starting...

[Luxury]

I kick started my 79 for a month this spring before I finally got a new battery.......and I weigh 130lbs.......including leathers, helmet, and steel-shank boots (mandatory for kick starting an XS11).

[HobbyMan]

Yea sure I have kick started it before. What I mean by useless is that it won't work with a dead battery. If you had enough charge left in the battery to run the TCI, you could probably use the electric starter.

[Luxury]

Yea, my battery had enough juice to turn the motor over once or twice very slowly, but not enough to start it. I agree that a totally dead battery would be a problem to kick start. But now I have my shiny new sealed battery, so I can ride with my flip-flops on again.....

[Snow]

Originally posted by HobbyMan
If you had enough charge left in the battery to run the TCI, you could probably use the electric starter.

My point is that I have had the battery so low that it would not operate the starter and a kickstart allowed the bike to start. Also, near the end, my '79's starter clutch would not engage at all under 50 F and the only way to start was either by kickstart or pushing. *IF* your bike is in top notch shape, there is no need for a kickstart, otherwise it's nice to have the option.

[randy]

I kind of like the retro look, too!

[somesuch]

Long ago when fixing the second gear I had also added the kickstarter from a parts bike to my 81 SH. I remember there is about one mm of clearance to put the needed parts in including the shaft. I do not remember exactly what was involved, but it was pretty quick, about an hour to put everything in and button it up. Without the kickstarter gears there is a lot more clearance. I did everything with the motor in frame, and yes, the whole thing from taking the covers off, to starting the bike again, took about an hour. I had the new gears ready to go though.

--Nick

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Nick,

Sure would have been nice if you had taken some photos of this process, cause "we" are under the opinion that the cases need to be split to be able to fit the required parts for the kickstarter into the engine to be able to function!?

And you say you were able to put them on an 81 model WITHOUT splitting the cases....can you elaborate on this??
T.C.

[somesuch]

Yes, I did add the kickstarter to my 81 SH form a parts motor and I never had the 81 SH motor out. I called Bob J. from Meriam Cycle after I was done to let him know what was needed since he was of the opinion at that time that you had to split the cases. It has been in about 9 years ago since I had done it so I do not exactly remember.

--Nick

[jwoell]

Hungry for info

Any chance we could get even a few details on how you added the kick starter without splitting the case Somesuch?? I also have an 81 SH and I also have all the components needed to add the kickstarter, so I'm hoping you have even a few details about the process that you could offer.

Not sure how often you visits the forums, so I'm kinda hoping you'll get an automated email once I reply to this post...

[somesuch]

Hi, I did get an e-mail

Don't remember what I did besides that I did it during the repair to my second gear. I remember that there is a definite clearance issue for the bikes with the kick starter, and that everything has to be lined up just right. I may even had taken a Dremel to some parts to make them clear....I am not sure since I was fixing my second gear using the Dremel anyway.

I am so certain that I had done it because I remember trying to figure out a way to have the lever mounted permanently so I could use it. I gave up on the idea, and settled on storing the lever in the factory location. My bike was an 81 Special that did not come with a kickstarter and the donor motor was a '79

Sorry about my poor memory, I hope somebody will have a spare "parts" motor sitting around so that they could check on where the problem might be assuming that one of the transmission shafts is removed.

--Nick

[jwoell]

Thanks for the info Somesuch. Any info is better than no info in my opinion

[DiverRay]

TC and all,
I'll be going through the '78 motor this winter. Once I start on it, I'll take photo's of the Kick start assembly. I will also let you know if the cases need to be split to remove it. I will be splitting cases, but I can try and see if the parts will go in and out, and how it's done.

[jwoell]

That'd be awesome Ray. It would definately be nice to have some pictures of how it normally fits in there and things. I've never had the engine apart at all, so I'm kinda clueless about the details of the interior. Must be nice to have an extra bike around ehh??

[Shappers]

Just as a footnote..

I have added the kickstarter mechanism to my late 1984 engine. I do have the engine in pieces but anyway I would like to confirm that the kickstarter mechanism can be added WITHOUT splitting the cases.

One the 'drive axle shaft' has been removed through the sump hole then the kickstarter mechanism will simply slot in through the side.



I took this picture from the tips but I can take some other pictures if anyone wants?

[jeffe]

Just an FYI. Kick starting an XS11 is much easier than my old SR500 Single. Evem with the compression release. Plus you had no choice. Only had a kick starter. I guess 1100 divided by four is easier to get moving than 500 divided by one.