Kick start for an '82 XJ?

[BigRed]

Just for S&G, has anyone put a kick start on his XS/XJ? On the side of my engine, it says "kick-start" right above where it looks like I'd have to drill a hole to run the kick start through. Is this possible / adviseable? I'm asking because it's starting to look like I either need a kick start, or I need to remove and split the engine to do some work on my starter clutch.

[psycoreefer]

The jury is still out, a few say you'd have to split the cases to install the internal kick starter parts. A few have found you only need to install the parts from under that side cover out.

If you'd want to try your best bet would be to get the side cover and kick start assembly off a 78 or 79, although you may find you don't have the internal parts anyways. Then you'd need a permenent kick lever to install, the ones from xs 750's and 850's work ok.

Do a search for kick start and look at some of the recent threads...

[Jerry]

The internals from an earlier XS will fit into the XJ. However, none of the internal parts are in the XJ's transmission, so best if you could find either a doner transmission or make sure you get all the parts. I have not added a kick start to my XJ, but while working on the transmission it looks to me like you would not have to split the cases. This is an opinion, not a definitive answer. There is a rubber plug that patches the hole left in the casting for the kick start shaft, it just needs to be removed if you go this route.

Just out of curiosity, why do you think you need a kick start? There have been provious threads on this, and the general consensus is that you can kick start an XS/XJ1100, but it is not a pleasant experience, not one you would want to depend on as the primary means of starting your XJ.

[BigRed]

I don't really want the kick start as my primary means of starting the bike, but right now, I've got two issues with getting the bike started, and if I could get put in a kick start without splitting the cases and not too many bucks, I'd like the back up.

Right now, while I'm cranking the engine, the voltage drops low enough that I don't get good spark. Also, the starter clutch is a little iffy. I figure that I could crank it a few times with the starter to get a little fuel vaporized, then kick it to get a spark. My primary goal is to get it starting well. My secondary goal is not to split the engine until winter. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can accomplish both these goals without a kick start

[psycoreefer]

You could always push it and pop the clutch, thats how I started my honda shadow for over a year, of course it was a 500 and weighed half of what an xs11 does.

[BigRed]

I have push started this bike before, and I expect that was less fun than a kick start would be. Last time I tried, I dislocated my shoulder (It was already wrecked from a snowboarding injury).

There's nothing quite like pushing a 600lb bike around in 90 degree weather while wearing a helmet and leather jacket... except maybe kick starting it.... Hmm... maybe splitting the cases isn't sounding so bad.

[Ken Talbot]

You could always push it and pop the clutch

Ha! I'd like to see a youtube video of that!

Just for something to do, I've tried "jump starting" while coasting down a bit of a hill. First gear will lock up every time. Second gear sometims works as long as you've got up enough speed.

YMMV

[Jerry]

Right now, while I'm cranking the engine, the voltage drops low enough that I don't get good spark.

This realy is something you need to address rather than try working around. A voltage drop can be attributed to several causes, most of them having to do with bad/corroded cables, bad ground connections, or a bad battery. True, kick-starting your XJ would probably work as a temporary measure, but you are looking at an electrical system that is less than reliable. Have you swapped in a new fuse block? The OEM block is notorious for causing electrical problems, and needs to be replaced.

While I understand the interest in a kick starter, as I once thought of doing the same thing, you may be better off finding the source(s) of your voltage drop(s) and fixing them. Your bike will be more reliable in the long run.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I am not a mathematician, but i would think that you would need to be about 400 pounds, and a long kick start lever to kick this four cylinder over.

[trbig]

I've heard they really aren't that bad to kick over??

But, yes, to get the internal gear installed, you have to split the cases. If I remember right, you have to get the main axle gear shaft out of the way,(But I've slept since then) and there's no way to do that without the split.

I've got all the stuff here to put one in that I took out of a '78 motor. I always thought that in case a battery went down, I could use that in an emergency. After I finally did have a battery problem a couple years back, I found out that if it doesn't have enough juice to crank the motor, there's probably not enough to fire the coils either.. and even push starting won't get it going. Kind of made my thoughts of having one pointless.


Tod

[CatatonicBug]

I figure, if the battery is low enough that it won't start, but it's still good enough to run the bike (the only time a kick-start would be useful), all I really need is a jump-start. I keep a small set of jumper cables on my bike all the time anyway, along with my tire plug kit and tiny compressor.

It's not that hard to get a passer-by to offer a jump-start if needed.