can't kickstart 500cr OR 430xc/cr

[fran...k.]

The S one or dog leg one for me doesn't wear a hole in the bottom of the boot or lead to numbness in the ball of the foot (right foot) as the sole of the footwear becomes thinner. You are probably right that extra leverage in the outboard sense (as opposed to a foot pound type leverage from the pivot within pivoting plane) leads to the common cracking at the rear locating pin of the clutch cover. That can be cured with the addition of another fastner which was added as time went on. In the long haul probably the kind that have a plastic holder as opposed to a spring and ball detent will hold up best. Not a bad idea to keep that spot cleaned, good o ring, and greased on any dirt bike. Somewhere arond 1984 husky bikes had a steel L shaped one and a plastic holder. Depending on exactly where the footpeg is in relation to the kick start pedal pivot the dog leg one may get you more useful roation at the end of the stroke. Some of the knack of kick starting these things is in getting rearward force on the kick at the beginning. I gave up on the 500 water cooled ones and dis assembled them so I don't have a problem now. For me the 1988 430 with a fresh piston can stop me cold and then I get scared and many kicks don't go through. That does have a much different primary ratio than the air cooled 430. The 500 air cooled one I ran a lot and still do.

I have bought bikes from folks who could stand on level ground lean the bike toward them a bit and start it. I really need some elevation advantage.

Fran

 

[HuskyT]

Atleast someone knows how to start a big bore.

Half the people out there shouldn't even own one as they can't start them. You have to kick them like a viking, there's no black magic and all bikes are started the same way especially tow strokes.

Oh and forgot to add that the old rocking back and forth thing was from the days of bing carbs with the tickler instead of a choke in the 70s (which on a 2 stroke isn't a choke, it's an enrichment port that opens up). But anyways all the rocking did was charge the lower end of the motor. This is not needed on these bikes of this vintage. Just another statement to show that the rocking back and forth trick is useless. Find top dead with the kickstart, and kick like you mean it.

I have to agree with 87 500XC and Husq Fleet!!! reading some of this is hilariious....

After riding/racing an 83 CR480 Honda as a 14 /15 year old kid ( I weighed 140 at the time) and owning and riding an 83 YZ490 Yammie it all comes down to having it in the right place and giving it one hell of a kick.... this isn't rocket science guys... work it through a couple of times until you know you have it at the top of the stroke... choke on... no throttle... kick the pig hard one time... usually fires up immediately.... I have also started Husky 430's with the same method and everybody else that rides a big bore has me start their bikes for them....

Once they are flooded... which they usually are after someone kicks them half assed 17 times , lay them on thier side, let all the gas run out of the carb... stand them back up... choke on, no throttle, find the right spot and kick the crap out of it one time... fires almost every time....

And for those of you that can't kick any harder than a ten year old girl with a cast on their left leg... get off the bike, stand on the right side with the bike leaned over towards you, find the right spot at the top and give it a kick.... it really does not take that much coordination to stand on the ground on the left side to start a left kick big bore bike...

When I was 14, I would find a rock or a picnic table or a spare tire to stand on.... and kick my left kick 83 CR480R Honda with my right leg... I wish I still had that bike... what a beast....

One last thing... my yz 490 became very easy to start hot or cold once i modded the slide from 2.0 to 3.0... huge difference...

T

 

[HuskyT]

The 430 in the pic starts like this. Cold, turn gas on, kick slowly through a couple of times while finding top dead center. Rock kicker to find very top. Turn choke on and kick fast, usually starts first kick. I judge my pilot jet by how long I have to run the engine with the choke on. I like to have the choke basically just on to enrich it enough to fire. 10-20 seconds choke off and keep it running with throttle. Choke on for a long time to keep it running, too lean of pilot and vice-versa.
Or you can try this method. Cold engine, gas on, spray starting fluid into air filter with throttle partway open, choke on, kick like always and if it fires right up your starting issue is fuel related. Bultaco mechanic showed my dad and I that in the early 70's.

Most people in sunny climes would find it hard to buy starting fluid anywhere.... Where i lived in Canada , you always had one in your truck all the time.... used it to start Log skidders, D-8s and graders all the time in the winter....

T

 

[J.P.]

Great post T! You made my day, I totally cracked up ("and for those that can't kick any harder than a ten year old girl with a cast on her leg") I'm still chuckling. Yep, thats how you do it. Bring it to the top and come down on it like the god of thunder. Everybody has their own techniques , but you can't baby it.

 

[FirstEliminator]

Gosh, perhaps I am lucky, but I do have a technique. My 430 sat for over a year with the same gas in it and it only took a few kicks to get it started. I start my 430 as it if were a 4 stroke and it always starts easily.

Depending on which foot I feel like using I either sit on the seat or stand to the left of the bike. Put my foot on the kicker and push down untill the piston is about a 1/4 way into the compression. I let the kicker come back up to the highest ratchet tooth. Apply a little pressure to take up the back lash then give it a good thrust. It works really well. The reason I apply a little pressue is to make sure the kicker componants don't get hammered. I would have to imagine the reaon why so many clutch covers are cracked in the kicker area is because people are really jumping on the kicker and getting a lot of force in motion before the kicker componants are engauged.

