Question: cannot kick start a 2 stroke bike

[metalslug]

Hi guys:

This might be a newb question, but I cant find answer elsewhere. I recently bought a kawasaki K150kr 2 stroke bike. This morning i brought it out for a short ride (about 1-2k) then parked it. But when I want to start it again I cant kick start it at all. I retired every 10 minutes until i finally gave up and just pushed it all the way back home (almost killed me :shit:)

Now what I want to know is that is this the problem of the battery (flat maybe?) or is it because I didnt warm up to bike enough? or maybe 2 stroke bikes are like this?

Cheers!

[Mr Merde]

Hi guys:

This might be a newb question, but I cant find answer elsewhere. I recently bought a kawasaki K150kr 2 stroke bike. This morning i brought it out for a short ride (about 1-2k) then parked it. But when I want to start it again I cant kick start it at all. I retired every 10 minutes until i finally gave up and just pushed it all the way back home (almost killed me :shit:)

Now what I want to know is that is this the problem of the battery (flat maybe?) or is it because I didnt warm up to bike enough? or maybe 2 stroke bikes are like this?

Cheers!

Check the spark plug. New two strokes run a richer mixture of oil\petrol. Back when I used to ride them solely, the plugs tended to oil up a lot. Made it bloody hard to start.

[The Pastor]

Yeah always carry some fine sandpaper so you can give them bit of a clean.

[Ixion]

Yeah, they do that sometimes. It's what they do, is why we luvs them so :love:.

Did you hurt it's feelings? Or maybe it just liked being parked where it was.

Take note of the day and time. In my case, Petal absolutely HATES going out on Tuesday afternoons. I have learned by bitter experience that it is a waste of time trying. She will just sulk, oil plugs, stall and refuse to start, collapse a rear wheel, anything to get out of going out on the road on Tuesday afternoons .


Any other day of the week is absolutely fine, she just doesn't like Tuesday afternoons. You have to respect these things.

Actually, I just realised that it is Tuesday here. (I think - I get a bit muddled with the days , they keep changing depending on what door I go through. But I think that here is here and that is is Tuesday ) . Maybe there is some collective two smoker consciousness about Tuesdays. I suggest leaving it at home on Tuesdays.

[meteor]

Any bike can be temperamental... maybe fouled plug (too much oil in the mix try it at 35 or 40 to 1) clean the plug off or put another one in. You could check the HT lead and cap or sounds silly but is the petrol tap set to 'on'?

But for a 1 km trip, maybe a pushbike? oh that's right you've already got one.. ha ha ha. Good luck

[Pedrostt500]

Check some of the simple things to like the kill switch hasnt been accidently turned off, or the ignition switch is not turned on properly, Ive caught myself out in the past by turning the fuel tap off on trail bikes and when gong back to ride them latter swering and cursing because the bike wont start, and feel like a dumb arse when I find it was me that was the cause of the problem.
It would be a good Idea if you get one of the mentors in your area who can show you how to do some basic diagnostics and maintenance, this will give you a better appreciation of your bike and may save you a few dollars in the future.

[ital916]

Yeah, they do that sometimes. It's what they do, is why we luvs them so :love:.

Did you hurt it's feelings? Or maybe it just liked being parked where it was.

Take note of the day and time. In my case, Petal absolutely HATES going out on Tuesday afternoons. I have learned by bitter experience that it is a waste of time trying. She will just sulk, oil plugs, stall and refuse to start, collapse a rear wheel, anything to get out of going out on the road on Tuesday afternoons .


Any other day of the week is absolutely fine, she just doesn't like Tuesday afternoons. You have to respect these things.

Actually, I just realised that it is Tuesday here. (I think - I get a bit muddled with the days , they keep changing depending on what door I go through. But I think that here is here and that is is Tuesday ) . Maybe there is some collective two smoker consciousness about Tuesdays. I suggest leaving it at home on Tuesdays.

