Kick Start Lever Issue

S

stuck amals

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Mar 6, 2012
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I have been a having an issue with the K/S lever on my 1974 850 for quite some time

The K/S lever is kicking back when accelerating from a dead stop. This kick back only occurs when starting from a dead start. This does not happen when accelerating from a slow rolling start

When I first noticed this problem I immediately took the bike to the local Brit Bike shop to have the lay shift bearing replaced. My mistake was to diagnose the problem myself instead of explaining the problem. The lay shaft bearing was replaced needlessly since the existing bearing was not one from Portugual. Everything else looked good. The gearbox has worked flawlessly other than this issue.
.
After reading Britstuff’s post I decided to reach out for advice and solve this problem. What could be causing this issue? Any suggestions?

.
 
This was before Andover even existed. The bearing was from Fair Spares. It was the one recommended in the Norton Tech Digest.
 
Regardless where purchased, when changed, or the type of bearing, the layshaft bearing needs to be investigated as well as the kickstart layshaft bushing, and the rest of the kickstart and layshaft components. And, IMHO, soon! It may be something simple that at some point will lock the gearbox.
 
If a roller type was fitted, was the end float correctly shimmed? Unsure if that might be the issue but it is necessary for using the roller bearing.
 
stuck amals said:
This was before Andover even existed. The bearing was from Fair Spares. It was the one recommended in the Norton Tech Digest.
Click to expand...
Before 1977? That was when Dennis Poore set up AN as a standalone spares business. Actually Norton was at Andover from the end of 1969, the original building is still there and I drive by it every working day, we even have the photos of it being built. I believe the earliest reference to the Portuguese bearing I have read was dated around 1976.
 
Madnorton said:
Before 1977? That was when Dennis Poore set up AN as a standalone spares business. Actually Norton was at Andover from the end of 1969, the original building is still there and I drive by it every working day, we even have the photos of it being built. I believe the earliest reference to the Portuguese bearing I have read was dated around 1976.
Click to expand...
I should have wrote “before Andover Norton was the go-to supplier for Norton parts. ‘

Obviously it wasn’t before 1977.
 
stuck amals said:
I have been a having an issue with the K/S lever on my 1974 850 for quite some time

The K/S lever is kicking back when accelerating from a dead stop. This kick back only occurs when starting from a dead start. This does not happen when accelerating from a slow rolling start

When I first noticed this problem I immediately took the bike to the local Brit Bike shop to have the lay shift bearing replaced. My mistake was to diagnose the problem myself instead of explaining the problem. The lay shaft bearing was replaced needlessly since the existing bearing was not one from Portugual. Everything else looked good. The gearbox has worked flawlessly other than this issue.
.
After reading Britstuff’s post I decided to reach out for advice and solve this problem. What could be causing this issue? Any suggestions?

.
Click to expand...
Well, seeing as you invoked my name, I suppose I might as well add my two cents worth......

I am certainly no expert, but I do have the benefit of having recently played around with the internals of a Norton gearbox. To my mind the only way the kick start lever could be moving on it's own, is if something is binding up the layshaft. A situation that seems to be universally agreed upon to be an accident waiting to happen! Seems to me the only way to find out what, is probably to take it all apart and have a look. It took me a fair bit of time, lot's of head scratching and a few specialist tools to remove, strip, diagnose and rebuild the gearbox, but it was well worth it. I think with the help of the videos I mentioned in my post, and the help of members of this forum, it is perfectly achievable with reasonable mechanical skills, patience and common sense. Either that or give it to an expert to play with. I feel great that I now actually know what I have got! We are lucky to have access to the experts on this forum.

Good luck!
 
Last edited:

Britstuff said:
Well, seeing as you invoked my name, I suppose I might as well add my two cents worth......

I am certainly no expert, but I do have the benefit of having recently played around with the internals of a Norton gearbox. To my mind the only way the kick start lever could be moving on it's own, is if something is binding up the layshaft. A situation that seems to be universally agreed upon to be an accident waiting to happen! Seems to me the only way to find out what, is probably to take it all apart and have a look. It took me a fair bit of time, lot's of head scratching and a few specialist tools to remove, strip, diagnose and rebuild the gearbox, but it was well worth it. I think with the help of the videos I mentioned in my post, and the help of members of this forum, it is perfectly achievable with reasonable mechanical skills, patience and common sense. Either that or give it to an expert to play with. I feel great that I now actually know what I have got! We are lucky to have access to the experts on this forum.

Good luck!
Click to expand...
Thanks! I was following your thread. I am going to take the gearbox apart over the winter.
 

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