Kickstart return spring - Horizons Unlimited

**DougieB** · #1 24 Dec 2004

Hi,

Kickstart went all limp on me, and the Bullet. Took the gearbox casing off and the return spring had come off. Re-assembly done and it's not working as expected. What's the correct method?

I (stupidly?) rotated the kick start shaft round 180 degrees to make it easier to get the spring on, but I have a feeling that's the problem. Is it just a case of rotating it through another 180 degrees? How tight should the spring be?

Help appreciated as it's far too soon to have buggered the bike....

PS. My problems increased when a 'friendly' Moroccan parking attendant jumped to my aid. Despite me trying to get my tools back off him he battered everything in sight and stripped the thread on the oil filler bolt and ripped the gasket to bits! nice!

[This message has been edited by DougieB (edited 24 December 2004).]

**Grant Johnson** · #2 25 Dec 2004

Hi,

"helpers" can be such a pain in the ass...

As for the ks spring, no clue for sure on the Enfield, but lots of old brit bike experience says that normally you would leave the ks in correct position and wind the spring about 1/2 to 3/4 turn and hook it on. Pair of vise grips to hold it helps, or a coathanger bent into a hook for the spring.

Most kickstarter shafts won't go 360, only 180 or so, often the gear is not full circle, so rotating another 180 probably won't work.

If no one comes up with anything more exact, maybe that will help. Best of luck!

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

**DougieB** · #3 25 Dec 2004

thanks for the quick reply Grant. As you probably know a few words of encouragement is normally all that's needed

got a great bit of info from an Enfield guy in the UK:

"I have a 500 Bullet and did it yesterday. You just need plyers to hold the spring (I used long nosed ones)and then use your fingers to screw the bolt in with a final tighten with a spanner. The spring needs to be holding the kick-start fully clockwise (as you look at it) so put the inner part of spring in the hole in the shaft and rotate clockwise until it stops and tension up with the plyers to located the bolt through the loop."

So I'm all set once I get some gear oil, and once the rain stops.

thanks again..