MKIII blowback when kickstarting

Sounds like a lot of guys here are just about ready for hospice with all their injuries.

If this thread is still about kick starting... My Norton engine does not start gently kicking it over when cold. For the most part starting the dumb old things requires a positive attitude. Man over machine thinking. That and a solid kick with enough fuel in the combustion chamber. Much easier to start warm when the oil is thin and the fuel film is higher in the intake tract. Doesn't take much of a kick with a hot motor.

I've owned a lot of kick start motorcycle (not 150 like GrandPaul, but more than 2 dozen). I have never injured myself kick starting a motorcycle. Based on advice here I apparently do it all wrong. A gentle or slow kick never worked for me on a cold motor. A warm motor a half hearted kick can sometime work.

By the way, I never leave my leg down foot on the kick start and let the kick start gear rachet when the motor fires up like one is supposed to be able to do. I get my foot off the kick start lever immediately. Also probably wrong and hard on one thing or another, but no sad injuries to report from doing it that way.

MexicoMike said:

I have a friend with a Mk III and all he did to make the starter work consistently was to replace the OEM starter cables with those of larger gauge. He made no other changes to the system, motor, etc. It still works fine - starts the bike with no trouble though admittedly it doesn't spin the engine over like an Alton or (I assume) a CNW.

I definitely agree with the concept that having a MkIII means you e-start the bike! Heck, I removed the kick start lever from my '73 about 6 months after I installed the Alton...10 years ago.

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I know someone with a mk111 that didn't know there was an issue with the starter
He's had the bike from almost new ,he did replace the cables and solenoid early on but that's it
He doesn't do "internet" so didn't realize it was unreliable!

Many years ago I had a friend who rode to work at the bike shop on his Manx Norton. His party trick to start it up was to put it on the rear wheel stand, put it in gear and spin the wheel by hand

Anvill said:

Hi guys,

As I've been working through the many kinks of a freshly running rebuild I've come across a few things I was hoping to get some advice on. First and foremost, every once in a while when I'm kickstarting, the engine almost starts and throws the kickstart lever back to upright position with some force (certainly more force than just the spring). Its only done this 2 or 3 times out of many. Having never owned or ridden a properly running Commando I can't say as to whether or not this is normal, but without knowing one way or the other it feels a little scary since my foot is along for the ride. Any ideas what may be going on here? Happy to answer any questions.

Thanks,
Anthony

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Timing too advanced will cause kick back.always have it on overlap, not on compression, kick it through

Anvill said:

Hi guys,

As I've been working through the many kinks of a freshly running rebuild I've come across a few things I was hoping to get some advice on. First and foremost, every once in a while when I'm kickstarting, the engine almost starts and throws the kickstart lever back to upright position with some force (certainly more force than just the spring). Its only done this 2 or 3 times out of many. Having never owned or ridden a properly running Commando I can't say as to whether or not this is normal, but without knowing one way or the other it feels a little scary since my foot is along for the ride. Any ideas what may be going on here? Happy to answer any questions.

Thanks,
Anthony

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Mart UK said:

Maybe there's something in keeping the mk3 e-start functioning.

I have still not managed a kickstart from stone cold. Once ridden, it's fine, but it wouldn't get ridden without the e-start 1st thing. Also, I don't get the "kickstart assist". Do you kick it and press the starter? Sounds dangerous!

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That's how I used to start my Shovelhead, in December, in New England, 12F, with Castrol GP60 oil. Stand my 250 lbs on the kicker, & hit the e-start

Mart UK said:

Also, I don't get the "kickstart assist". Do you kick it and press the starter?

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The rider puts his or her weight on the kickstart lever and then the starter motor is operated and yes, it does "assist".

since altering the timing is relatively easy, I suggest retarding it SLIGHTY, and see if that reduces/stops kickbacks. It probably will make little difference to anything else. Note : I said little, not no diffference.