wont fire on kick start?

[churches67]

Hi my 89 Dominator is a pig to start on the k/start,it starts good on button,any ideas.Also when using the elec start it makes a strange noise when turning over ,is there any common probs regarding the starter system.

Regards Ian.

[Rubberchicken]

The trick to kickstarting a big single is to put the engine just on top of the compression stroke, and then let the kickstarter come back up and give it a good smooth swift kick.

I've done this with a crotchety old XL600 which had been retrofitted with an XR head and manual decompressor, and it was pretty easy.

Problem with the dommie is that it has an automatic decompressor so it's harder (impossible?) to feel where the compression is.

But a lot of it is just kicking technique as well, you shouldn't stomp on it but kick it down smooth. I've seen it likened to throwing a baseball, in that you get much further if you don't bash your hand against the ball.

That said, it's a knack, and it has to be 100% right or it just won't fire at all.

And keep in mind that once you've flooded the engine you can kick all you want and it won't do a thing. Tip there is to open the throttle all the way and kick it through a few times, this usually blows the spark plug dry enough to give it another go.

Good luck, and the electric start is much easier indeed.

[squirrelciv]

RC's covered the starting, as for the funny noise, it might be the starter clutch. Have heard of problems with it on these (and XBR) motors.
Lets hope not hey

[churches67]

Is it a big job if the starter clutch is at fault.Isaid she rattles slightly from cold,i hope it is the valve clearances,but if the cam is shot how much to replace,or can they be re profiled?.
Cheers Ian.

[Confucious]

Scary ! where have I heard this before ? Here's my guess.....you've got a sheath carrying two wires going down behind the single frame profile to the pick-up (rubber 90 degree plug into r/h crankcase). If you peel away the sheath I bet your wires are shorting/burnt through/knackered. I had to splice 2 new wires in and used sheathing from ordinary domestic cable + tape to repair....WEIRD STARTING NOISE disappeared.....as did the fire cracker noises while the engine was idling...... As for the kick start - I began to wonder if the kicker mechanism was working at all. I still haven't managed while the engine is warm. When cold - full choke - two twists of the throttle, and a few well timed kicks (which don't have to be hard) and bingo ......good luck buddy

[2001henry]

Hi every one,
i'm a newbie on the site, but have been watching for a while,a nd taking pretty good advices!
Maybe I can now contribute a bit to the debate: on my 1988 Domie, the electric starter stopped working a while ago, but I never really bothered to find out, since it starts OK on the k/start. I agrree with RC that it's got to be 100% right, but it works for me during the last year or so. I use the bike every day to commute. ther k/starting never let me down, even when it was below freezing. I bless the guys who designed the bike originally with this kit !!
As for the electric starter, it refuses to start at all when cold (does the job when the bike is warm, though). It manages to produces a lot of rattling and coughes and noises, but seems to weak to start the engine. I suspect the brushes to be worn out, and I will find out soon as I've bought the parts and I'm planning to do the repair soon. I'll tell you if it makes a difference.
Thanks Confucius for the details about the wiring, I'll check that as well since I'm on it!!