Brings back my memories of my rg. Tis definately why we luv them. If kick starting fails push start it, they are so light you can do it on flat ground. I found I would use the kick start to compress the cylinder a little first then kick hold, one quarter throttle and bang she would start. You just need to find the trick to your two stroke.

[TimeOut]

Check some of the simple things to like the kill switch hasnt been accidently turned off, or the ignition switch is not turned on properly, Ive caught myself out in the past by turning the fuel tap off on trail bikes and when gong back to ride them latter swering and cursing because the bike wont start, and feel like a dumb arse when I find it was me that was the cause of the problem.
It would be a good Idea if you get one of the mentors in your area who can show you how to do some basic diagnostics and maintenance, this will give you a better appreciation of your bike and may save you a few dollars in the future.

All of the above and
Are u using choke, two strokes cool down fairly quick to the point of needing choke again

[ajturbo]

did it have any petrol left?

was it turned on!!!!

[mokomoa112]

kill switch bruvva

[quallman1234]

I think its probabaly more down to your technique.

[ajturbo]

I think its probabaly more down to your technique.


kill switch bruvva


did it have any petrol left?

was it turned on!!!!

the poor guy...lets hope he is man enough to tell us the REAL reason....

(only so we can laugh AT him...):clap:

[slimjim]

Ya's gona update...:rolleyes: cause yup i'll say we've all forgotten to dail up fuel lever from off to on..........:clap:............:first:

[Mr Merde]

Ya's gona update...:rolleyes: cause yup i'll say we've all forgotten to dail up fuel lever from off to on..........:clap:............:first:

Worst thing for me was when I got a bike that didnt have a fuel lever. So used to riding til main tank empty then switching to reserve.

Miles from nowhere and tank as dry as a witches tit.

Duhh..........................

[metalslug]

to your disappointment it wasn't any of the above lol. full tank petrol + oil, engine switch on and yes i turned the bike on before kick starting it!!

Strange thing it started all fine this morning. Tried a few times and worked everytime. Maybe it is really the haunted Tuesday :clap:

Thanks for the advice on the plug but I am quite clueless where and how to check it. So gonna get it checked since I have to do wof soon. Hope there is just some faulty part. I cant afford to have a bike with attitude. Gotta work tuesdays as well!

[awayatc]

I retired every 10 minutes



Gotta work tuesdays as well!

Make up your mind.....

[ajturbo]

Ya's gona update...:rolleyes: cause yup i'll say we've all forgotten to dail up fuel lever from off to on..........:clap:............:first:
VERY red face material, when on start line of a race to see the flag drop... AND the revs.......

[quallman1234]

VERY red face material, when on start line of a race to see the flag drop... AND the revs.......

Or you dump the clutch.?

[Ducky848]

to your disappointment it wasn't any of the above lol. full tank petrol + oil, engine switch on and yes i turned the bike on before kick starting it!!

Strange thing it started all fine this morning. Tried a few times and worked everytime. Maybe it is really the haunted Tuesday :clap:


It was prolly flooded earlier on. Next time you have this issue try kicking it over half a dozen times with the throttle wide open to clear the cylinder, then close throttle and kick over normally. If you have a choke make sure it is not engaged.

[Str8 Jacket]

Check your spark plug as well though, in case it happens again.......

[quallman1234]

It was prolly flooded earlier on. Next time you have this issue try kicking it over half a dozen times with the throttle wide open to clear the cylinder, then close throttle and kick over normally. If you have a choke make sure it is not engaged.

with the ignition off.

[Irontusk]

Yeah always carry some fine sandpaper so you can give them bit of a clean.

Do NOT do this. Sanding spark plugs leaves small filings on the plug, when you put the plug back into the cylinder the filings get around and wear your rings out, I'm always having to tell customers at work this. Use a wire brush. (Customer will always say "But my dad always told me to do this and I've been doing it for years.") An old and overheated plug can also give hot starting problems.

