250-500cc Kickstart option

Interesting thing for me, is that with my bad knee I can start a WR250/300 pretty easily. I can't start a Yamaha YZ250, KTM 250/300 or even a GG 200. It all has to do with where the kicker is on the cases and that forward and up on the Husky agrees with me.

If you think you could live with the Yamaha kicker not wrapping around the pipe if the splines had fit, a 1990 WR250 kicker might work. The old bike still had the high pipe and kicker is straight.

'91 still had the high pipe...

Thanks Norm - I wonder if its much longer
Finding one would be hard part .
I ve heard the wr250s are easier to start

I am looking option to go down to 250 anyway so that may fix the issue

Would it be actually possible to lengthen the box section of original kicker without weakening it too much ?

My 300 has been a fussy cold start even with the Lectron, mostly 3-4 kicks sometimes 6-8, then 1-3 warm. Spark looked weak, checked everything, finally $180 for an ignition and no change Finally did rings and gaskets, big change. No even harder to kick but starts 1-3 kicks cold, now 6-8 or 12 warm Luckily it has a Rekluse so tactic has always been to not shut it down until I'm done riding.

I think I found your solution. You need a lever like this one.

yeh that's the idea ..


When you changed the ignition Steve you probably should have gone to older ignition

Do you make sure the light is off ?

Kicking it over is harder than most but the issue seems to be kicking it well enough for the ignition to be strong enough


I am thinking about getting a cheap older CR 250 trying it out and if its all good transferring cylinder and ignition

Dya see wr250 top end for sale over here Ash?

yeh saw that a few days ago - made an offer

I sold a 250 top end about two months ago for $150 - a week before I got the 300 - no power valve though

Thought and read about going old CR ignition, but decided too much trouble and expense. Now I have a spare Ducati one
Mine didn't come with lights. I do have a headlight mounted, but unplugged. Right, takes a stout kick to light her up. I've got a coolant leak, hopefully on the flywheel side and planning to adjust timing when I put it back together.

not trying to start bike up on a stand. Just being able to stand the bike when i am taking a brake would be perfect.

Get a lectron carb, it made my 08 start with half the effort!!