kick start

[kenty]

ok I know it's been covered before but seeking advice on kick starting my 98 xr 400 'impulse buy' .Do I use the choke ,throttle when cold? any differences when bike been running?
help Iv'e lost most of the skin off my shin and I'm 50/fat/unfit last time without electric start was 30 years ago.

[Pete Rock]

I started it today after the second try for the first time, after a week of it running for the last time, it starts great when it´s warm but I always had trouble when cold, so here´s what I did to get it started perfectly:

- press decompression lever and kick it about 6 or 10 times
- let go of decompression lever
- put choke lever upwards
- a turn on the tick-over button rising the tick-over so it doesn´t depend on your throttle hand to keep it from stalling those first seconds
- find tdc
- kick with all your might, and houston, we have a lift off


When it´s warm I just kick it without the choke and it starts perfectly

I have stopped trying to kick starting it in trainers, don´t know why but I can´t seem to be able to do it with lighter shoes on.

[kenty]

hi Pete
Again thanks for the guidance....... tried it and much more successful.My embarssment ,anxiety and pain levels now subsiding Just have to find correct technique that suits my right leg c/o previous history fractured femur,cruciate liganent reconstruction and removal of cartilage.

[Pete Rock]

No problem mate, only last week it took me for ever to start it from cold before I did like I told you.

[DunkerD]

OK Kenty here goes, I'm no expert but find starting my XR400 no too bad.These are words of wisdom from the Honda off-road experience people.

From Stone cold...
Full choke.
Turn tick over screw 2 full turns in (up).
Hold decompressor in, throttle full open and kick through 3 times.
Hold decompressor in , close throttle and kick through 3 times.
Release decompressor and find top dead centre.
Give it a good kick through, do not touch throttle or decompressor.
If it fires then gentle apply throttle and move choke to middle position. If all is set right then leave it to idle for 5 minutes. When warmed up close tickover to normal and choke off.
Or, if it doesn't fire repeat from the beginning.

From hot,
no choke and no throttle, just kick through several times on decompressor, find TDC and give a hoof. and don't touch throtle until it fires.

Warm or been upside down,
Good luck mate...... have a brew and start from cold.

When I first got mine it was a pig, cleaned the carb and set the mixture and now its not bad at all. A fat arse and a long right leg don't half help mind...!!!

[kenty]

Hi Dunker
Shin like raw liver and knee the size of a ****** melon......but I'll keep going .
Cheers mate

[Tim Cullis]

My XR400 was also an impulse buy. 30 minutes after getting the bike home and out of the van I was ready to sell it again. All I can say is that it gets better.

I basically do as the other respondants but without resorting to the decompression lever and it now fires from cold within half a dozen kicks. Sounds like I need to play with the decomp lever, though.

Tim

[russellt]

I had an XR 400 for a number of years and never had a problem starting it , I think you develope your own technique after a while . It can be difficult if you drop when riding , holding in the decompressor and kicking it over a few times before you try to fire it up sometimes helps.
Oh if you leave the bike for a few weeks you ought to drain the float bowl before you try to re start it , I now have a CRF45OX and find that leaveing it for as little as a week will mean it wont start unless the I drain the float bowl.

[sliderscraper]

Hi folks, just had to share this story... this happened not long after I got my XR...

Bad news part 1: I was on my own in the middle of a forest (not wise, I know) when I had a low speed fall... I was totally fine but the XR cut out / stalled.

Bad news part 2: I was wearing hiking boots, not full MX boots (not wise, I know) - they were covered in thick mud.

Bad news part 3: tried for 20 mins to kick the bike over and get it started so I could ride home. I was ABSOLUTLEY knackered. The bike wouldn't even murmur, let alone start.

Bad news part 4: so I'm there, alone, sweating, heart pumping out of my chest, when I notice that on the way down I must have caught the kill switch. Stoopid... can't believe I hadn't checked that.

Bad news part 5: after a few more kicks from TDC the bike semi-spluttered. 'It's close to starting,' I thought. 'One more kick!'

Bad news part 6: as I put my full body weight into the kick, my foot slips off the kickstart and my shin goes down the serrated footpeg. The pain is immense. I nearly pass out, but manage to give the shin a ’mans’ rub with my hand. The bike had started, thank goodness. But as I prepare to ride off I notice blood all over my glove. I peel back my waterproofs and trousers to reveal a 6 inch gash down to my shin bone. Flesh was hanging out. Oh dear...

I had to ride home 20 miles without being able to put my right foot on the footpeg (that's not easy off road).

So, a cautionary tale for those of us who sometimes like a cheeky solo ride. Be safe, and take provisions (or a friend).

Cheers
Slidey

(P.S. the hospital stitched the shin up later that day and it's recovering well now, thanks)

[Pete Rock]

I sometimes tried to start the bike using trainers, just to warm it up after washing or to check if the electrics were ok after I explored new ways to route the electric conections behind the light.
I no longer do this, I rather put on a boot just to start it or else:

-I´m unable to put enough power through the thin sole of the trainer to convincingly kick the starter
-My foot slips forward in the kick so that the kick springs upwards and bites the rear of my shin, it´s more like a sting, followed with curses, followed with a violent kick to show it who´s boss, followed by another sting, followed by curses, followed by another kick to show it who´s boss, followed by another sting, followed by curses, followed by me putting on a boot and starting it first kick

First time I tried to start it at home I was sweating after 5 minutes of kicking, took off my helmet, jacket, gloves, went for a glass of water already having made the decision to sell the bloody thing, when I noticed the switch was off, doh