Were you using the choke when it wouldn't start? If it was hot you might've flooded it. Try it with full throttle and no choke, it'll need alot of kicking over to clear the cylinder out.

[Irontusk]

with the ignition off.

The ignition being on/off doesn't effect the amount of air/fuel mixture entering the cylinder, should leave it on so when it gets close it'll start to fire a little bit, smoke a hell of alot, and then clear itself.

[The Pastor]

Do NOT do this. Sanding spark plugs leaves small filings on the plug, when you put the plug back into the cylinder the filings get around and wear your rings out, I'm always having to tell customers at work this. Use a wire brush. (Customer will always say "But my dad always told me to do this and I've been doing it for years.") An old and overheated plug can also give hot starting problems.

Were you using the choke when it wouldn't start? If it was hot you might've flooded it. Try it with full throttle and no choke, it'll need alot of kicking over to clear the cylinder out.
surely some 400 grit will be alright?

[Ixion]

It is a waste of time trying to clean a two smoker plug, unless it is an emergency measure to get to the nearest purveyor of plugs.

Always carry spares,and if a plug fouls, fit a new one.

No matter how you try to clean it (don't use sandpaper, if you must use a wire brush use a brass one. A hard sliver of plastic or horn is best), the plug will not be reliable

The best method if you must clear a fouled blug, is to fill the plug with petrol and ignite it. Do this two three time, then scrape clean. Then fit a new plug.

Did I mention to always carry spares? Best to add a couple of spare spares also, and if a long journey be proposed, some spares for the spare spares. IN fact, a prudent rider would probably fit a small trailer behind and load it up with sparkplugs.

In the old days I used to be able to change a two smoker sparkplug on the move, without stopping.

[slimjim]

Yup.Not sandpaper....nope no matter how lighter of a grit..as the other replys have said.. clear flood first..and yup carry one new plug..incase of..

[metalslug]

Thanks for the good advice guys! I got an uncle to have a look at it today to check the plug, turned out it was foul and not sparking at all. slapped in a new plug and bike is on with 1 easy kick . sweet as.

lesson learned : Always carry a new plug :laugh:

[Jantar]

It also pays to correctly learn the 1 kick method of starting. Thsi method dates bake to the days when all bikes were magneto fired and needed a good strong spark that could not always be obtained via a kick start.

The 1 kick method of starting is 100% effective, but does require 3 people.

Person one is the rider who sits on the bike, engages second gear and holds in the clutch.

Person two stands behind the bike in a crouch with his hands hard agains the rear of the seat.

Person 3 stands 22 yards (20 meters or the length of a cricket pitch) behind the bike.

When person one says now, person three commences a run towards person 2, and at full speed delivers a single hard kick to person two's rump. Person two now gives the bike a hard shove forwards at which point person one lets out the clutch and gives a little throttle. The bike will start with no difficulty.

[FJRider]

It also pays to correctly learn the 1 kick method of starting. Thsi method dates bake to the days when all bikes were magneto fired and needed a good strong spark that could not always be obtained via a kick start.

The 1 kick method of starting is 100% effective, but does require 3 people.

Person one is the rider who sits on the bike, engages second gear and holds in the clutch.

Person two stands behind the bike in a crouch with his hands hard agains the rear of the seat.

Person 3 stands 22 yards (20 meters or the length of a cricket pitch) behind the bike.

When person one says now, person three commences a run towards person 2, and at full speed delivers a single hard kick to person two's rump. Person two now gives the bike a hard shove forwards at which point person one lets out the clutch and gives a little throttle. The bike will start with no difficulty.

You have the knack of making simple things difficult....
I used to find (when I had a 2 stroke...or a Honda) to carry a big hill in my backpack... ;););)

[CookMySock]

close the plug gap slightly, and use a super high-quality 2stroke oil, like Amsoil. Starts first or second kick, every time unless theres no gas in it.

Steve