Mark

 

[scoott]

Update on my starting woes: Gave up on the 430 getting ready for our 24hrs of Starvation Ridge race. Used my trusty 86 510 , 83 250 xc, 83 500 cr. Grandson broke the 250, crashed and couldn't restart 510, looped out the 500cr.
The good news: The 500 Starts! Recleaned and blew out the carb, starts every time now, hot or cold. Cold- push the happy button, choke, bring just past TDC and boot. Hot-push the happy button, full throttle, boot away, on or beside the bike. 1 or 2 kicks and it fires right up. Putting a happy button on 430 as next step.

I ran the 500cr the last lap of the 24hr, 17 mile course was choppy, rocky, and whoopy in a few spots. Past a modern ktm in a uphill,sidehill, whooped out trail. The rider caught me at the finish and said " You've got to show me the line you used coming out of the briar patch."
I just laughed and told him it was that Husky suspension.

86 510 lap time, 44 minutes . 2010 ktm 450 sxf lap time, 41 minutes.

Have the new bikes improved lap times, or comfort levels??

 

['87 500XC]

Glad it starts now.

And as far as lap times go it all depends on the rider. Put Shane Watts on a Honda XR200 and I guarentee he would kick everyones ass at any event. It's usually 75% rider and 25% bike.

 

[Ron]

I think more like 90/10

 

['87 500XC]

I think more like 90/10

Yea actually you're right. haha.

 

[Gurra]

Try this technique on your 500.

Turn gas & choke on, put bike in 3rd gear & rock the bike back & forth , to prime the cylinder, count to 30 . Turn Gas off & No choke, kick
the bike a good full kick ( always wear a MX boot). If the bike doesn't start in 2-3 kicks, put the bike in 2nd gear & roll bike backwards til it
stops. Put bike back in neutral & move kicker down about a 1/4 inch, stop, let kicker return to it's top position, now give it a healthy kick, should
start on the 1st kick.

By rolling the bike backwards in gear your bringing the piston to the top of the stroke, then by move the piston only slight with the kicker, your
starting the bike at it's highest stroke. This works either hot or cold. give it a try, you maybe surprised.

Husky John

I´m surprised how well that worked, been kicking my -81 CR430 like crazy in every thinkable way lol
When she's cold i have no problem starting her now, when warm she fires up easily.

 

[ruwfo]

glad it works for u too , been doing this starting procedure for the last 4-5 years. For me if it don't work put in a fresh plug & usually it starts on 1st kick.

Husky John

 

[GaryM]

Another gremlin to look out for is are old motoplats. I have more than a couple motoplats here and all check out but this one unit just seems to be on one day off the next.

So I exchanged it out the the next unit and started on two kicks. Ground was not a issue. I believe these gremlins live in some of these old motoplats, what are they 30
to 35 years old. Also penton imports basically said do not use the PVLs on the open bikes. Had a unit checked by them, checks out perfect. This unit will not start the other brand 490
at all. But whats odd I have seen PVLs on others open bike work just find. Whatever Huh ?

Been using Electrex units on all my bikes these days. Just another issue to look into. Oh it not much more to purchase a new Electrex than having the motoplat rebuilt

 

[Bigbill]

I started my 390cr decades ago rolling it down a hill and pop starting it in second gear.
After two knee operations I can't kick start. I just don't stall it. If I do I look for a small hill on the trail and pop it. My oldest son can start my bike every time.

I'm a fan of electric start. The new 2t husky 300 is looking good.

Is your timing correct. The static timing is set as the piston come up towards TDC stop 1/16" before top dead center and line up the timing marks exactly. It needs to be advanced at the static setting.

 

[Norman Foley]

I started my 390cr decades ago rolling it down a hill and pop starting it in second gear.
After two knee operations I can't kick start. I just don't stall it. If I do I look for a small hill on the trail and pop it. My oldest son can start my bike every time.

I'm a fan of electric start. The new 2t husky 300 is looking good.

Is your timing correct. The static timing is set as the piston come up towards TDC stop 1/16" before top dead center and line up the timing marks exactly. It needs to be advanced at the static setting.

Get yourself a new TE300 and do all the SX/TC mods, so you have the fire breather you want. You'll be riding and a happy guy....

 

[darren7878]

Another gremlin to look out for is are old motoplats. I have more than a couple motoplats here and all check out but this one unit just seems to be on one day off the next.

So I exchanged it out the the next unit and started on two kicks. Ground was not a issue. I believe these gremlins live in some of these old motoplats, what are they 30
to 35 years old. Also penton imports basically said do not use the PVLs on the open bikes. Had a unit checked by them, checks out perfect. This unit will not start the other brand 490
at all. But whats odd I have seen PVLs on others open bike work just find. Whatever Huh ?

Been using Electrex units on all my bikes these days. Just another issue to look into. Oh it not much more to purchase a new Electrex than having the motoplat rebuilt

My CR250s used to start when they felt like and not at other times. No good for MX racing just too much stress. Same as you swapped out to Electrex units and hey presto reliable starting. I think they run 'cleaner' too. Simple and effective bits of kit.

 

[Kartwheel68]

The 430 primary gearing is all wrong, the engine barely turns over one rotation per kicker stroke. Put the 400LC primary gearing in it and the crank will turn over more times per kicker stroke. Problem fixed.

 

[silverstreakNZ]

if you kick it right through it goes over twice