Kick start for noobs

[Matariki]

Finally after much waiting I recently received my motorcycle from Auckland, now I want to ride it, however I'm not sure how to get it going using the kick start. :facepalm:

So, err, how do you do it? :sweatdrop

[Hopeful Bastard]

I take it the bike is the same you have listed under your "bike" in your profile?

If it doesnt have electric start, You can usually feel the compression build up if you keep kickin it. If all else fails, Would it start by bump starting? Kill switch isnt on?

[Matariki]

I take it the bike is the same you have listed under your "bike" in your profile?

If it doesnt have electric start, You can usually feel the compression build up if you keep kickin it. If all else fails, Would it start by bump starting? Kill switch isnt on?

Bump starting? Whats that?

[Robbie_]

Bump starting? Whats that?

Run along the road with the throttle open in 2nd, jump on and dump the clutch :innocent:

But when kick starting the bike, place it in neutral with the clutch disengaged. As previously said you should "feel" the compression.

[Teflon]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/RidingEvents/ridingeventsresults/Riding-skills/2011/June/jun0311-riding-skills-kickstarting-big-single-in-flip-flops/

[Drew]

I'm working on the theory that the TS is still a two stroke like the early ones.

Turn the bike on, put it in neutral, pull out the choke, (this might be a lever/knob on the carb, or a lever on the left handle bar) and take it off the stand whilst sitting on it. Turn the kick start out and place your right foot on it, gently pushing down until you can feel pressure fighting the downward motion. At this point, let the kick start back to the top, and give it a sharp kick, (push down). On a 2003 model I expect you should only have to do this once or twice. If it needs more than three kicks and the ambient temperature is nice, turn the choke off and give it a couple kicks.

Have fun.

[sinfull]

She wasn't expecting that


http://lolsnaps.com/upload_pic/316.gif

[Ender EnZed]

I've found that in order to get enough force into the kick on a tall bike I need to stand further toward the back of the seat than I would sit.

[Taz]

Give JunkmanJoe a pm and ask him to come around and show you how it's done.

[cheshirecat]

The last bike I tried to kickstart was a 600cc Panther. Opened the decompresion lever, stood on the kickstarter and it didn't move. Was ony a skinny teenager at the time. Not only that I was unnerved by rubber loose on the lever causing ones boot to slip off and the thing to backfire into ones calf, which happend to my friend. We never did get it started.

[george formby]

Ta Da. you toob...

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NQV3UGAbfIc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[unstuck]

Not many of my mates could kick start my old xr600r,which was good.:yes:

[george formby]

Not many of my mates could kick start my old xr600r,which was good.:yes:

Whilst fossicking for de above video I found lashings of how to start XL 500's. My all time fav was an old XT 500. Barsterd of a thing.

[slofox]

Technology must have come a long way since I started riding bikes...they were all kick start then (course this was in the olden days you unnerstand...)

Here's a brief summary of how I did it...(once anyway).

Go to a party. Drink as much as you can get hold of. Then go out to your bike.

Sit astride bike. Turn on gas. Push kickstart pedal slowly down a couple of times until you feel compression. Leap high into air and bring full weight down on kickstart. You will see the horizon suddenly appear vertical. At the same time you will feel a sharp pressure on your left side. This is caused by you and the bike falling over onto your left side.

Climb out from under bike. Use as much profanity as you can lay your tongue around. Hoist bike back to upright position, cursing and swearing as you do.

Try again, as above, but this time, take care not to lean left at all. This time you will see the horizon appear vertical, as above, but the sharp pressure will be on your right side. Yep, you've fallen the other way this time. Once again, crawl out from under bike and hoist the bastard back upright again. Redouble profanity if you have the vocab.

Wheel bike over to curbside and park it in the gutter. It helps if the gutter is real deep - it kinda props the bike up when you jump on the kickstart. Once you can successfully kick it without falling over, spend about ten minutes fruitlessly kicking shit out of it with no sign at all of it starting or even farting come to that.

At this point, sweating like fuck and close to vomiting all over the road (and your bike), you will remember that when you went in to the party, you pulled the plug lead off to "stop any bastard stealing it!" ...:facepalm:

Push the plug lead back on. Repeat all of above, taking extra care to avoid falling arse over tip again. Bike will roar into life and you will be able to weave and lurch your way home, wondering as you go why the lights go dim every time the revs drop. Once home, park bike in shed and lurch into bed.

