Hand starting Enfield 500 Bullet

[balboa_71]

Sorry this is off topic, but I uploaded an old video (from 2004) to YouTube of me hand starting my '99 Enfield Classic 500. Thought you all my get a laugh or two out of it....

Cris


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArVxQrAQSbg

[Stuart]

Nice one Chris So it CAN be done, lol. I think the hardest bike I ever kicked was the Fuji diesel enfield. It needed every degree of the 180 arc and even then it only just caught. I'd hate to have to start one of those by hand

[Diesel Dave]

Yup done that on my petrol one too.

Twas a few months ago, I have a regular Sunday morning breakfast meet with some other Enfield owners in Southend on Sea.

After a fair amount of goading two of us gave it a try with success.

I normally hand start this bike anyway - just press the little button on the right hand cluster.

I've hand started a few diesels and this can be easier than kick starting, (although NOT pull cord ones). Swinging the motor over by hand allows you to build up rotational speed before letting go of the decompressor. The one piece of advice I was given was to ensure you co-ordinated carefull disengauging the handle BEFORE letting the decomp go! If it kicks back the risk of breaking your wrist is quite high. I think this is the reason for manufacturers preferring the pull cord methods.

Regards to all
Dave

[balboa_71]

Guys,
My attraction for hand starting bike engines started back in 1976 when I had a Triumph TR6 (Tiger 650) which was a single carb British twin of good character (that's subjective, of course)
Anyways, I would drive my Tiger up to the local Pub and go in for a few cool ones, and there would always be someone to come in comment on my bike comparing it to a Harley or some kind'a crap. So I would make a wager about how I could start it with my hand, and would always win the bet. Did this for a year or so and sold the bike.....

Now, my Bullet (the one in the video) had a nasty habit of kicking back, and would damage my leg from time to time, and there was nothing I could do to prevent this from happening, believe me!!!!! I would go out and start it fine, and next day it would kick the crap out of me....
For the record, I've been kicked hard by the following:

Jawa/CZ 402 Enduro, Bultaco Matrella 250, Yamaha RT-1 360 Enduro, Benelli Diablo 250, and a few others......

However, I've owed bikes like my '72 BSA B50T, and my '78 Yamaha XT500, Suzuki GN400, that never thought about kicking back....must be a timing thing for their owner...

Cris

[trailer_parks]

I am still looking for a diesel bike here in Delhi... the trick is finding a builder you trust. Anyway, I wanted to see what you guys thought of the "building up cylinder pressure" multiple-pump starting method this guy uses. It started, but I am not really why. Any thoughts?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_U-JltnGig

[Diesel Dave]

I've seen that video before.

I did try it once but it's tricky to get the right position for the kick starter.

It's easy enough to do in the nomal manner once the knack is learned.

Dave

[pietenpol2002]

Ahhhhhhhh, but this one's the best. And be sure to have the sound turned up.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7m31ygQd ... re=related

Ron

[Diesel Dave]

I love Olafs bike, it's a real hoot up close too.

I was the one blowing smoke accross the lens

Dave

[Cockney Bob]

There has to be something wrong with mine I can not start it with a kick for love nor money only Electric start.
The first link seems to have stopped working as it says removed by owner.
Bob

[pietenpol2002]

Bob,

That was a post from 2006, so just email Chris directly. He probably still has a copy of it.

Ron