'82 430 CR problems/questions

I just finished up on a rider resto and took it to Unadilla for a shakedown run..... couple of issues, first I need to learn how to start the beast, new piston/rings/bore and I found it difficult to get it to spin fast enough with the kic k starter to get it to fire .... also noticed how easy it was to stall it out (compared to my 250XC) could the lack of flywheel make it easy to stall? she stalled several times during practice to the point that I thought the motor seized. Any ideas, comments would be appreciated!
thanks,
w

also noticed that the steering stem would loosen up each time I went out, any ideas why? I replaced the bearings, but not the races as they looked good.... I have the washer on the bottom, under the bearing, then the top bearing, then the top bearing, lock nut, then the top nut just under the bars.... did I miss something?
Thanks for the advise,
w

Hey we all must of missed you at Dilla. John and Joe were their and I made it up from Texas again. Plus a few other s from this site.

Once you get it down its fairly easy to start. Now do you have a good angle to kick it with. I am using the later AL kick starter lever and I am tall but need to stand on something to get a good kick in. Some and eventually all the 30 year old motoplat seems to lose it kick starting ability with age. This could be some of it. Many here have gone and installed a Electrex unit for better starting and this last week all noticed a nice overall improvement in rev at the top also.
I sometime get a few in and sell them to the guys here.

Gas it. Well that applies to me also as I stalled while in a corner. At 60 I am being real conservative in protecting my bones today So I am closer to idle jet than main jet these days.

Maybe gear it down a bit with a smaller front gear. It has plenty of grunt. I don't think the flywheel is the problem it just takes sometime to get used to it. I have a outside flywheel style Electrex here to try soon. Also looking into a small additional mini flywheel weight that can be added to the small rotor Electrex.

No ideal on steering stem. Just a few taps on the middle stem nut below top fork clamp and I have never seen this get loose.

Look us up next year.

make sure your gettin a full full stroke on it you mite need to move the kicker forward on the shaft its kind of a timed deal and make sure the stator is grounded i run a chunk of 6 or 8 Ga out thru the grommet thingie to the motor mount

You need to put the 400LC primary gears (crank gear and clutch basket/ring gear) in it, the stock 430 primary gears do not turn the engine over fast enough. Husky saw there was a problem and fixed it with the 400LC. I have done the swap on both of my 430s, done the swap on two other friends bikes for them and several people have done it after I recommended it. Everyone is shocked at the difference it makes and wonder why Husky didnt use those 400 gears (which are very close to the 390 primary ratios) instead of what they used in the 430.

I'm 5'7" 145lbs and I can start my 430s first kick almost every time with the 400 primary gears.

I have timed the kick starter based on the old thread from huskydogg, the kicker is engaging at about 2 o'clock. I think it has more to do with learning how to kick it, as I can start it if I'm up on a stand. I think what happened at Unadilla was that I stalled it with the rear brake and then had no stand to gain advantage on the kicker, so it wouldn't start. Gary, I will be sure to look you guys up next year, I was in full shake down mode on the 430 and didn't get to meet too many folks. It really ran well and sure did haul the mail!

Thanks kartwheel68, I'll look into that....

No problem, it is worth it.

if you haven't bottomed the lower bearing on the steering stem completely, each time you ride it, it probably slips down enough to loose tension and you feel freeplay. keep winding up the collar, it should settle eventually.

try retarding the timing a tad, will help starting.

Thanks suprize, I'll pull the front end off and inspect the lower bearing to be sure it's all the way down, I will check the timing as well