Anyone come across this problem? When my 1953 ES2 kicks back, the kickstart lever returns to the resting position but jams so that it can't be used immediately to kickstart the engine again To free it off, I put the bike in 4th gear and turn the rear wheel forward slightly. The kickstart lever is then free again to use.
When this started happening, I serviced the laydown gearbox, replacing bearings and worn bushes, together with the low gear / kickstarter wheel, kickstart pawl etc, but this has not cured the problem - groan! The kickstarter cam and stop pieces are tightly rivetted in place.
I had wondered if something in the primary chaincase, or even the magneto drivechain case might be the cause but I can't see anything that could give rise to the problem.
Any thoughts?
It sounds as though...
- Log in to post comments
Kickstart lever jams after kickback
I replaced the kickstart stop and cam plates, rivetting new ones into position. I'd already replaced worn parts of the ratchet mechanism. Unfortunately this didn't solve the problem.
A chap called David Dixon (on the "Norton Single Cylinder Motorcycles" Facebook page) suggested looking at the oil pump worm drive. Years ago a friend of his had had a 19R, whose oil pump worm gear had been loosened off by the reverse rotation of the crank. The worm gear jammed against the timing cover, locking the engine.
When I checked, my ES2's oil pump worm gear was very loose on its shaft and I could turn it with my fingers. I tightened it with a hammer and drift as per Norton's instructions. So far the kickstart hasn't jammed again. I now need to put some miles on the bike, to see whether the solution is long-lasting but the initial indications are promising. Despite a few kickback episodes, the kickstart hasn't jammed again.
I suppose what I should have done early on, when the kickstart first locked, was to pull in the clutch lever. If that had freed off the kickstart lever, it would have pointed towards something upstream of the clutch as being responsible for the jamming!
- Log in to post comments
.. there is a problem with the pawl / ratchet arrangement in the box, perhaps going "over centre" through wear / damage.