“Elvira” didn’t take any blood today....
Got her “goin’” about 5-6 kicks after priming. She’s warming up to me... 😊
I now swear at her under my breath so she doesn’t hear me(I hope)...
Does the S&S Hi4N Electronic ignition with the “Kick Start Algorithm” really make a difference?? She currently has the Dynatech S electronic ignition....

 

i had a kick start bike for years and never had it kick back on me or anything, It was a 1974 honda CB750 but still a kick start.

 

I have a '66 XLCH, with magneto. When I bought it they had the mag locked down in a spot that was all around usable, getting rid of the left hand advance grip. Used to take 3 kicks to get her started. Every now and then the kicker would slip through, causing me enough knee pain to cry. It now sits in the back of my garage in pieces. I keep thinking about redoing her...maybe some day.

 

I did NOT have a good experience with the Crane HI-4. Spent most of one summer trying to figure out why it was intermittently eating spark plug wires. You wrote S&S Hi4N, so I don't know if it's the same thing.
IMHO, that Crane ignition is for show bikes.

 

For a kick bike skip the Crane and keep the Dyna S and it seriously sounds like you need to either learn how to kick it, do a good tune and check for intake leaks. One thing with the Dyna S you need a good quality mechanical advance, not the usual elcheapo **** everybody uses.

 

It's the same, S&S bought out the Crane stuff when Crane went under.


I second this. I've had good luck with the Dyna S and like Twizted said, get the good quality advance, with the bearing.

 

What is your sequence when you go to start her? Every bike seems to like something just a little different. I've always had kick-start only bikes (except my current is kick and e-start), and I can tell you, every little thing matters. From the timing, push rod adjustment, carb, choke or enricher setting, how many wicks on the throttle, how many kick throughs with ign. off (or not), your plugs, your plugs gap, your points or e-ing., etc.

My current Shovel, which I've had for quite a while now, was the hardest to figure out. It's also the only Dyna ignition I've ever had. Strangely enough, mine seems to really like a particular spark plug (autolites).

Use a particular sequence and try kicking. If it doesn't start in 3-5 kicks, next time change "one" thing in your sequence and see how that works. It can be time consuming, but once you find what she likes, you will be able to cold start you bike in 1-3 kicks every time.
I also have always stood to the side of my bike when kicking and really put my *** into it.

 

I have a good clean set of plugs, snugged up the intake clamps (one was fairly loose) and fresh gas.
My start sequence with an S&S Super E is to give the throttle one good twist all the way through. Key off and kick her over 3-4 times to prime. Key on, enricher all the way up, no throttle. Usually on the second kick at compression it will fire off but won’t keep running... sometimes I can get her going after clearing it but most times not...
I think I am too concerned about fooding it.
Its all good, just trying to figure out what she wants. It’s getting better for sure. I had read some things about kick start bikes being easier to start with points and saw that S&S had the ignition that could give that type of start....

 

Nope you are flooding it, with a Super E if the bike's anywhere near tuned right you pull up the enrichener, find the top of the compression stroke, no throttle, turn the key on and push it thru. On a bad day shouldn't be more than 2 kicks even big inch motors. takes more than 3 back off for 60 seconds then try again.

If a clamp was loose you need to change the intake seals, it'll still suck air otherwise.

 

Mine is similar.

From dead cold: Two (exactly) full twists of the throttle. Kick it over a couple of times to prime the motor.I give mine just a slight hint of enricher....maybe 1/4 of the full travel on the lever. Find the compression stroke and boom. Should light right off.

Then again, some days it goes like this: