1st Kick

jaydee75 · Feb 23, 2021

Just had to brag. It was 72F here today so I thought I would exercise the Norton. Rolled it out of the garage, choked the Mik, 2 prime kicks ign off, ign on, first kick........roared to life. Amazing what a properly set up old British bike can do. It was last run on Nov 22, and have not charged the Shorai at all.
Been sitting in my cold garage all winter. Felt real good to get back on her, Springs a comin'.
Jaydee

Craig · Feb 23, 2021

Got to like that ! Looks very green for end of Feb .... lucky !
Nice bike too !

Deckard · Feb 23, 2021

Awww, it's a Mk3, why'd you have to kick start?

As long as carburation and ignition are right, nothing like a twin to start easy. I'm always pleased when mine start easy, but it's all about technique with a Norton

CanukNortonNut · Feb 23, 2021

Same here wishing for warmer days. We still got snow and salt on our roads.

jbruney · Feb 23, 2021

Mine's been sitting near 3 weeks..... She's gonna be somewhat cantankerous until warm after this long.

Triton Thrasher · Feb 24, 2021

“Priming kicks” are kicks!

tyborg15 · Feb 24, 2021

Priming kicks are with ignition off. No chance of starting so not a kickstart. Same with clutch pulled to free the plates.

kommando · Feb 24, 2021

tyborg15 said:
Priming kicks are with ignition off. No chance of starting so not a kickstart. Same with clutch pulled to free the plates.

TT's point is that ignition off or on a kick is a kick, if you chose not have the ignition on for 2 kicks that's your choice but they still count as kicks. Using TT's definition my 850 is a 1 or 2 kick bike, my B44 is a single kick. My pain in the ass B25 is a 7 or 8 kick bike from unless I bump start it and then its a no kickstart but cheating bike, warm its a one kick bike.

Fast Eddie · Feb 24, 2021

jaydee75 said:
Just had to brag. It was 72F here today so I thought I would exercise the Norton. Rolled it out of the garage, choked the Mik, 2 prime kicks ign off, ign on, first kick........roared to life. Amazing what a properly set up old British bike can do. It was last run on Nov 22, and have not charged the Shorai at all.
Been sitting in my cold garage all winter. Felt real good to get back on her, Springs a comin'.
JaydeeView attachment 21991

Please don't post this on the 961 forum, it wouldn't be well received...!

cliffa · Feb 24, 2021

Fast Eddie said:
Please don't post this on the 961 forum, it wouldn't be well received...!

Sooo, I took the challenge went out to the garage where my 961 has stood since the middle of December ( not on a battery tender). It caught and almost started on the first push, but on the second it was away.

EstuaryBoy · Feb 24, 2021

cliffa said:
Sooo, I took the challenge went out to the garage where my 961 has stood since the middle of December ( not on a battery tender). It caught and almost started on the first push, but on the second it was away.

You have to push the new ones???? !!

jaydee75 · Feb 24, 2021

I should have been clearer, my priming kicks are just slow push throughs, not real kicks. And my 4 brush starter works fine, I just never use it when cold to save the drivetrain. I'm 77 and weigh 150 lbs and as long as I can still kick it, I will. It is very satisfying. Save the starter for emergencies (traffic light stalls) and to impress others.
Jaydee

cliffa · Feb 24, 2021

EstuaryBoy said:
You have to push the new ones???? !!

Okay, I fell for that

Second Press of the starter button.

Lineslinger · Feb 24, 2021

Nice pic of your bike...regardless of what kind of kick you gave it.

Jerry Doe · Feb 24, 2021

What did you do about the wet sumping?
sorry had to ask

Triton Thrasher · Feb 24, 2021

jaydee75 said:
I should have been clearer, my priming kicks are just slow push throughs, not real kicks. And my 4 brush starter works fine, I just never use it when cold to save the drivetrain. I'm 77 and weigh 150 lbs and as long as I can still kick it, I will. It is very satisfying. Save the starter for emergencies (traffic light stalls) and to impress others.
Jaydee

Tell the truth- you were jumping up and down on it for half an hour!

Schwany · Feb 24, 2021

You win. 77 years at 150lbs and still kick starting a Norton is a noteworthy accomplishment.

I count the pre kicks myself. I wish it was one kick, but if my Norton sat since November, it would be at least 5 kicks, and that is with accelerator pumps.

Yeah, what did you do about the wet sump?

acotrel · Feb 24, 2021

I have a roller electric starter for my 850. If I leave it standing, I disconnect the oil feed and stuff a bolt up it to stop wet-sumping. To start it I usually reconnect the pipe, put some methanol in the tank, fit a freshly charged battery, put the chokes on and it will start at first bump on the starter. I have only ever had one occasion when it did not start straight away. I took it to Winton one day and it totally refused to fire, until I changed the spark plugs. I think it is possible that the carbon on the plugs can change and conduct electricity. The motor was not flooded, and that had never happened previously.

jbruney · Feb 24, 2021

You guys may claim what you wish but I believe mine sometimes just doesn't want to be disturbed. I have to agree considering the age that the old girl has right to be a bit bitchy every now and then.

Tornado · Feb 24, 2021

EstuaryBoy said:
You have to push the new ones???? !!

I think it means he had to push the starter button twice. Never understood how one gets his kicking boot up to that button?

1st Kick

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