Topic: Clutch and Kickstart

[StorminMormon72]

So I freed the wheels up a bit , but the rear wheel is still acting up, but ithink it has to do with the chain and the transmission more than the brake. That being said, i also cant kick it over at all. My guess though is that is due to the clutch being bad? I squeeze the handle but it doesnt engage. And i want to open up the plate by the kickstart, but i cant get the stupid kickstart off. Same with the gearshifter to get into the tranny. whats the secret with getting them off? I suppose im gonna have the same problem with the rear brake. I can get the bolts of easily enough, but its the actual pulling them off that i cant seem to do. They are all pressed onto studs?

any tips?

[madmtnmotors]

After removing the nut from the bolt you must remove the bolt from the lever too since there is a relief in the shaft that captures the bolt. Once that is done, I usualy tap a flat blade screwdriver into the slot on the lever where the split is (at the center part of the clamping side where the bolt was). Don't get carried away, it doesn't take alot of force to open this up a little to provide some relief for the lever to be removed. This works on almost all the levers (shift, kick, rear brake, etc).

[Rgconner]

Just a level set:

Bike in neutral.

DO NOT squeeze the clutch.

Squeezing the clutch on my 75 CB550 disengages the kickstarter.

You did not specify in the post your model, so I am not sure if yours works exactly the same.

[madmtnmotors]

You did not specify in the post your model, so I am not sure if yours works exactly the same.

Ahhh... I was relaying my experience with the 750K model. Can not say for sure that the smaller bikes are the same, I'm guessing they are very similar?

[RFogelsong]

@RGconner:

I have the exact same bike as you, not to jack the post, but if you could briefly explain, why does the clutch disable the kickstart? (I'm not experienced with bike trannys).  It definitely does it on my bike and it has caught me off guard at a couple of stalled lights before. 

[StorminMormon72]

Yeah i have the 750, K2. And i figured out that after taking the bolt off, it was just a matter of getting a flathead behind it and gently prying it off.

but i didnt know that about the clutch disengaging the kickstarter. Either way, my motor is froze. so im looking into loosening it, but im thinking im gonna buy a running one that buddy has on a harley frame. he wants to change it back to a v twin and wont have any use for the honda motor.

thanks for the responses

[madmtnmotors]

I figured out that after taking the bolt off, it was just a matter of getting a flathead behind it and gently prying it off.

I gently tap a flat blade screwdriver into the slot on the lever where the split is (at the center part of the clamping side where the bolt was) and the levers will usually slide right off.

As for the "locked up" condition, did the previous owner do any work to the motor before selling? New clutch? Clutch upgrade? New clutch cover? How long have you had the bike? Have you ever heard it run?

These old machines will try your patience, so bring plenty!

[StorminMormon72]

It sat in a garage for ten years. Never worked on. I've had it for a few days now so I'm still learning about em. I learned today that ten years also doesn't mean there won't be oil still and that taking off the cover behind the shifter can be messy. Lucky for me I had an oil catch nearby.

[Rgconner]

@RGconner:

I have the exact same bike as you, not to jack the post, but if you could briefly explain, why does the clutch disable the kickstart? (I'm not experienced with bike trannys).  It definitely does it on my bike and it has caught me off guard at a couple of stalled lights before.

Operation observation. Pull the clutch in, the kickstarter moves freely.

The how and why?

Well, the purpose of the clutch is to separate the motion of the gears from the engine.

If the kickstarter moves the transmission to turn over the engine, then the engaged clutch would prevent that.

The starter is moving parts on the engine side to turn the engine over, independent of the clutch.

Of course, the OP has bigger issues... but it would be frustrating to concentrate on fixing it when it does not matter. Free the engine, or replace it like it seems he will be doing.

Replacing it is a good option... now you can disassemble the old one properly and make it a 836 =)

[StorminMormon72]

I like the 836 idea. I basically have no other option than replacing the motor at this point. I have no garage, so while a transplant is possible in a day, a rebuild is not. haha.

Now i just have to figure out why the motor is stuck. i dont know if the old oil and perhaps gas could have gummed up everything? The oil was pretty bad when it came out. Pitch black and nasty