Next day, nursing one mother of a hangover, you will find the battery missing from your bike. No wonder those fucking lights were acting weird! You will then retrace your meandering path all the way back across the city to where the party was...where you will find your battery lying upside down on the side of the road with all the acid spilled out and the plates dry (and fucked of course). There will be extensive acids burns in the tar seal. At which point, you should look furtively around to make sure nobody has seen you and then do a runner.

Go buy another battery and vow never to ride pissed again.

[george formby]

You forgot to mention all the above must be performed in your socks coz you could'nt find your boots Slofox.

[slofox]

You forgot to mention all the above must be performed in your socks coz you could'nt find your boots Slofox.

I don't remember that bit...:o:

[george formby]

I don't remember that bit...:o:

I do, it was snowing too. Ah, the stupidity of yoof.

[SMOKEU]

Take the plug out as the engine may be flooded if you've been kicking it over for too long without it starting. Try not to break any toes kick starting it either (I managed to do that on more than one occasion trying to start the old CG125).

[Sable]

It's a shitty old 2 stroke. Put the choke on and kick the shit out of it until something happens. If nothing does then the bike's probably fucked.

[Matariki]

It's a shitty old 2 stroke. Put the choke on and kick the shit out of it until something happens. If nothing does then the bike's probably fucked.

Well, the engine turns over, I just can't get to go. Its frustrating because I want to ride bloody thing.

[Matariki]

I almost got it going but then it putted out, should I be using the throttle?

[JATZ]

2 words.....:facepalm:

Is the fuel on ? does it have oil in the reservoir ? is the key on ? there should be screw......
nevermind, p.m. junkmanjoe he's in Masterton town if thats close to you ? and he's a nice guy

[Sable]

Okay. The 3 rules of mechanicing. Fuel spark compression. Must have all 3. deduce which is lacking and work your way back from there.

[Drew]

I almost got it going but then it putted out, should I be using the throttle?It's hard to sort these things out from behind a computer screen. If it's been sitting for ages the carb might need a clean, but lets worry about that later.

If it starts to go , then try a little bit of throttle when it fires.

[Matariki]

2 words.....:facepalm:

Is the fuel on ? does it have oil in the reservoir ? is the key on ? there should be screw......
nevermind, p.m. junkmanjoe he's in Masterton town if thats close to you ? and he's a nice guy

Yes, yes, yes,

I've checked all of that.

[george formby]

Fresh petrol, new plug?

If it's firing try & catch it with a BIT of throttle. Too much will flood it.

[unstuck]

My old 2smoker will only fire when cold with the throttle wide open.:yes:

[Drew]

My old 2smoker will only fire when cold with the throttle wide open.:yes:Clean the pilot jet out then.

[george formby]

Clean the pilot jet out then.

Just put a new one in Krusty, 38, down from 40. Fired first kick & idled straight away. Ning ning ning. Scaring children. Gotta love race pipes.

[Drew]

Just put a new one in Krusty, 38, down from 40. Fired first kick & idled straight away. Ning ning ning. Scaring children. Gotta love race pipes.

That's how my DT motor starts in the bucket every time. Only I have to put it in gear and spin the wheel with it on the stand though as the kick start doesn't fit.

[george formby]

If it's any help...when I resurrected my KDX I had to reset the float level, put in a new float needle & cleaned out the carb & air filter. I have the mechanical ability of a drunk jellyfish & it was easy. Just in case you need to delve a bit further.... The bike ran a lot better & hopefully now it has a smaller pilot jet it will be spot on. I figured fixing things one step at a time was the way forward.

[unstuck]

Clean the pilot jet out then.

Bin there, done that. Just seems to be a peculiar characteristic of that bike, the rest of the time it runs like a charm.:yes:

[Matariki]

Hmm... I've been watching videos on youtube on starting a motorcycle with a kick start, and I've noticed how smoothly their kick start's were. Mine's a bit jerky and stiff, it doesn't seem to want to move in a smooth motion. Is this normal?

[Matariki]

Fresh petrol, new plug?

If it's firing try & catch it with a BIT of throttle. Too much will flood it.

I'll try putting some new petrol in, but any ides on how to dispose of the old petrol safely?

