I have just bought a run down pre 1990, xt600 here in Kenya, when kickstarting the bike it kicks back, and this has now caused serious damage to the clutch cover, and my leg !! Can anyone help me with this ?? I would also appreciate instructions on aligning the camshaft and the crack. Does anyone have the wiring diagram for a xt600 ?
Arne

Arne,
Sounds like a normal compression kickback. To reduce the possibility of putting your knee into your chin, just ease the kickstart a few times and get a feel for where the compression is. Take it just past where it locks up and then give it a bootfull. What this does is put the piston just past top dead center and if you pick it right should start her everytime.
Cheers Ben.
Converted Electric start XT600 Owner.

is your automatic decompression unit functioning? does it have the right play?
sometimes the bolt slips out of the lever down under the cover in the right crankcase cover.
aligning the camshaft and the crank:
look for the marking on the sprocket on camshaft, it should align with the corresponding marking on the camshaft. the other marking aligns with the cylinder head.
same with the marking on the gear/crankshaft: there is a corresponding marking on the housing. piston should then be on upper dead point (all valves closed).
ref. also here: http://216.37.204.3/yamaha_DB/yam_DB...1.asp?model=11

wiring diagram you can find here: http://www.xt600.de/xt_technisches/%...plan/index.htm

regards
klaus@xt600.de