Kick Start

[avyz66]

New to the forum but have been lurking and gathering information on my new to me '92 KDX 200. There is a ton if information here, as I am sure you already know, but this is such a great site. So here is my first of what will become many questions. My kick start seems to "slip" sometimes. I have to kick it lightly until it catches. Is this normal? Its almost like I have to "line it up" before putting the foot to it or it will slip and I end up killing the top of my foot with the foot peg. I did a search and really came up with nothing as far as an answer. Any help or suggestions is very much appreciated. I have big plans for this bike and just need to start with the basics first.

[jcm66]

What weight oil are you running? Mine does this especially when the weather turns cooler with 10W40 in it. I have been running Amsoil straight 0W40 the last couple years and that seems to have taken care of the problem, shifts a lot better too.

[newbbewb]

certain fluids will cause that, I'm sure someone will chime in as to why. I use honda 80/85w and my kickers never do that anymore.

If you're killing the top of your foot you're doing someone wrong. kicker lever should be in the middle of your foot not toe

[avyz66]

To be honest I have no clue on what weight oil. And I always am in middle of foot. Although I am new to this bike I have kicked many bikes over. it just has "no compression" or slip at certain positions. How do I change the oil in this thing? Enough that would change the KICK? Sorry for the dumb ass questions but I am new to all this.

[newbbewb]

quite alright. change the tranny oil. it's the only drain plug on the very bottom of the engine, 14 or 17mm. the fill is the plug by the kickstarter, like a rubber paddle. unscrew and fill. there is a capacity spec right by the filler hole. this is easy and should be done frequently but also depends on how you ride. if you're ripping on the clutch a lot, as in hill climbing with 3ft step ups everywhere, change it every ride. if you're leaving skid marks 250ft at a time in your dads backyard grass/field you could run it for quite a while.

some oils don't jive with kdx kicker gears... lots of people have had luck with ATF. (someone might correct me on what exact ATF style I think it's F).
It is kinda crazy how an oil could fix it, but it does, big time.

you could possibly have a mechanical issue...change oil first, then find out.

[Worm]

Could it just be when you hit TDC, you get most resistant which is when you are meant to kick it and other times it is when the piston is mid stroke? Mine does it also and I thought it was normal, you kick it carefully until you hit resistance then give it a good one and it starts.

[ohgood]

Could it just be when you hit TDC, you get most resistant which is when you are meant to kick it and other times it is when the piston is mid stroke? Mine does it also and I thought it was normal, you kick it carefully until you hit resistance then give it a good one and it starts.

i read the OP's question and wondered if that was happening, but waited for other's respsonses.

[newbbewb]

how tall are you guys? serious question

[diymirage]

how tall are you guys? serious question

between 5'10 and 6'2, depending on what convenience store I am leaving
(6 even according to my drivers license)

[ohgood]

how tall are you guys? serious question

6'4"

[avyz66]

6'-3" I will change the oil out and let you know if that helps my problem.

[newbbewb]

well you shouldn't have any issue. a slight pressure on the downstroke should "lock" the gears in the kickstart mechanism and then a light kick should fire her right up. any skipping and you most likely have an engagement problem, and so far, i'm betting on oil.

We're riding kdx, not cr500. no way do you need to find TDC before kicking it, especially at anything over 5'10". it really should start in half a kick, even cold. there is a reason a lot of us are rocking kx125 kick start arms. it's really that easy to start.

change that oil