The Kick start Chestnut

I see from browsing this site no ones ever asked this question before...(not) but anyway, I've just bought an 02 501FE - takes an hour to start from cold on the kick (single kick when hot). I've seen various posts and comments on starting problems / de-compressors / TDC / valves etc.

My question is this - is it realistic for me to expect to be able to set up my berg so I can kick start it from cold within 2 - 4 kicks.

If yes, what simple tasks could I try before getting involved in valve settings etc. I do not have a manual de-compressor.

Thanks.

1. Valves adjusted
2. Timing good
3. Kickstart engages from 2 o'clock to slightly pass 6
4. Good spark
5. Good kicking technique (pass TDC, long regular stroke, patience)

welcome to UHE arkley

can you put up your machine in your signature along with where you're from. it will help in the long run.

well yes you can. when it's all done and you've set it up just right she will start within 3 kicks.

maybe it isn't clear in the doc which i guess you've read but no one thing leads to them starting easily.

at the moment we're having a run of machines that never had the timing mark in the right place on the flywheel. it could even turn out to be the bete noir of the bike.

certainly the following will all need doing and i think you'll have got this from the doc already but fire away with any questions.

the correct TDC should be found and the ignition set with a strobe.
tappets should be done by the 1/7th (in my case with a better profile cam i go 1/6th) method.
a quality IXU24 plug or the nippondenso equivelant.
cam timing checked for symetrical lobes at TDC.
the auto decomp can ofeten be felt to be working correctly or not.
the carb - if it gets closer and closer to starting and stalls a bit when started and then eventually runs - JUST. you need a larger choke jet. in the carb we get stuck floats, we get worn emulsion tubes and needles. nightmare!
you can do the Taff crescent mod to the kickstart. this will give a longer stroke in the kick.
check the condition of the flywheel and the stator, it may pay to change the wiring tube down to the sidecover, mastik everything, drill a vent hole underneath and vaso the surfaces.

i could add a few more little things that will help but this is enough for now and we need more detail of how and why it doesn't start as well as how it runs when it starts!

good luck

regards

Taffy

Sorry to have to tell you this, but, the valves are THE most important thing to check. And you need to do that straight away. You may find that this cures all, or at least makes it a lot better. You will find that this is a very simple mechanical task as well.

Second is setting the idle mix and speed properly. Go to the owners DOC to get started, no pun intended. That will give you the basic carb set up. And speaking of the carb, if the bike has been sitting for a while you will need to take it apart and give it a thorough cleaning as there is probably varnish deposits within, and that could be a major problem with your starting issue. Make sure that all is right with the carb, from clean jets to float height.

Did you get a manual with the bike?? The manuals are downloadable from the this site or the mother site at Husaberg.se

I am curious that you say that you don't have a manual decomp, those bikes came with them. There are actually three decomp devices on your bike, the manual one that has a small lever attached to the clutch resevior, the kick starter cable actuated one that goes to the same place as the manual one, and the decome device that's on the cam. You need to rtm (read the manual) on how to set the one from the kick starter to help you further with the kick starting. And, when kick starting, make sure that you bring the kick starter all the way up to the top, then press down gently until you feel engage the mechanism. Then just give a good push on it. You can't paddle it like a two stroke.

I am also curious that you did not mention starting on the button. Does it start on the button??

How about some more info, or at least what you know about the bike and where you're riding at.

Thanks guys. Thing is, at this stage I just want to ride, and great though your advice is (I guess) I'm a Berg virgin and it's all gobboldy **** to me. I'll learn in time but I want to get muddy.

2002 FE501 - useless e-start & anyway I need to be able to kick I reckon. Get on bike or stand by, put choke and fuel on and kick away making sure to locate the click on the auto de-comp - nothing - not even a fire - very occasional minor kick back - choke on - choke off - lungs turning inside out - sit down and cry - start again - no choke - suddenly smooth kick, not necessarily hard - bike just fires up - fantastic.

This can take an hour allowing for tantrums / coffee & #####'s. Haven't tried anything else yet, not really sure how to locate TDC - is this that important - one post says it's difficult with the auto de comp on ??

Thanks (PS will signature later but Wisbech Cambs England for now).

gewd god 'es lewkel!

taffy

get those valves right and the start jetting correct. get the bike in TDC with the kick and follow all the way through like you mean it. it it doen sot fire right away, pull in the manula decomp blow throw, 3-4 times (no throttle) and then start again.

