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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Yamaha TT 600 R, how to kickstart? :)

Recently I bought TT600R.
I have a lot of trouble with kickstart, since Tuesday (29.01) I can barely walk because it kicked back when I tried to start the motor.
How the kickstart ritual is done?

Please help :-)

Nikola
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  #2  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Hah!

They are such beauties ....

To kickstart:
- Make sure not to switch on any consumer of electricity: lights off, do not engage front brake etc (brake light!), etc.
- Do not open the throttle, better not to touch it all. If you think the idle speed setting is too low, correct with the idle screw
- Do not kick, move kickstart down from top position and once you encounter resistance push firmly down
- Use choke for stone cold engine, and no choke for warm engine (obviously). Anything in between you'll have to guess.

Adjustments:
- Automatic decompressor: set it so that with piston at TDC, all valves closed, you feel 0,5 to 1 mm play when pushing the lever on the cilinder head backwards. Easier to adjust with running engine; push lever softly to the rear and you'll feel the tappet. Same 0,5 to 1 mm
- Set idle mix adjustment correctly: with warm engine, screw out, you'll find the engine speed increases, keep screwing outwards till engine speed decreases, half a turn in and you're done. Re-adjust idle speed to normal value, remark: setting a bit higher than what would be cosmetically desirable improves starting

New plug might also help, but XT's and their clones are normally very easy on plugs so more a peace of mind thing.

Succes!
Auke
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  #3  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Wink Beauties and the beast

Nikola,
I am just curious about how many times, on average, you have to kick the bike over before it starts?

If you do a search in this website for "TT600R" you will find some earlier discussion about this same subject - such as kicking the bike over while stood next to the bike, rather than when sat on the seat.

Aukeboss says they are beauties, but mine was nicknamed the beast.
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  #4  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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When using the choke if the engine pops and kicks back I turn the choke off and will usually start next kick.
If when kicking over you get no sign of life after several attempts try draining the carb its the small screw at the bottom of the carb.
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Old 3 Feb 2008
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aukeboss, thank you very much, as soon as my foot recoveres I will try it!
Decompression probably needs adjustment.
One thing is for sure, next time I will wear my boots! :-)

Walkabout, on average some 20 times maybe even more.
I bought it on 21.01.2008, and it smashed my foot on 29.01. so I really did not had much time to learn :-)

It was funny when I drove it home first day.
As the previous owner lives some 280 km from my town, I went there by train to pick it up, took the bike and start to drive home. After some 40 km I stooped on the gas station and turn the engine off, BIG mistake!
For more than one hour I was trying to start the engine, at the end I was so tired and hungry that I could't do it anymore. So I phoned the guy who sold me the bike and asked him if he can come an start the thing. )))
He came and start it with his first try, what a embaressment! )
I stooped once more for gas but I left it running! )
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  #6  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Wink Starting the beast

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nixa View Post
Walkabout, on average some 20 times maybe even more.
I bought it on 21.01.2008, and it smashed my foot on 29.01. so I really did not had much time to learn :-)

It was funny when I drove it home first day.
As the previous owner lives some 280 km from my town, I went there by train to pick it up, took the bike and start to drive home. After some 40 km I stooped on the gas station and turn the engine off, BIG mistake!
For more than one hour I was trying to start the engine, at the end I was so tired and hungry that I could't do it anymore. So I phoned the guy who sold me the bike and asked him if he can come an start the thing. )))
He came and start it with his first try, what a embaressment! )
I stooped once more for gas but I left it running! )
That is far too many - if it has not started after a few kicks then my hard-won experience is that there is something wrong. This includes the possibility of having flooded the engine, but you do need that decompressor to be correctly adjusted for it to work properly - when mine was completely disconnected, I could hardly move the kicker at all.

Your trip home: that brings back memories! I had a very similar experience with re-fuelling (that 10 litre tank can be a bit of a pain at times).

To add to the advice about using the kicker: the "turn over" kicks can be as gentle as you like, saving your energy and feeling for the right position of TDC - there is no point in getting a sweat on over that.
Nor is there any point about sweating over the "main kick": this is where the technique is far more important than the amount of force applied - move the kick lever through its' full range of movement, all the way from the top of the stroke to the very bottom, without removing the force that you are applying through your boot (yes, I have done it in soft shoes as well, but it's not a great idea!) - it is one continuous and smooth movement, all the way from top to bottom. Long legs help!!

Cheers,
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  #7  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Its only technique.....

