Modified Kickstart

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mwoo

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The December 2007 edition of Classic Bike Guide featured a very nice Norvil Commando and I was interested in the 'modified' kickstart lever fitted to it. The lever looks like a more modern pattern with the main pivot at the base , it therefore clears the exhaust and silencer better than the standard item and (apparently) is about 15mm longer and thus gives a bit more leverage. Problem is - I cannot find who can supply such an item. Norvil (Les Emery) reckons either Sammy Miller or Norman Hyde but I cannot see anything on their websites etc.

Any ideas please ?
 
RGM Motors were developing one last year based on a T160 type, but were having issues with the forgings. I haven't seen the article, but they may have them sorted now.
 
Sammy Miller definitely made them a few years ago, but I haven't heard much lately. I recall that there were some issues with splines. I have no first hand knowledge though.
 
Due to damage to my legs I found I needed to move the footrests back some 3" any more was too much. I took the opportunity to fit an early kettle lever as a proto type (still got it ) and now use a T160 lever on my poor old Mk3. I made the bosses from 316 stainless steel and they never came slack or ever needed re-tightening. Sammy must have been using putty :wink:.

RGM are making theirs' out of a high grade steel and I'm sure they will be ready this year. They look bloody good too, I think there will be one type for standard footrests and another for rearsets.

Don't know how to attach a photo but if you want to see my effort drop me a line.

Cash
 
The Sammy Miller ones made to fit the BSA Unit single bend on a B50 or a CCM. Too soft to handle the power required, so any effort from Sammy for a Commando should be treated with suspicsion.
 
modofied kickstart

Ron, I have been using one of the Sammy Miller units for years with success. I modified it by drilling and taping the mounting to take the standard size kicksart bolt. The one at Rabers is the same, however they have been unable to provide them for years, so I usually purchase damaged stock units and cut and weld to Jap swing-out levers for use with rear sets. Works very well.
jt
 
I called Raber's and they told me they could not get the levers anymore, they should be taking it off their web site soon as I was told, however they told me Speed And Sport should have them in stock. Called Speed and Sport (530-878-0700) and they were out but told me they should have them in stock in about two weeks. The price is $159 US BTW. Speed And Sport have a web site at http://www.speedandsport.com/ I have no links to either of the preceeding stores, I'm looking for a lever myself and I think I will find a Japanese kick start lever and weld it to a Norton lower, should end up costing a lot less, not to mention making one or getting one will need a rechroming.

Jean

Have a look at my Norton galleries at http://www.pbase.com/jeandr/nortons
 
modified kick starter

jeander, Go on evil-bay, look up Norton parts-other, go to production racer plates and look up my performance rating, upper left side you will see one of my customers machines with half Norton/jap kicker.
 
kickstart

Hi Mwoo
Avery Products Terry Weedy 02380613690 07775-857702

Terrys product comes non chromed. He always said this was better than Sammy Millers as it allows you to give it an extra tweek if required.
There was a third supplier I met at Stafford who tells me they are all the same product!

Ps how is the Trispark on your Commando?
Your Boyer is going on the Vendetta.
all the best Chris
 
Re: modified kick starter

katescottageiom said:
jeander, Go on evil-bay, look up Norton parts-other, go to production racer plates and look up my performance rating, upper left side you will see one of my customers machines with half Norton/jap kicker.
Click to expand...

I couldn't see much from the postage stamp sized pic. What make did you use? does it clear athe right footpeg or must a folding peg be used anyway?

Thanks

Jean
 
Hi Chris - thanks for the info - I'll give him a try. The Tri-Spark on the Commando is superb (initial timing was a bit fiddly) - I'd recommend the Tri Spark system every time !!
 
modified kick

Jean, I forgot how small that is, when I return home I will use the sticky info. to send photos to the site. Thanks L.A.B.
The one I use is the Sammy Miller unit, others I have seen look the same, which I obtained from Rabers years ago. My rear sets are attached to Norvil style mounts and you still need folding pegs. I use a shortened standard shift lever reversed and it clears the kicker. I have also used a shifter that pivots off of the foot peg, which I like, it is not the one that you usually see on a Norton, that goes up and around the kicker, but is straight like a Duck shifter. Over the years I have tried so many options, and few are actually are viable, that I just go back to the familiar. The one I want to try is the JPN set up where the outer cover is welded up to provide an additional pivot point with lever attached moved by a short rod to a short lever attached to the original shifter location. Does that make sense? By the way, the kicker I was trying to show you on the postage stamp is a Norton bottom welded to a jap swivel top off of a dirt bike.
 
I am looking forward to seeing those pictures, any idea is welcomed at the stage my project is in presently. I have a genuine JPS shift lever as well as a stock Norton one and also a set of homemade rearsets using stock Commando rear folding pegs. The idea of the folding kickstarter is to tuck it in closer than the Norton unit which sticks out too much for my taste. On one bike I built years ago, I heated and straightened a stock Atlas kickstarter to tuck it in, but the Jap kickstart welded to a Norton bottom seem like a better idea.
 
jeandr,
Have a look at my Mk3 in sticky photos, it's fitted with a T160 lever. I've another fitted with an early 750 Suzuki kettle lever that I will use on my project Triton one day.

Cash
 
modified kick starter

Jean Sent photos did not work, try again. Could not find the Norton/jap unit yet, here are two of Sammy Millers kicker.

Modified Kickstart


Modified Kickstart
 
Thanks

Thanks for the pics guys, gives me good ideas. I called a local motorcycle scrap yard and the guy told me he threw away all the kickstart pedals he had, another is closed (probably on vacation) and another told me he had two boxes of levers so I will take a trip over there next week and see what I can find. I like the way the Miller unit tucks in close to the gearbox, the T160 lever looks good too, but my chances of finding one are next to nil.

Jean

Nice Seeley Chris :D
 
Seeley

Thanks for the kind words.
Massively over tyred!
I managed to break it in half!
Saving up for the frame repairs as we speak ( 2nd year & counting)
all the best Chris
 
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