Ever snapped off your kickstarter?

[yamahonky]

went out to ride the 490 today and I kicked it twice, it started and then died, and then I kicked it again and it snapped off the kickstart lever :eek: I looked down and the shaft coming out of the side was twisted in half! I picked up the kicker and put the bike away. My question is how hard is it to replace the kicker shaft? Do you have to pull the clutch off, or just the primary cover? also, have any of you other big bore riders ever had this happen? ;)

 

[ProcircuitCR80]

i think all you have to do is pull the cover off to get to the shaft. Thats what i remember when i was working on my friends blaster. I dont know if its any different

 

[mxmatthew]

lmao was it an yamaha IT490 by chance?

 

[reelrazor]

It happens. It's been a long time, but I think both my 465's needed the shaft replaced. I have since replaced the kickstart shaft on many a customer bike.

Kicking style has a lot to do with it. I see a lot of guys actually kicking at levers like they are breaking boards or sumthin. It is really irritating when they bitch about the price I just charged them and then they set to whomping the lever.

If the bike is in a decent state of tune, finding compression, then PUSHING the lever down quickly will be plenty to start it.

Oh yeah, I don't recall for sure but I am pretty sure that shaft is housed in the clutch cover and only has a bearing socket/support in the main case.

 

[zoommx]

I dont think you have to remove clutch basket to get the kick shaft out. Make sure the nylon spacer is aligned with the spring right when re-assembling. When I got my 100, the previous owner had not aligned it right and starter spring would not return lever to upright postion.

As far as happening, I did break the kickstart return spring on it this spring right before my open class. Good thing I had the 100 to back it up, even though the results weren't quite as good. It was funny as he-11 beating 2 or 3 experts to the 1st turn on it(yz100) (I'm in the Intermediate class) :p

 

[yamahonky]

I... AM.... IRONLEG!... :p

 

[DWreck]

I just replaced the kick start shaft on my KX. On mine it required removing the clutch, water pump, and lower power valve mechanism so that I could remove the cover to get to it. Its not that complicated, just takes a while. Just make sure you pay attention to how the return spring is tensioned or you will get to do it a second time! :bang:

 

[zoommx]

I just took mine apart today getting ready to split the cases. To get the kick shaft out, you just have to remove the clutch basket first then it drops out easy.