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nixa View Post

Walkabout, on average some 20 times maybe even more.
Nixa, as aukeboss says DO NOT touch that throttle, if you flood it,( which is what I feel you have done) you WILL end up in a puddle of sweat before it ever starts.
As for the De-compressor, it (in my opinion) is not really needed to be honest, I had to replace the clutch cover gasket on my XT600 last week and the De-compressor cable is pretty much Knackered so I did not refit it, and to my surprise it is not much different to start. If anything I thing its easier as I just give it one Hefty kick after prodding it to compression and she fires up good!

Martyn
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  #8  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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hi Nixa,

you go through the same experience as me, it seems , despite learning the kickstart ritual, i love the bike.
and i totally agree with aukeboss' instructions. they work.

i hope you recover fast. you checked the german tt600r forum yet?


cheers,
Sander


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  #9  
Old 3 Feb 2008
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Now I've never had one of these machines so don't really know what I'm talking about but I had an XR Honda for a while which must be similar(ish) and that was an absolute pig to start if the valve clearances were out.
Adjust the valve clearances correctly and it was easy peasy to start.
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  #10  
Old 4 Feb 2008
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German TT site

Quote:
Originally Posted by sanderd View Post
hi Nixa,

you go through the same experience as me, it seems , despite learning the kickstart ritual, i love the bike.
and i totally agree with aukeboss' instructions. they work.

i hope you recover fast. you checked the german tt600r forum yet?


cheers,
Sander


Does that site have an english section or translation. I can't find it.
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  #11  
Old 4 Feb 2008
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Wink TT600R webpages

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stevie2wheels View Post
Does that site have an english section or translation. I can't find it.
Try post number 8 in here for TT600 websites:-


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-or-ugly-32142
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  #12  
Old 4 Feb 2008
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TTR = Dr. Jekyl and mr. Hyde :)

Thanks guys on great advices and links!
Now I can almost walk normally!
I think that mine "ritual" was wrong, the bike was on service they cleared the carb and adjusted the valves. They say that it works as it should.
We'l see, about that!
Yes, I visited that german site and found some very usefull stuff, complete workshop manual is one (excellent site)!
Despite my little accident I still really like this bike.
And I plan to go in Central Asia with it this summer, I just hope that I will be able to start it with their low octane fuel.
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  #13  
Old 15 Feb 2010
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Kick Start TT600R

I sold my red and black TT600R cheap because I was so frustrated at never getting it started. Then I decided to buy another one (Yamaha Blue).

Pre-check procedure: Ignition on, choke out, fuel on, kill switch off, lights off.

Press kick starter down until it clicks (about halfway, this puts the piston TDC), then let kick starter return to top. If it doesn't click just cycle the kick starter all the way to the bottom and repeat. Once it clicks and the lever is back at the top you are ready to start. Just put enough downward pressure on the kick starter so there is no 'play' or slackness in the kick starter lever, then just push down with all your weight on the lever. If your auto decompression lever is set properly it should never kick back. If the de-comp breaks (a scary experience), good luck trying to start it, a backfire with throw you off but you should still get it going eventually.

IMPORTANT - NEVER TOUCH THE THROTTLE, it will flood the engine (and never start).

When cold my bike normally takes approximately three kicks (depending on how many months its been sitting there). When completely warmed up it always starts first kick (rarely does it take two kicks). Just never touch the throttle and it will fire up and turn over like an old tractor.

The problems I still have is when I stall it pushing the choke in too early. The bike is not completely warmed up and I don't know whether to pull the choke out, leave the choke in or something in between (which never works). Sometimes I can ride somewhere and when I return to the bike it must be in that same engine temperature (not warm or cold) and it can take many kicks.

I think at this stage the choke can stay out but when it eventually fires (break the cardinal rule) and give it a little throttle. Worst case scenario is you will flood it and have to wait awhile to reattempt.

Some rides I have to kick start the bike at least twenty times (a lot of smokers on our group) and it is very reliable and easy to start. Happy motorcycling. Ray
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  #14  
Old 24 Dec 2013
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No place to adjust cable

I have a 1998 tt600r, only done 7500km. Bikes has had three owner that don't get the time to ride. That hasn't stopped the dash from coming loose an the ignition from dying. fixed all that but now the auto decompressor is not working well. has about 6mm of slack. Auke mentioned that the cable has adjustment at the end near the kickstarter. I wish this was true, there is no adjustment at either end or anywhere along the cable. Seems it would be easiers to find a service manual than find somewhere to adjust the cable.
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  #15  
Old 24 Dec 2013
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Kickstart suck bigtime and thats it!! How fun is it when engine stop in traffic and your sparkplug is soaked in fuel, kick as much as you like and the engine will not start. And when you ride offroad and engine stop in the mud, dont tell me its fun trying to kick it...Be there done that and will never go back!
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