is this normal ? a panhead kickstarted first kick cold

 

If you have your bike set up correctly, yes. Couple of prime kicks with choke fully closed, open choke to one position down from fully open, retard spark about 1/3, throttle about 1/4, kickstarter on compression stoke and kick it like you mean it. Assuming Linkert carb. Works on my Pan. Hot starting is a different sequence but all these bikes have their own idiosyncrasies.

 

Maintained and tuned right why wouldn't it be ?

 

We use this on all the machine that come to the shop not knowing it and what it wants - twist the advance to full back up only 1/4 inch of movement towards retard

1/4 throttle with the petcock turned open and pull up for reserve - push down full choke - kick it twice

turn the ignition on - pull the choke up to full off - then one click down only - give it a good kick it will be running -0 then full advance then pull the choke off totally

warn it out at more then idle lets say 1500 RPMs 3 minutes - get your stuff one while its warming up

HOT - after getting fuel lets say - turn the advance to full on - only open the throttle a tiny bit but not at idle lets say 1/16 of an inch the same 1500 spot for warm up

turn the ignition on - give it one kick they usually go right off

this is with a good intake seal and a linkert tuned correctly - who gives a **** you own an S&S - its a mans bike not a want to be Twinkie

REMEMBER IT TAKES A SHOVEL TO BURY A TWINKIE