Kickstarter Pawl,Edge or no edge.

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Shadowcat

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Thought I,d get a second opinion as I,m not convinced.Bought a new kickstarter pawl for my 72 Commando as the other showed signs of wear.On receiving the new part I was a little apprehensive as to why the mating surface of the pawl where it engages with the layshaft gears,was not ground to a defining sharp edge.The pawl is a genuine part,but am a little concerned that there is no sharp edge to the pawl.Previously bought a gear selector pawl from the same source and this clearly had a ground edge to both faces.As ever you thoughts please.
 
Ok,so free to fit as is then.Have just noticed that the old pawl has a letter M stamped into the side edge where as the new one has a letter A.Any idea what this represents.
 
M was a change to the production method to create a harder pawl that lasted longer. This was a change during production, what the A stands for ?
 
The new one from Andover Norton has a A stamped into it.Definately looks like an A,in the same location where the M sits on the old one.
 
I've learned that a new kicker sleeve gear/shaft (that holds the pawl) from CBS is a VERY snug fit. Well-lubed, it does not snap back smartly when kicking. I'm going to re-work it this weekend, but it's kinda infuriating at nearly $250 for the part (with no new pawl nor spring).
 
I had replace my KS pawl 4 times in a few years in-between from wear and slipping when kicking found the KS gear where the pawl sat in the gear was worn very rounded edges on the gear, replaced the gear and pawl and that was well over 25 years ago and haven't had a worn pawl since, so when you replace the pawl also check on the kick start gear for sign of wear, if it has rounded edges replace.
 
In the late 70s my pawl started slipping, became so bad that I couldn't use the kickstarter. It was the original one from the factory

You can see the shape when new, and the wear pattern that makes the pawl slip.

This old pawl has sat in my desk drawer(s) for almost 50 years, it reminds me of a holiday in the South of France, 800+ miles from home, when I had to keep bump starting the bike, sometimes fully loaded with 75kg of camping gear, in 30 degree heat.
Kickstarter Pawl,Edge or no edge.
 
ashman said:
I had replace my KS pawl 4 times in a few years in-between from wear and slipping when kicking found the KS gear where the pawl sat in the gear was worn very rounded edges on the gear, replaced the gear and pawl and that was well over 25 years ago and haven't had a worn pawl since, so when you replace the pawl also check on the kick start gear for sign of wear, if it has rounded edges replace.
Click to expand...
That's a lot of riding!!🥳

First kick starting with a Joe Hunt maggie😉
 
The pawl mates with the interior cuts of First gear . Both must be in good shape . The later model M series pawl is good . First I've heard of a newer A stamping .
Repeated kickings and subsuquent slippages can lead to a need for a new fir$t gear , unless the pawl is replaced quickly with a later harder one .
Enjoy .
 

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