Kickstart Problem

[Moonie]

A guy in our village asked me to take a look at his little thumpstar yesterday, because the kick start isn't working and he keeps having to bump it.

When you try to kick it over there is very little resistance, and nothing at all happens.

I was thinking either the thread on whatever the kickstart is attatched to is worn and the kick is just spinning on it.

However, you can still sort of feel it "click" a few times when you push it down if you know what I mean.


So my next thought was compression, maybe a gasket?

Having said that when bumped it runs for a little while, which I didn't think you could do with a blown gasket.


Any ideas?

cheers

[lydanial]

i dont know much about the real thumper but i know that my little chinese pit bike is a bit strange on the kick start.

if you try and start it with the clutch in the kick start just spins occasionally catching very slightly and making a clicking noise.. it has to be started out of gear with no clutch depression and then it kicks over every time.

try and see if thats what it is.

[Moonie]

we have tryed with every possible combination of clutch/throttle/gear already, thanks though.

[tutton]

Sounds like his kickstart cog has gone,
if its bumping and riding fine and not smoking like a pig.

cant remember what there called,
although shouldnt take a terrible amount to kick a 125 over.
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Ant132]

I had a pretty similar problem, not on a pit bike though..

What is was, was that when i had split the crankcases i had forgotten to put the kickstart guide in that keeps the spring in case and lets the shaft return after kicking it, so the guide not being there the return spring just popped out.

Similarly, I could push it down and it would sometimes turn the engine over, but just flop down.

Either way, I think you need to split the cases and see whats going on.

Ant.

[BradFl]

When you pull the clutch in, the kickstart will go down with very little resistance like you said, so there may be a chance the clutch is sticking (like engaged when it shouldnt be..)

[tutton]

From all the pitbikes ive owned/rode mates
you dont ever pull the clutch in to start them...

Knock it back into neutral and start from there always.
Not sure if this is the same for big bikes as i dont own one ha.
____________________
Past: '05 Peugeot XPS '99 Aprillia RS125 '94 FZR600R
Current: '02 ZX636 A1P '51 CCM R30

[Moonie]

Clutch makes no difference to the kick it will start in nuetral with or without, it will even start without in gear, but obviously that just pelts it forward lol.

I'll get the case open if he will let me, although he'll probably try taking it to a mechanic

Cheers guys, cookies all round