photo is well past its best.

You may get an oil leak from the kickstart bush when you ride the bike.

[chaterlea25]

HI All,
Julian,
In the first photo the battered kickstart stop can be seen
Every gearbox I open seems to have suffered the same fate
Somewhere back along I posted about a modified stop,
I have made these for the boxes I have rebuilt and had no further trouble with them

John

[JulianS]

HI All,
Julian,
In the first photo the battered kickstart stop can be seen
Every gearbox I open seems to have suffered the same fate
Somewhere back along I posted about a modified stop,
I have made these for the boxes I have rebuilt and had no further trouble with them

John

Yes its a common problem and this one went to SRM for repair.

Just looked at your mod which looks very neat and more substantial than the original.

I wish I had seen it before!

Very nice.

[chaterlea25]

Hi All,
It maybe worth adding the link to the kickstart stop repair topic?

http://www.a7a10.net/forum/index.php?topic=2914.msg19637;topicseen#msg19637

Thanks for the compliment Julian

John

[Black Sheep]

Roy, not really anything to get too worried about. Just something to bear in mind for some point in the future.

[RoyC]

Roy, not really anything to get too worried about. Just something to bear in mind for some point in the future.

I will wait until they have fitted this sidecar for me (in case I cock it up) then I will have a go at fixing it