Author Topic: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?  (Read 2328 times)

Offline alexdecker

  • SOHC Expert
  • Posts: 408
    • View Profile
Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« on: May 12, 2022, 12:02:48 PM »
Hey all

So, people always tell me that I can use the kickstarter to start my bike if the battery is flat. I can't figure this out, as I can definitely NOT kickstart my bike into submission when the battery is flat. Which made me wonder - I have taken my motor apart now, and can see that the kickstarter engages directly with the gearbox of my CB550.

Can someone explain to me (as you would explain to a 5th grader) how a kickstarter works? Can I use it when the battery is flat?

Offline Johnwebley

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 3204
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #1 on: May 12, 2022, 12:22:36 PM »
You can use it if the battery is low,

Not enough power for the starter to spin the engine,
As long as you have around 9v,it should give a spark,

But with a completely flat battery,

I don't think so,

Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk

lifelong motorcycle rider,and fan

Offline Rozabikes Tim

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1182
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #2 on: May 12, 2022, 01:10:25 PM »
Real men always use the Kickstart  ;D
One day I'll have the time to restore it, not just talk and dream....

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6119
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #3 on: May 12, 2022, 04:18:55 PM »
Real men always use the Kickstart  ;D

Sure they do - they also hand crank the car every morning - only pussies have starter motors.
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline MrDavo

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1369
  • He who dies with the most toys wins
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #4 on: May 12, 2022, 05:38:42 PM »
Kickstarts are a legacy thing from an earlier time, like phone boxes and ashtrays.

I've only ever used the ones on my Honda and Kawasaki in the garage, setting points and tappets etc. My Harley 1200 doesn't have one, like using the non existent centre stand, it would probably give me a heart attack if I tried to kick it over.

If everything is set up perfect, they are satisfying if the bike starts first kick, ambulance inducing if it won't start at all. I used to say that the number of kicks needed to start my 750 Triumph was proportional to the number of people watching. If there was noone about, first kick, if there was a crowd no chance, but handy to blag a push start from them once they'd stopped laughing.
« Last Edit: May 12, 2022, 05:48:08 PM by MrDavo »
1969 Honda CL450 'Scrambler'
1974 Kawasaki Z1A
2005 Harley XL1200R Sportster
1985 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport
1978 VW Bay Window camper van

Offline SumpMagnet

  • SOHC Pro
  • Posts: 683
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #5 on: May 12, 2022, 08:44:44 PM »
Kickstarts allowed me to run my old CB125 twin back in the day, with a bone dry battery.... I don;t think that was why Honda made them, but the battery case cracked and the electrolyte dripped slowly away until none was left and I never noticed. Still started just fine ( no electric start... )

It can also serve as a theft deterrant. I once owned a Harley WLA 750- side valver. This had a manual advance/retard mechanism...and if you parked it up with teh ignition fully advanced, any would be thief hot wiring the ignition would be treated to a massive shin breaking kick back thus incapacitating themselves and preventing theft.
CB750F2 - in pieces
CB900F Hornet - the daily transport

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2530
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #6 on: May 12, 2022, 08:53:05 PM »
Both of those replies made me chuckle. My Triton was the same Mr Davo, would always start from cold first kick, never though when warm. I learnt never to put my jacket and helmet on until I started the bike unless I wanted an impromptu sauna.
I'm still laughing thinking about the potential low-life with a broken ankle after trying to start the Harley on full advance🤣🤣🤣
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

Offline Lobo

  • Lobo
  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1568
  • Lobo
    • View Profile
    • Lobo
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2022, 11:41:42 PM »
Possibly, some folk are remembering the older / smaller bikes with magnetos when saying you can start with a flat battery - which indeed you could.

Magnetos use permanent magnets as part of their make-up (embedded within the flywheel), and on kicking the bike over electricity is produced - as it spins around the power (for spark) & charge coils.

Alternators do not have any permanent magnet within, this is replaced with a ‘Field coil’ which, only when energised, produces the necessary magnetic field for the ‘stator coil’. And therein lies the problem; you’ll always need some battery voltage to power the Field coil, typically 9v as John suggested.
Once running, it all becomes self sustaining…

Yea I know….ZZZzzzzz.
« Last Edit: May 13, 2022, 12:50:55 AM by Lobo »

Offline Bryanj

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 10692
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #8 on: May 13, 2022, 01:02:28 AM »
The kickstart fitted to a Velocette Venom 500 is a device used to launch the unsuspecting owner/rider to the roof of the nearest shed, screaming in pain and clutching a leg!