[Drew]

Hmm... I've been watching videos on youtube on starting a motorcycle with a kick start, and I've noticed how smoothly their kick start's were. Mine's a bit jerky, it doesn't seem to want to move in a smooth motion. Is this normal?You're putting too much into it at the top of the stroke I'd say. Apply pressure untill it starts to move, then give it your all. If you start too hard it is all ugly and not smooth.

[Drew]

I'll try putting some new petrol in, but any ides on how to dispose of the old petrol safely?

Cigarette lighter?

[Matariki]

Cigarette lighter?

Er, I was more thinking of how do I get it out of the tank.

[Hopeful Bastard]

Er, I was more thinking of how do I get it out of the tank.

Rag.. Then Lighter... :D

[Matariki]

Rag.. Then Lighter... :D

:crazy:

I don't want to blow up my bike!

[Fast Eddie]

haha. have you got the bike going yet kebab?

maybe if you aren't too experienced with bikes you should have opted for an eletric start :D hehe..

good luck with the kick start, my SRX600 is easy, u just turn the key on, put the choke on and just kick it until it fires up. I dont even bother looking for the "compression stroke" I just kick it til it fires up cause im lazy.
KDX220 2 stroke dirt bike is even easier.. again i just kick it with choke on til it fires.
and when the Aprilia RS250 gets here I'll let you know how easy i find that to kick.. im told they are a 1 kick start affair which im looking forward to..

good luck kebab.. if you cant get it going with kick start then get someone that knows what they are doing to try kick or bump start it.. you might f**k it up and drop your bike hehe.

[Fast Eddie]

:crazy:

I don't want to blow up my bike!


you could prob drain the tank by a) cut a length of garden hose, maybe 1 meter or half a meter. stick one end in the tank, other end in your mouth. suck on it until the petrol gets to the mouth end (avoid getting it in your mouth) and then hang the mouth end lower than the tank end and let it drain into a steel container, or some plastic that wont melt.
b) take tank off and tip it upside down.
c) take the main fuel line off the carb leaving the other end on the tank/fuel tap. let it gravity drain out thru that.

[Drew]

Here's my question. Why hasn't someone with a half decent knowledge of motorcycles showed up to help this girl out?
Can't be too many single guys in the rappa obviously.

[Matariki]

Nah, I'll get the hang of it eventually, I almost got it going today again several times but I couldn't get it past that. So what I'll do is take it into the mechanics to have looked over and cleaned up. In the meanwhile I'll be reading up on how to maintain a 2 stroke. I know that It hasn't been ridden on for the last 7 months and the battery is flat. No harm done in trying (except for my eager younger brother who dropped the bike, I had to pick it up off from him :facepalm:).

[Matariki]

I think I know what the problem is, I went to check the oil and its dry! :wacko:

I hope I haven't fcuked the engine. Would that explain my problems with the kick start?

[unstuck]

I think I know what the problem is, I went to check the oil and its dry! :wacko:

I hope I haven't fcuked the engine. Would that explain my problems with the kick start?

Dont think it would of done it any good, fill it with oil and put a bit of fresh pre mix fuel in the tank 50/1 mix maybe and try again. They really like oil.:yes:

[Matariki]

Dont think it would of done it any good, fill it with oil and put a bit of fresh pre mix fuel in the tank 50/1 mix maybe and try again. They really like oil.:yes:

Whats pre mix fuel? :mellow:

Now I seriously wished that I had checked for oil beforehand, that teaches me not to be so eager next time.

[Ocean1]

I think I know what the problem is, I went to check the oil and its dry! :wacko:

I hope I haven't fcuked the engine. Would that explain my problems with the kick start?

If you've only had it half started then it's unlikely to have done much harm. I'd be more worried about WHY the tank was empty. It's possible the previous owner was running it on pre-mix but I'd ring and ask him about it. You really do need someone to check it out, I'm a bit far away but surely there's someone in the 'Rapa who's owned a 2 stroke that can help?

Luck with the starting, they can be right bitches sometimes but it really is just down to practice.

[Ocean1]

Whats pre mix fuel? :mellow:

A mix of 2 stroke oil and petrol, usually about 40:1 for those I think. Add the oil into a can first, then petrol, slosh it around a bit and pour it into the bike.

