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Re: Just got this bike.
is there a trick to starting...
Remember all Honda's are cold blooded. Make sure your gas is on, full choke, pull the decompression lever, no throttle, kick the engine over 3 or 4 times. Let go of the decompression lever. Now start the bike.
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You might want to check your advance mechanism, and make sure it is resetting all the way. The springs wear out sometimes. Or the weights no longer want to come back because of corrosion, or oblong holes, or worn pivot pins. Having too much advance will fire the plug before the piston gets close enough to the top, so the flywheel inertia can push it over and the gas can then expand. You also have to really give it a major effort kick to get the flywheel turning fast enough. It is a balance between kick back, and bottoming out and have the start arm start to travel towards the front of the bike. This is called "Sportster Knee". If the Rachet slips and you bottom out, it nearly breaks your knee. I don't know what the Start timing is supposed to be, since they have changed it over the span of years in my manual, and it does not cover your year. I would imagine it would need to be close to, but not past, TDC. maybe a few degrees advanced, say 4 or 5 degrees. The more towards TDC, the easier it will start while kicking. On the other hand, you will be moving the Max Advance as well as you adjust this. you will lose upper end performance if you go too far.
If the valves "rock" at TDC, the piston is at TDC EXHAUST, not TDC COMPRESSION. Chances are the engine is flooded. Install a fresh spark plug and go easy on twisting the throttle when starting the bike. Be sure the battery is in good condition. Push the kick lever to just past TDC compression then give a strong kick. Don't try to kick start with the piston going upward on the compression stroke. Be sure the air cleaner is not dirty and you have good gas. Please rate my answer. Thanks!
Assuming the bike runs well and this is just a kicking technique problem.
push the kick starter slowly until you get to the hard spot(TDC), pull the decomp lever, and push the kicker a little to get past top dead centre, then release decomp and give it a decent kick, should never kick back
if the bike push starts, i assume it runs good,
if the kick does not turn motor over, there is a spring clip that engages the kick gear that may be broken or misplaced
if the kick start turns the motor over, you have to use decomp to get just past TDC then kick
these bikes are the hardest bikes to fix, easiest thing, kick the bike super slow until you piston is at TDC, you will know because it will be hard to kick, then pull the compression release down and as you start to kick release the compression release. NOT an easy task starting a 426 but good luck
There is a proper way to start an engine. Most bikes have four controls to assist in starting.
The choke, used when the engine is cold. Pull the red knob for choke.
The " Hot Start " Lever, used when the engine is hot. Pull the lever to lean the fuel mix when the engine has been running.
The de-compression lever, always used.
The throttle, used to prime the cylinder.
Don't kick, instead, push the kick lever downward. You will feel the back pressure as the piston is going upward on the compression stroke to the point the pressure is great enough that the kick lever "locks up". You are very close to TDC. NOW, pull in the de-compression lever. Push the kick lever a little bit more to get the piston past TDC. Now release the de-compression lever. Give the throttle a 1/4 turn then let it snap closed. A diaphragm in the carb gives a shot of gas when this is done. DO NOT do this multiple times because you will flood the engine. Leave the throttle closed when kicking. A flooded engine will often backfire. Now give a strong kick through the full sweep of the kick start lever. Quickly get your foot off the kick lever at the end of the kick to avoid any chance of "kickback" from the kick lever. This happens in the case of a misfire, aka > backfire. It can be very painful, and can even break a leg. I am serious about that. Repeat the process (but without the throttle priming), until the bike starts. Go ahead and give it another primer shot after the 5th kick attempt. A good battery, a clean spark plug, a clean carb and clean air filter will also aid in starting.
Could you take a moment and rate my answer? Thanks!
There is a proper way to start the engine. Four controls are on your bike to assist in starting.
The choke, used when the engine is cold. Pull the red knob for choke.
The " Hot Start " Lever, used when the engine is hot. Pull the lever to lean the fuel mix when the engine has been running.
The de-compression lever, always used.
The throttle, used to prime the cylinder.
Don't kick, instead, push the kick lever downward. You will feel the back pressure as the piston is going upward on the compression stroke to the point the pressure is great enough that the kick lever "locks up". You are very close to TDC. NOW, pull in the de-compression lever. Push the kick lever a little bit more to get the piston past TDC. Now release the de-compression lever. Give the throttle a 1/4 turn then let it snap closed. A diaphragm in the carb gives a shot of gas when this is done. DO NOT do this multiple times because you will flood the engine. Leave the throttle closed when kicking. A flooded engine will often backfire. Now give a strong kick through the full sweep of the kick start lever. Quickly get your foot off the kick lever at the end of the kick to avoid any chance of "kickback" from the kick lever. This happens in the case of a misfire, aka > backfire. It can be very painful, and can even break a leg. I am serious about that. Repeat the process (but without the throttle priming), until the bike starts. A good battery, a clean spark plug, a clean carb and clean air filter will also aid in starting.
There is a proper way to start the engine. Four controls are on your bike to assist in starting.
The choke, used when the engine is cold. Pull the red knob for choke.
The " Hot Start " Lever, used when the engine is hot. Pull the lever to lean the fuel mix when the engine has been running.
The de-compression lever, always used.
The throttle, used to prime the cylinder.
Don't kick, instead, push the kick lever downward. You will feel the back pressure as the piston is going upward on the compression stroke to the point the pressure is great enough that the kick lever "locks up". You are very close to TDC. NOW, pull in the de-compression lever. Push the kick lever a little bit more to get the piston past TDC. Release the de-compression lever. Give the throttle a 1/4 turn then let it snap closed. A diaphragm in the carb gives a shot of gas when this is done. DO NOT do this multiple times because you will flood the engine. Leave the throttle closed when kicking. Give a strong kick through the full sweep of the kickstart lever. Quickly get your foot off the kick lever at the end of the kick to avoid any chance of "kickback" from a backfire. It can be very painful, and can even break a leg. I am serious about that. Repeat the process (but without the throttle priming), until the bike starts. A good battery, a clean spark plug, a clean carb and clean air filter will also aid in starting.
Yes, there is a proper way to start the engine. Four controls are on your bike to assist in starting.
The choke, used when the engine is cold. Pull the knob for choke.
The " Hot Start " Lever, used when the engine is hot. Pull the lever to lean the fuel mix when the engine has been running.
The de-compression lever, always used.
The throttle, used to prime the cylinder.
Don't kick, instead, push the kick lever downward. You will feel the back pressure as the piston is going upward on the compression stroke to the point the pressure is great enough that the kick lever "locks up". You are very close to TDC. NOW, pull in the de-compression lever. Push the kick lever a little bit more to get the piston past TDC. Now release the de-compression lever. Give the throttle a 1/4 turn then let it snap closed. A diaphragm in the carb gives a shot of gas when this is done. DO NOT do this multiple times because you will flood the engine. Leave the throttle closed when kicking. Now give a strong kick through the full sweep of the kick start lever. Quickly get your foot off the kick lever at the end of the kick to avoid any chance of "kickback" from the kick lever. This happens in the case of a misfire, aka > backfire. It can be very painful, and can even break a leg. I am serious about that. Repeat the process (but without the throttle priming), until the bike starts. A good battery, a clean spark plug, a clean carb and clean air filter will also aid in starting.
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