Xt600 Electric Starter problem!
 

Hi im a newbie on here! I have a limited knowledge of my engine, i have an xt600 1aj with an electric start. I think its a late 80's tenere model?

Anyway i have a couple of problems i hope you guys could help me with.

I can start the engine with the kick start, i have a good spark but when i try and start the engine with the electric starter it turns over but there is no spark? And some times when i go to use the kick start after failing to start it with the button it turns over the starter motor a couple of times then it clunks and kicks normally!

The other problem is sometimes when i start her up the kick starter kicks back like a mule! I hurt my ankle the last time it did it! Am i starting her in the wrong way?

I will appreciate any help as im pretty much out of ideas!

Regards
Simon

there is a trick to starting these motors with the kicker. you gently push the kicker down with your foot until you feel the piston reach the top of its travel, THEN let the kickstart come up, and give it a good firm kick. having your decompression cable set right is important to this.

I cannot help you on the starter issue though unfortunately. but one you've learned how to use the kickstart well, electric is just pointless honestly.

Hi if your battery is not very good it may not be turning the engine over fast enough to produce enough power for a spark.
If the starter motor is still engaged when you kick the engine over I would guess the starter clutch is sticking.
If the engine kicks back alot of the time try turning the throttle stop screw on the carb back a bit so less petrol is getting into the engine when you kick it over.

Thanks for your input, i was thinking that a one way bearing or something might be worn. I shall investigate this as the kick start has such a violent kickback i actually hurt my ankle yesterday trying to start her up! :(

Hi,

I think your model may well be a 1VJ, if it has a kickstart as standard - see [url=http://www.tenere.ch/english/etenerestory.html] for a comparison.

Try pulling in the clutch lever, and gently move the kickstart a few times, before turning the ignition on. - (use to do this on older [pre-unit engine] bikes to free up the clutch plates, which I guess suffered from using thicker oil and stuck frequently).

The decompression adjustment does make a big difference to the kickback, and you should find the adjustment procedure in one of the service manual links above?

The starter motor not spinning fast enough is a problem I have from cold too. I would love to solve it! (Fyi, I eventually fitted a 1VJ kickstart mechanism to my 3AJ).

Good luck,
Geoff