75 Electric start Commando - can't kick start it

grandpaul · Aug 5, 2019

o0norton0o said:
Someone from another thread suggested something that I've never tried. He pushes down and gets the kick starter to where he can tell from the strong resistance that it's going toward compression, then he puts the bike into gear (2nd is better than 1st, and maybe 3rd would be better) and rolls the bike backwards slightly so it rotates the crank until he gets some resistance. Now the pistons are positioned on an intake stroke on one cylinder, and the backside of the power stroke of the other. This gives you less resistance on the kick lever to give the crankshaft more inertial energy with your kick before it confronts the resistance of compression...

Same as simply pressing the kicker till you feel compression, then just a bit more till it starts to relieve; THEN kick-start it.

swooshdave · Aug 5, 2019

grandpaul said:
Same as simply pressing the kicker till you feel compression, then just a bit more till it starts to relieve; THEN kick-start it.

On a fresh motor it can be challenging to get it past compression. Once it breaks in its easier. It’s like we need a training video.

Had a couple people recently come up to me thanking me for showing them how to kickstart a Norton without having to leap on the lever.

jimbo · Aug 5, 2019

MexicoMike said:
I wouldn't worry about not being able to kickstart if the E-start fails. You can always bump-start it. Heck if you are facing downhill, bumpstarting is easier/quicker than kickstarting anyway. I removed the kickstart lever from my Commando (Alton E-start) a while back and have never missed it. On flat ground, 3rd gear/clutch in, a bit of of a jog, pop the clutch and there you go!

I removed the kick starter , shaft and the stuff with it years ago.

75 Electric start Commando - can't kick start it

GRM 450 · Aug 5, 2019

My 2 cents worth,,

My Mk111 is hard to kick. It feels like kicking through wet cement.
It does usually start from cold with the first kick ( Mikuni, Pazon ) and 12 k miles on the rebuilt motor.
But it does have lots of drag / resistance felt through the kick starter.
This is the only Commando I have owned so I can’t compare.
I’ve had Ducati bevel twins and singles (450) and all are lots easier to kick over.
I have had the e start disconnected for a time when the sprag bearing shit itself and it feelt the same to kick, as with the e start connected.
No wet sump or e start drag.
Not complaining just agreeing with bsa

Graeme

bsanorton · Aug 11, 2019

GRM 450 said:
My 2 cents worth,,

My Mk111 is hard to kick. It feels like kicking through wet cement.
It does usually start from cold with the first kick ( Mikuni, Pazon ) and 12 k miles on the rebuilt motor.
But it does have lots of drag / resistance felt through the kick starter.
This is the only Commando I have owned so I can’t compare.
I’ve had Ducati bevel twins and singles (450) and all are lots easier to kick over.
I have had the e start disconnected for a time when the sprag bearing shit itself and it feelt the same to kick, as with the e start connected.
No wet sump or e start drag.
Not complaining just agreeing with bsa

Graeme

Thank you all for the feedback, sorry was on vacation this past week, was hoping to win money in Vegas to buy a TriSpark, LOL!! Good points on all and Graeme you described the feeling exactly. I will continue to try some of the suggestions.....

Danno · Aug 12, 2019

bsanorton said:
Very interesting LAB, on occasion I hear what sounds like a slap in that area when I hit the starter button, but it never fails to fire up the engine...

That's just the primary chain prior to the tensioner priming.

Danno · Aug 12, 2019

I would raise the float level on the Mikuni as high as possible without preventing the needle from seating.

75 Electric start Commando - can't kick start it

grandpaul

swooshdave

jimbo

GRM 450

bsanorton

Danno

Danno

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