Kickstart Snap - Normal?

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Bonwit

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Jul 20, 2009
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Here's one that's been bugging me for awhile. Every so often, say once every 10 kicks or so, I'll hear a slight metallic snap sound as I first bear down on the lever. It's as though the kickstart pawl is not quite in position and then seats. Not feeling any slip in the lever, just the sound. Whenever it happens I wonder if something's about to break, so I thought I'd run it by you guys. Anyone else experience this?

Thanks!
 
Hi Bonwit
Yep I get the same noise every so often, gotta be something internal???. However its been doing it for a long time now, but still runs.
Would be interested to hear feedback also from yet another potential Norton anomaly!!
 
Do you take the time to get the pistons to TDC with the kickstarter? Or do you just wail on it?
 
The 70 bikes supposedly had a batch of pawls not hardened correctly. I had to fix mine half way on a trip across the USA. I had a hard time finding a new one. Bought a used one that had been welded and ground. Then I managed to get a new one before I put the used one in. The pawl does take some wear, especially if you do not engage it in the cog before jumping down on the starter.
 
I have a 1970 and the pawl was replaced during the resto. It has always had that occasional snap. It even does it sometimes when I am positioning the piston at T.D.C. before starting. I always pre-load the starter with a bit of my weight before kicking through. I always wondered if that was normal or if something was slipping. I've put 7,000 miles on it like that and nothing has let go yet.
 
swooshdave said:
Do you take the time to get the pistons to TDC with the kickstarter? Or do you just wail on it?
Click to expand...
No, I pre-load the lever before kicking it through. Sounds like others are experiencing the same thing. Must be a Norton thing.
 
Bonwit said:
swooshdave said:
Do you take the time to get the pistons to TDC with the kickstarter? Or do you just wail on it?
Click to expand...
No, I pre-load the lever before kicking it through. Sounds like others are experiencing the same thing. Must be a Norton thing.
Click to expand...

Had to ask. Watch enough videos on YouTube of people starting their Nortons and it'll make you wonder. :mrgreen:

Can you confirm it's coming from the gearbox? If you look past the kickstart pawl, the next thing that I can think that might make a noise is the primary chain taking up slack. Just talking a wild guess here.
 
swooshdave said:
Bonwit said:
swooshdave said:
Do you take the time to get the pistons to TDC with the kickstarter? Or do you just wail on it?
Click to expand...
No, I pre-load the lever before kicking it through. Sounds like others are experiencing the same thing. Must be a Norton thing.
Click to expand...

Had to ask. Watch enough videos on YouTube of people starting their Nortons and it'll make you wonder. :mrgreen:

Can you confirm it's coming from the gearbox? If you look past the kickstart pawl, the next thing that I can think that might make a noise is the primary chain taking up slack. Just talking a wild guess here.
Click to expand...

I will take a wild guess and say you have never started a Commando.
 
JAYMAC said:
swooshdave said:
Bonwit said:
No, I pre-load the lever before kicking it through. Sounds like others are experiencing the same thing. Must be a Norton thing.
Click to expand...

Had to ask. Watch enough videos on YouTube of people starting their Nortons and it'll make you wonder. :mrgreen:

Can you confirm it's coming from the gearbox? If you look past the kickstart pawl, the next thing that I can think that might make a noise is the primary chain taking up slack. Just talking a wild guess here.
Click to expand...

I will take a wild guess and say you have never started a Commando.
Click to expand...

Close, it's been a while. A LONG while. :mrgreen:

But having just been intimate with the gearbox, kickstart pawl to 4th gear layshaft to mainshaft, to clutch to primary chain to crankshaft. Why, what do you think it is?
 
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