Offline SteveD CB500K0

  • Administrator
  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 4442
  • Ride on the Steel Breeze...
    • View Profile
    • Steve's Blog
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #9 on: May 13, 2022, 06:56:26 AM »
Who remembers how shocked we all were when Honda introduced a bike without a kick starter?

Was it the CB900FZ, or the CX500?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
2022 Tiger Sport 660
1971 CB500K0

Offline Johnny4428

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 2031
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2022, 07:20:48 AM »
The kickstart fitted to a Velocette Venom 500 is a device used to launch the unsuspecting owner/rider to the roof of the nearest shed, screaming in pain and clutching a leg!
😂😂😂 Brilliant!
1952 Cymoto on Triumph bicycle.
1961 Matchless G3
1974 Honda CB550K1. Running resto,
1978 Honda CB550K3.
1999 ST1100 Pan European 50th Anniversary.
1975,1980,1984,1986 Honda C90’s
1973 Honda CB750K3

Offline K2-K6

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 5232
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #11 on: May 13, 2022, 09:03:35 AM »
Who remembers how shocked we all were when Honda introduced a bike without a kick starter?

Was it the CB900FZ, or the CX500?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought the CX was first, but KZ 750 was first of the fours as I remember it.

For starting on kick though, all the two stroke triples were easy, most you could start with your hand on the lever.

Offline McCabe-Thiele (Ted)

  • Grogu
  • *
  • Posts: 6119
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #12 on: May 13, 2022, 10:16:14 AM »
My Ariel Leader was a pig to kick start when the engine was cold - there was a small button on the top of the carb that if you depressed it would flood the carb enabling it to start first kick - trouble was you had to take the side panel cover off to access the carb a pain in the butt.

Bearing in mind I was only 17 at the time my fix was to drill a small hole in the side panel so I could fix a length of welding rod through the hole fitting some rubber pipe between the end of the rod and attach it to the carb button. It took a few tries to adjust it so it worked every time including fitting a small return spring. It was a bodge but it worked - I would not do anything like that today - the naivety of youth eh!
Honda CB500 K1 (new pit dug out ready)
Honda CB400 four super sport (first money pit)
Link to my full restoration http://www.sohc.co.uk/index.php/topic,23291.0.html

Offline taysidedragon

  • SOHC Master
  • Posts: 1318
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #13 on: May 13, 2022, 11:09:22 AM »
My Ariel Leader was a pig to kick start when the engine was cold - there was a small button on the top of the carb that if you depressed it would flood the carb enabling it to start first kick - trouble was you had to take the side panel cover off to access the carb a pain in the butt.

Bearing in mind I was only 17 at the time my fix was to drill a small hole in the side panel so I could fix a length of welding rod through the hole fitting some rubber pipe between the end of the rod and attach it to the carb button. It took a few tries to adjust it so it worked every time including fitting a small return spring. It was a bodge but it worked - I would not do anything like that today - the naivety of youth eh!


The carburettor tickler - it wouldn't be called that these days. It would have a much fancier name, with no chance of a double meaning. 😁 My old Brit bikes had them, and my leather gloves always stank of petrol because of them.
Later ones have an extension piece on the tickler button so that your gloves don't get wet. 👍

I've never been launched by a kickstart, but came close a few times. It hurts! The big singles always had a reputation as legbreakers, Goldstar 500, Panther Sloper 600 and Velocette 500. You had to get the position and technique dead right or you did your first solo flight!
« Last Edit: May 13, 2022, 11:19:07 AM by taysidedragon »
Gareth

1977 CB400F
1965 T100SS

Offline Laverda Dave

  • SOHC Jedi
  • Posts: 2530
  • Health is wealth
    • View Profile
Re: Can someone explain a kickstarter to me?
« Reply #14 on: May 13, 2022, 11:22:47 AM »
This image sums up a kickstarter
1976 Honda 400/4
1977 Rickman Honda CR750
1999 Honda VFR 800FX
1955 750 Dresda Triton
1978 Moto Morini 350 Sport
1978 Honda CB400/4 'Rat' bike
1982 Laverda 120 Jota

 

SimplePortal 2.3.5 © 2008-2012, SimplePortal