I had an 02 470 that was a ***** to start until i got the valves and start jetting down, then one sometimes two kicks....

You need to hook up with the taff, buy him some beer and maybe a woman and he might show you a few tricks.....

Valves first!!!!!!!!!!!
Remove seat and air cleaner
BEFORE installing a NEW plug, kick through 10 times NO THROTTLE or CHOKE
NEW PLUG installed and of course hook up the wire
fuel ON
ignition ON
choke off
dribble 1-2 tablespoons of good fuel into the carb boot where the air filter was
KICK like a MAN
if you find it starts easy this way cold you need a bigger piolet ( most did iirc)

Starts good warm or hot????? probably NOT your stator. sometimes hard hot maybe the stator

Let us know what you find and welcome to the BEST bike made (when they run :twisted: )

So let me see if I've got this right then...not a good smacking with a lump hammer...I'd better start with the valves.

Thanks all - I'll keep you posted as to how I get on.

Yeah I've been through all this when I got mine from having a road bike. What no starting on the button, had to kick it for ages. I read the doc and spent a lot of time looking at the comments on this site. I had to sort out wiring and charging system, set and reset the valves until I got a feel for them., then set up the carb. Oh I also had to replace the kick start shaft 'cos that had brocken when I got the bike. What a lot of messing about, but....once it's running I'm grinning ear to ear as it is tremendous fun.
It seems as though it's mostly in the valve adjustment then I found adjusting the carb gives a slightly different exhaust note...more of an echoey thump, then it started. I got the impression that once I got this change in the exhaust note the bike was close to starting.
I'm still working on the electric start. I've fitted a CBR600rr starter motor from ebay but although it seems a stronger motor. it is labouring to get through TDC so I'm going to look at valves again and auto decomp.

Keep persevering and you'll have great fun. There's a lot of support from the correspondents on this site.

You really should look at this thread as well.

missing a part from the carb?

Have you looked at the "hard e-start" post which is currently running. It looks like valves and the decompression spring might remedy poor cold starting & the e-start issues ??

To update - been jumping between different posts on a similar subject - anyway, after setting the valves 180 degrees in the wrong direction, now set correctly 1/8th back as in doc. - nothing - totally stripped down carb, full clean and blow out, all seems in order - idle screw out 5 turns - mix out 1 1/3rd Still nothing even with new spark plug. It is firing and I'm sure it would start if I persisted but that's not what I'm trying to achieve. I want a bike that I can get on - 2 to 3 kicks from cold and be on my way.

I did think the spark looked a bit weak but I have no real referance to judge against.

you must now tell us how wet the plug is? if it isn't you must poor a little fuel in the plug hole and some in the carb boot.

report back

regards

Taffy

UK fuel

Fuel in the UK [probably EU as well] goes bad real quick any more than 3 weeks and its losing its bang, two of my mates with wr426's and another with crf drain there carb just before starting to get some fresher fuel from the tank through,this not only helps starting but the initial running when a machine is most likely to stall and be even harder to restart, i store as little fuel as possible and what i do store is in metal jerry can even though i dont run a berg anymore [cr250 honda] i do have longer spells between rides than i would like.
Im sure official fuel store times can be found with a googling.

RE: UK fuel

www.backwoodshome.com before I forget says gasoline goes stale in a couple of weeks due to its high vapour content. I'm currently using high octane uk petrol (gasoline for our overseas friends) stored in a Jerry can for about a month and being used in my sons KTM SX60 2 stroke. Works fine on that but worth a try - I'll get some fresh tomorrow.

Also, just clarify a point...you don't really have to take the tank off every time you want to take the plug out do you??

RE: UK fuel

yes you do but the good news is that i never seem to need to take the plug out. once you're running correctly you will take it out once every two seasons. ( i don't take it out to do the tappets either).

regards

Taffy

RE: UK fuel

Anyway, as I was just saying to Taffy, and thanks for all your help; for any newbies having a similar problem, it's all in the technique. Find TDC; good strong straight through kick right down to 6 O clock. Starts 3-4 kicks from cold - no choke. I dare say setting the valves / changing the plug and stripping down the carb all helped but more than anything, this gives confidence to strip bits off the bike - it's only a kit after all.

RE: UK fuel

That's the attitude. Even I managed to fix an exploded top end.

I don't know who was the most surprised between Taffy and my mom.