The starter on my '75 FXE unfortunately doesn't work.

I don't have the secret process down for kick starting her yet. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes all I do is work up a major sweat and suffer from oxygen depravation.

The motor is a stock '74 with Bendix carb, points ignition. All is in good shape, the carb looks to be new. 18,000 on the motor.

Do I keep full choke through the starting process? Juice her with a couple throttle twists? I think I've flooded her a couple times, since after I've covered the tank with sweat and kicked myself to exhaustion, she fired up after I gave myself time to recover and try again.

I really need to figure this out in case I see a hot chick that I want to impress with my manly-man kick starting skills. Help a brother out...

 

Think I would fix my starter

 

If your gonna kick check timing, static timing is best, search YouTube for a video on timing for kick Start if you do not know how...now pick up some chics...been there done that...lol

 

Every bike is gonna have a little different kicking procedure...Mine with ignition off I kick thru a couple of times to clear it out ...then turn on ignition wick the throttle 3 times and hold it open just a tad ...find compression stroke and kick it all the thru and I don't use the choke. Once started I lock the throttle screw down at a little higher than idle for a minute and done.

Almost forgot throw all this out the window if people are watching...lol

 

As previously stated, all bikes are different but what works for me is a couple of twists of the wick, ignition off choke closed all the way, give a couple of primer kicks, open choke, get motor to compression stroke, ignition on kick it like you mean it. That's for a cold start. Hot start I don't touch the throttle just get to compression stroke choke fully open ignition on and kick.

 

Mine on a hot start....no choke...turn on ignition...hold throttle open a tad....barely have to kick it and boom,,,

 

hear you on the people watching seems to be a jinx where ever I am happens that way. Go figure

 

I've found that the choke on my Bendix bikes doesn't do much, so I don't really use it. With the key off, I actually put my head down by the carb and listen to make sure it's squirting fuel. (Bendix pumps are not a strong point of thes carb) 2 or 3 squirts once it starts spraying. Kick over 3-4 times, key off. One more squirt, turn key on holding throttle slightly open and kick like a man.

Hot starts, just one or no prime kick, then turn key and kick. If it's cooled off but not stone cold, say 2 hours since last ride, I have found they start best with just a slightly opened throttle and one good kick.

With my 2 Bendix bikes, I have found the start better with the idle mixture on the richer side. Also be careful not to flood them.

 

I don't know a damn thing about kick starting a Harley but I think you're right about flooding it.

Carl

 

To get a reliable kick start bike you need 3 things to be right. 1st the ignition system is solid and 8 out of 10 times the flyweights are trash on points bikes make sure yours are good. The popular cheap aftermarket advance units have a habit of having bad cam lobes with them meaning you may set the points to the small lobe but if you check the big side they will be way off. Second is no intake leaks and again more than not have some leakage going, test and repair it's a must. Lastly don't guess about the tune be very sure it's right and get the carb dialed in. All 3 done right and a shovel will be a very reliable 1 or 2 kick bike.

Last thing is if she doesn't hit in 3 kicks turn it off count to 60 and try again don't keep at it , you'll just work up a sweat.

.