Kicker Trouble

[Jbird427]

I have a 79' xs1100 and the starter went out a while back so ive been kick starting it, which has been working great. But a couple of days ago i kicked it and there was no pressure. the kicker just fell. I can roll the bike off and it starts and runs great. If anyone has any ideas on whats wrong with it or how to fix it to where i can kick start my bike i would be greatful.

[DAVINCI]

No magic bullet here, ya gotta open it up and fix what's broke.

[XSive Okie]

I don't even have the kick-start lever anymore, and have never removed the plug or been into the bike that far. So no help from me, but it will be interesting to find out what happened. I try to absorb all the knowledge this board can give me, in order to trouble shoot any situation that comes up.

[SFerinTEXAS]

Be far easier to fix the starter.

[Jbird427]

well hopefully i can tear into it in a couple weeks, thanks for the input ill keep yuns posted on what i find

[Big Beadle]

Kicker problems

I Had my clutch cover off a few weeks ago to do the clutch spring shim tech tip (what a difference it made) and there is not much to it, if your not carefull when you take the cover off it all will come with it. So when you pull the cover push in on the kicker shaft so you don't disturb anything that is in there,you will have a big spring and the shaft that connects to the clutch basket gear-to-gear. There's not much behind there at all, and be sure to clean the site glass for the oil window now is the time to do it........GOOD LUCK.......

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Jbird,

I had to have dinner tonight after my work day before my brain was recharged enough to intelligently reply to this post!

Okay, folks don't realize but the kick starter uses the same shaft and mechanism to rotate the engine as the electric starter motor does. You didn't say what trouble you were having with your starter, but I'm thinking and wondering if it was that it wasn't grabbing the starter shaft properly...
spinning and therefore slipping?

There are 3 pinch rollers in the starter clutch mechanism that grabs the starter shaft that spins the engine, but if those pinch rollers don't "pinch" and grab the shaft, then they just spin, and the gears that the kick starter spin eventually try to spin the starter clutch. So, if the starter clutch spins with NO resistance, then the kick starter lever would also spin/drop with little or no resistance also.

Here's an exploded view of the kick starter/gears and where they engage with the parts on the starter motor shaft.



You can access these images at: http://www.yamaha-motor.com and select the parts catalog, etc.

T.C.

[BA80]

One question about that particular post there TC. How did Randy start his bike with the kick starter when his starter clutch was FUBAR for so long?

The starter clutch has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the kick start. The kickstart is completely gear driven.

I just went and looked because I had the whole thing out on the bench in the garage but, it's not there. I could have posted pics but the one I had out I sent to CaptainZap.

The kick start runs on the same gear as the starter clutch but when engaged it is direct to the crankshaft.

jaybird427, just pull the Clutch cover off and I'll bet there is something as simple as a broken spring in there.

[CaptonZap]

Right you are Greg, and thanks for the parts. I haven't installed the parts yet, I'm waiting till the next oil change, and I want to install a bronze bushing in the side cover.
If the external gears on the starter shaft, #7 , are good, remove the three bolts holding #15 in, remove it, and check #14. It is what provides resistence to drive the dog plate, #13, in and engage the teeth on gear #11.
It is pretty self explanatory when you see it. CZ
p.s. Check the spiral splines on #13 and #9, and make sure they are a loose sliding fit.

[BA80]

More than likely the spring (#14) is broken.

[DGXSER]

Ok, I'll ask the silly question, you are not by chance pulling the clutch in while your trying to kick start it are you? You want the bike in Neutral and the clutch released when kick starting. If it is in gear and you pull the clutch it will not engage the engine to start it.

[BA80]

Good point Don, that didn't occur to me.