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Dominator kick starting

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My aging leg muscles are finding it more and more difficult to kick start my 650SS. Can some one tell me as to the best Norton with a Featherbed frame that is easy to maintain and work on and easy to kick start. I have looked into electric starts to no avail. I love my SS but wish I could start her without a struggle.I am not interested in high speed but appreciate good acceleration like the SS provides.

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Commando with electric start,  or starter added to a 750. Otherwise, good performance and easy kickstarting are mutually exclusive.

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There are compression release devices that could be fitted to your bike. One on each combustion chamber .Or one on each exhaust rocker cover . Link both to a cable splitter and control from a handlebar lever. Get a competant engineer to look into it. In the meantime get a longer kickstart lever , fit a compression plate under the barrel, the biggest engine sprocket that will fit in the alternator basket and compensate for the increased overall gearing by fitting a smaller gearbox sprocket . The kickstart/engine gearing will be changed by this and help. A single carb may also improve starting and reduce flooding as they are not so downdraught.Switch to a fully synthetic 10/40 engine oil . It will make starting easier and still provide good protection from its very superior performance. Not everyone will agree with this !!.

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Hi Roger sorry to hear this. I m happy to come over and set it up accurately for you.  This machine is not a poor starter. There must be an underlying reason why you are having trouble. Is it roadworthy at present?

 

best regards

 

jon

 

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Any single with a valve lifter should be easy peasy to start. Following a serious carving up in hospital, my B31 was the only bike I could manage for a while. So a Model 50 or ES2 would fit the bill. Alternatively, you could fit an 88 engine. They go well and are a doddle to kick over.

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If you search this forum, you'll find suggestions for adding a chain saw decompressor.  Allegedly it has been done.  But nobody offered personal experience.  Is there any?

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... with the single cylinder suggestion. My ES2 with 8.5:1 compression starts very easily with the correct technique and the legendary long swinging kick. The trouble with twins as said is getting over compression.

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i m surprised no one mentions the long bar method. i suppose its a bit unsightly but in my youth i saw a ariel combination with a hand held long bar and always reminded me of the old manual type slot machines. the ariel owner was an old boy with a poor leg i assume. you could always try an extension onto the existing kick lever and stow the bar somewhere. 

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Hello Roger.

                    You may find this part N° 050179 of use from RGM Norton, if you read the blurb it relates to suitability for various fittings.

Oh Jon thanks so much for your reply. However I suspect it is me that's the problem not the bike but yes you would be most welcome to come over show me the technique that would suit me. I made some modifications to make it better for me such as mirrors, indicators and a side stand and the bike is road worthy.

Sorry I had not replied earlier but only just read your reply. Somewhere I have your mobile number so I shall give you a ring. Thanks so much for your offer of help.

Best regards

 

Roger.

Thank you Ian and I realise now that it is technique that is needed with a mentor. I am so grateful that offer of help has been made by Jon.

Thank you so much for your suggestions Robert  but I wish not to make such modifications as I think now its technique in kick starting  that's required but I appreciate your effort to help resolve the problem.

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How about getting one of thos MOTORCYCLE ROLLERS RACING PADDOCK STARTERS?  This would make cold starting much easier and save the leg for later on.

 


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