[Matariki]

If you've only had it half started then it's unlikely to have done much harm. I'd be more worried about WHY the tank was empty. It's possible the previous owner was running it on pre-mix but I'd ring and ask him about it. You really do need someone to check it out, I'm a bit far away but surely there's someone in the 'Rapa who's owned a 2 stroke that can help?

Luck with the starting, they can be right bitches sometimes but it really is just down to practice.

Unfortunately the last owner is dead (probably from trying to get the bloody thing started) but yes I am concerned about that. However the owner's late wife informed me that it had passed its WOF six months ago, so I'm not sure what is going on here. I'll pop some more oil into it and see if that does the trick, if not, then its off to the mechanics.

[Dadpole]

You are referring to the oil tank under the seat are you not? If that is empty, then it has been running on pre-mix -or- the oil was drained for shipping to you (if you had it shipped).

[Matariki]

You are referring to the oil tank under the seat are you not? If that is empty, then it has been running on pre-mix -or- the oil was drained for shipping to you (if you had it shipped).

Yes, and yes I did have it shipped. Why would the shipping company need to empty the oil and then not tell me once the bike was delivered? :mellow:

[Ocean1]

You are referring to the oil tank under the seat are you not? If that is empty, then it has been running on pre-mix -or- the oil was drained for shipping to you (if you had it shipped).


Yes, and yes I did have it shipped. Why would the shipping company need to empty the oil and then not tell me once the bike was delivered? :mellow:

Bloody good point, transport reg's are getting really anal about oil in freight. It's quite likely it was drained for the trip down... but didn't it have petrol in the tank?

And yes, I'd have thunk they'd tell you it was dry eh?


Edit: check the gearbox oil too.

[Fast Eddie]

yea having no oil and only petrol running through the engine, the petrol would have washed away what oil there was and most probably why it was jerky/sticky to kick over.. give it a good oiling up and try a product called "start ya bastard" big yellow can. you basically squirt a tiny bit near the air intake/air box and if the bike can start it will start with a squirt of that stuff.

[Fast Eddie]

Here's my question. Why hasn't someone with a half decent knowledge of motorcycles showed up to help this girl out?
Can't be too many single guys in the rappa obviously.

lol.. recon. Guess its a gamble tho, judging by the biker girls down south :D

[Fast Eddie]

Bloody good point, transport reg's are getting really anal about oil in freight. It's quite likely it was drained for the trip down...

Wierd eh, I'm currently having an RS250 transported down here and the specified to make sure the oil and petrol was full so they could run the engine and move it under its own power.. recon they borrow it for the weekend before delivering? haha..

its been 2 weeks and they still won't give me an estimated delivery date either.. will out the company once they deliver the bike haha. seriously bad service experience for me for a m/cycle specialist mover tho.

What company did you use Kebab?

[Matariki]

What company did you use Kebab?

I shipped with Biketranz

[Matariki]

So what 2 stroke oil would be best for my Suzuki TS?

[Fast Eddie]

I shipped with Biketranz

yea I should have used Biketranz.. they were the same price as the one I went for but Bike tranz didnt go to Gisborne, but they went close. Should have gone with them.

How long did it take them to pick up your bike and deliver it to you?

I'm almost into my second week of waiting now with no suggestion of a delivery date at all.. I'm guessing my bike is prob floating around the North Isle at the moment

[nothingflash]

So, err, how do you do it? :sweatdrop:


Bump starting? Whats that?


I almost got it going but then it putted out, should I be using the throttle?


Is this normal?


any ides on how to dispose of the old petrol safely?


Would that explain my problems with the kick start?


Whats pre mix fuel? :mellow:


the owner's late wife informed me that it had passed its WOF six months ago, so I'm not sure what is going on here.


Why would the shipping company need to empty the oil and then not tell me once the bike was delivered? :mellow:


So what 2 stroke oil would be best for my Suzuki TS?

Someone suggested you should PM junkmanjoe. Seems like solid advice to me.

[Matariki]

I decided to do myself a favor and got myself a copy of this book. Oh well, there's no better time to learn.

252402

[Matariki]

yea I should have used Biketranz.. they were the same price as the one I went for but Bike tranz didnt go to Gisborne, but they went close. Should have gone with them.

How long did it take them to pick up your bike and deliver it to you?

