Yesterday (son absent) I thought I’d try and start the project. Fresh petrol, waited for carbs to fill, pulled in front cyl decompressor and got myself ready on the kickstart. Having psyched myself up, I launched myself on the lever. It went down about an inch and sprang back. You’d think I was trying to start a single-cylinder diesel of massive capacity. Now this bike starts straight away on the rollers, but on the kickstart (which I’d already lengthened by 3 inches) no chance.
Clearly it’s going to need an electric start if I’m ever going to ride it. Now I’ve pondered this for a while, so at last I’ve ordered a starter motor (as fitted to a Firestorm, another short-stroke, high compression 1 litre engine). When it arrives, the thinking cap will need overdrive sorting out how (if it’s even possible) it can be achieved. At present I’m thinking a worm drive would give the most compact reduction and allow me to mount the motor along the top of the primary drive (can’t put it in front of the motor in the usual position, as the front cylinder is in the way).