Thread: Kick starter shaft

Kick starter recently started slipping, and I know I need to split the case to replace.Anyone reccomend the best tools I should be buying, I know I need an impact driver and snap ring tool, anything else beyond the ordinary tools?

Jim, when you say "slipping" do you mean not engaging at all, or do you mean it's engaging and there is a decent amount of resistance, but the engine doesn't turn over? If it's the latter there are a number of things to check before resorting to splitting the cases. I've seen the kickstarter slip (second description) when the clutch was improperly adjusted, or on the verge of being worn out, when the oil was too thick, when oil additives were used, even a few cases where the owner was running synthetic oil. (Though I've never had any problems with synthetics, go figure?!?) Any excuse for buying tools is a good one, but you may not need to tear that far into the engine to solve the problem.

-kevin

I agree that it may be the clutch plate. Both my CT's do this occasionally. Replaced the clutch in one yesterday and the kick starter works great now.

Mine occasionally slips too. I plan on rebuilding my clutch this winter after riding season is done. It seems to me like when I first try to start the bike after it sits a couple of days it slips usually two times, then on the third kick it fires. But after running it around some, it will start on the first kick always. So my Question to everyone is..... do the clutch plates dry out after the bike sits awhile or is it my imagination??

I could be wrong but I think it's a case of the oil cooling off and getting thicker, but once it's warmed up things spin easier. On bikes that sit for a long time the clutch plates actually will sometimes stick to each other, requiring you to drive around with the clutch pulled in until they pop apart. Great fun. (Not!) I wonder if you can install stiffer clutch springs and eliminate the problem, and if so, who makes them?

-kevin

It will sometimes catch, and engage motor, then the next time, or two, it will not engage at all,can almost hear a squeeking noise, when slipping.What is a good way to see if it is the clutch? This is a 4- speed manual, does that make a differance?

How can I know its a clutch issue without just replacing it? This is a manual 4-speed. Some resistance does occur when slipping, it feels like.

The kickstarter mechanism is kind of difficult to explain. There are two basic types that have been used on CT70s. If you go here:
Honda Motorcycle Parts, Honda OEM Parts,Honda ATV Parts, Honda Scooter Parts, Honda Dirt Bike Parts, Honda Watercraft Parts, Honda Parts-Direct
and select the appropriate year and model and look at the kickstarter you'll see the parts involved. The basic mechanism is a gear or a toothed hub with a spring that causes it to drag running on spiral cut splines of the kickstarter shaft. When you push down on the kick starter the drag causes the gear or hub to slide down the shaft and engage with a gear in the transmission. When you release the kickstarter the gear or hub disengages, or if you don't release the lever the rotating transmission spins the gear or hub back on the kick shaft and disengages. Not much to go wrong. That's why I would hesitate to split the cases.

The clutch will still drag when it is slipping and pull the mini along, but if it slips for too long it will finally let go. If it's properly adjusted and still slips a teardown is in order. Check the steel plates for discoloraton if you pull the clutch apart, that's a sure sign of clutch that's slipping. HTH,

-kevin

Thank-you for the advice, I will look at making some clutch adjustments to see if that works before tear down.Hopefully, that will work, because someone jury rig welded the starter lever to shaft, so I will not be able to take clutch side cover off without cutting off lever,which means I will have to split the cases anyway. Thanks again! Jim

Both of my garage sale minis had the same "modification" so I'm splitting cases to get things working. Sometimes you just gotta wonder what people are thinking when they do things like that. Worst thing is that the kickstarter shafts are kinda pricy. Oh well. If you have to lop the kicker off and split the cases we'll provide hints and moral support.

-kevin

Love this site and webboard, everyone is very knowledgeable and helpful,Thanks again!