I'm almost into my second week of waiting now with no suggestion of a delivery date at all.. I'm guessing my bike is prob floating around the North Isle at the moment

I got a similar service, they gave me a quote however they didn't keep me posted on where my bike was, they called me up the night before to inform they were going to bring it over.
Have you tried calling the company you're shipping with?

[unstuck]

Good for you, you may like to have this on ya puta too.:cool:http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

[Headbanger]

Yes, yes, yes,

I've checked all of that.

Find a hill.

Go down it.

Select a gear, (4th?) drop the clutch, If it still doesn't go then all the kicking in teh world wasn't going to help.

[Matariki]

Good for you, you may like to have this on ya puta too.:cool:http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

OMG Thankyou very much!!! :eek:

[Matariki]

Find a hill.

Go down it.

Select a gear, (4th?) drop the clutch, If it still doesn't go then all the kicking in teh world wasn't going to help.

Hmm... I don't think a hill is going to help in this situation, I think the problem is the fact that there is no oil in the engine. :no:

[Sable]

You're a tard. Get professional help.

[Fast Eddie]

I got a similar service, they gave me a quote however they didn't keep me posted on where my bike was, they called me up the night before to inform they were going to bring it over.
Have you tried calling the company you're shipping with?

hehe yea I called. They got very rude and said "we told you we would be in touch in regards to delivery" and that was that, basically hung up.. I found it very rude but figured I had got on his nerves.. so have left him alone for the last week nearly..

Might call again this week if I haven't heard anything.

[baffa]

As others have said, top up the oil, and rollstart it. If there are no problems it will start first time, and kick starting it will become easier.

[Matariki]

You're a tard. Get professional help.

:rolleyes:

252527

[Matariki]

As others have said, top up the oil, and rollstart it. If there are no problems it will start first time, and kick starting it will become easier.

Thats what I figured, I just wanted to check first with those who had experience before buggering my engine. I'll give it a shot and see if it works.
We live and learn.

[Matariki]

hehe yea I called. They got very rude and said "we told you we would be in touch in regards to delivery" and that was that, basically hung up.. I found it very rude but figured I had got on his nerves.. so have left him alone for the last week nearly..

Might call again this week if I haven't heard anything.

Its you're bike, you're paying them to deliver it, you're entitled to know what they're doing with it. Thats pretty rude that they would flip you off like that (unless you were shouting down the phone at them), I would contact them again but this time you should probably ask where your bike is (if you don't know already). It might be at a depot station.

[Dadpole]

I will be down your way tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. If you like, I could pop in and give it a look over. I recently sold an older TS185 so I know my way around them.

Before you give it a good run you need to make sure the oil is feeding through the line with no bubbles - although that should be OK if the tank was simply drained for shipping.

[Matariki]

I will be down your way tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. If you like, I could pop in and give it a look over. I recently sold an older TS185 so I know my way around them.

Before you give it a good run you need to make sure the oil is feeding through the line with no bubbles - although that should be OK if the tank was simply drained for shipping.

Sure, that would be sweet (I'll flick you a PM)

[Matariki]

Yay! I got the kick start going thanks to Dadpole. It turns out that there was nothing wrong with the bike after all in terms of oil. :sweatdrop
Turns out that there was something wrong with my brain though. :facepalm:

Silly me, I've been having lots of fun on my bike, and I can get it going now all by myself. I have to say in comparison to the GN250, the TS185 is definitely a more peppy bike. :eek:

[george formby]

Yay! I got the kick start going thanks to Dadpole. It turns out that there was nothing wrong with the bike after all in terms of oil. :sweatdrop
Turns out that there was something wrong with my brain though. :facepalm:

Silly me, I've been having lots of fun on my bike, and I can get it going now all by myself. I have to say in comparison to the GN250, the TS185 is definitely a more peppy bike. :eek:

That's what I call a win:headbang:

[Matariki]

I can now start the bike from cold without the need to open the choke, on the first kick, with flip flops on too (though I don't ride in flip flops).
I figured out what I was doing wrong, I was trying to kick start the bike from the top of the kicks rotation, rather than half way between the top and the point of resistance. :rolleyes:

[unstuck]

Good on ya, we live and learn.:niceone:

[GrayWolf]

soon she'll be on an XS650.. then the big one, the original XT500 hehehehehehhe