I know how to kick start a motorcycle and scooter (I have had several), but never really understood how it worked. Is the kick start attached to the piston’s crank shaft, or is it attached to the transmission? I’m looking for a step by step answer to how it actually works. I tried looking on the internet for it and it didn’t seem like there were many explanations (although I only tried about 3 searches). Thanks a bunch for your info, I appreciate it.
P.S. I’m guessing the kick start lever is attached to the crank shaft of the piston, so when you kick it, it turns the pistons over. If that is right, then is that also the way the electric start works… by the motor of the starter turning the pistons over? (sorry I don’t know much about cars/bikes, just how to drive them)
Ok, this is making more sense to me now. But I am a bit confused still about how a kick start would work by being connected to the input shaft on the transmission. Since you “normally” start a bike in neutral or with the clutch in, that would disengage the input shaft from the motor, right? (meaning you shouldn’t be able to turn the motor over if it is in neutral or the clutch is in) Or is the input shaft attached to the motor at all times, only being separated from the rest of the trans?
I don’t know much about motors as you can tell, lol
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
It is a separate gear that meshes with one on the transmission input shaft. The transmission has two shafts–the input shaft (or primary) is driven by the crankshaft, and the output shaft (or counter-shaft) is the one that connects to the final drive, be it chain, shaft or belt.
The starter motor is connected to the crankshaft via a clutch and chain or series of gears.
try this foran answer
http://www.dansmc.com/kickstarters.htm
not all kick-starts work the same way…
exploded pic here… http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmotorcycles/1974-yamaha-motorcycle-rd350a/o/m7511
this works by the gear being engaged to the crank via the gearbox input shaft..
this gear is pulled up the shaft (22 in the pic) by the helical gear on it.. the ratchet wheel (16 in the pic) holds the gear & allows you to take another kick & locks the kick start lever to the gear shaft..
very difficult to explain in words .. but it may give you an idea how they work..
the electric starter on my LS650 suzuki drove the crank shaft through a series of gears & a one way clutch