Topic: Kick start shaft question, 76 cb550 with video!

[byfbo]

I have recently put my cases back together, and I am not so sure about one thing.  It's not something I noticed when I took it apart so I am not so sure.  When I turn the clutch side shaft on the tranny the kick start shaft is engaged and clicks.  I don't know if it is supposed to be that way.  Please forgive my noobness.  I put it back together to print or so I thought.  Also my tranny when shifting through the gears doesn't fully shift I have to spin it by hand to give it a little encouragement.  Here is the video.

[Industrial Cafe]

weird.
is the kicker gear in right? sounds like a bicycle.
and the shifting thing, the encouragement is normal- to an extent, there are no synchros in there so it's gotta be turning a little to mesh the gears.

[byfbo]

Thanks.  Yeah it totally sounds like someone put a playing card in my spokes

[fastbroshi]

If I'm not mistaken, weren't you turning the crank, where the points and everything mounts?  I take it you don't have the pistons and everything put together.  

I know when I kick my bike started, until I let off the lever and let it come back up it makes a clicking sound like that.  I believe it's the mechanism just clicking over those teeth on the kickstart shaft.  The spring on the kickstart shaft should make it want to return to a position where it doesn't do that.  Your kickstart shaft spring is on there and oriented correctly?  

EDIT Okay duh, your spring is just sitting there.  You're turning the engine backwards?  I think it should be doing that if the engine is in gear.

[byfbo]

Yeah I think its on there, I see what your saying there is no tension on the spring on the shaft i don't think that I should be able to turn it by hand, but I don't know.   Yeah the only thing that's assembled is the tranny, crank, connecting rods and all the shift mechs and what not.  I just want to be sure before I flip it over and button it up.

[HondaMan]

The 'clicking' part is the same as when you have the kickstarter held off of the stop when the engine is running. So, I think you may have the kickstarter out of position when it is at rest. I don't have a 500/550 manual for you to refer to, but most bikes are the same in this area: there is a certain spot of rotation for the kickstart gear when it is installed. This is its 'neutral' spot, so to speak, where the ratchet is not engaged. Then, when the arm is pulled down a little, the ratchet pawl (aka finger) slides out to engage the ratchet teeth.

If the ratchet pawl is engaged, the engine's shafts cannot be turned backward, because the gears will all stop against the pawl. So, you need to go into the ratchet and see if you can discover the neutral spot, and why you are not there now. It's probably just sitting on the wrong spline on the shaft.

[byfbo]

Awesome thanks.   Was just looking at some pics and Ive put the return spring on wrong also.  I guess I was just getting into a rush and it backfired.  I do thank everyone for the advice.  I will report what I've found out.