The kickstart of a XL 500
might be a problem everyone has to face at the
beginning of his XL-career. I always receive questions end cries for help about
the right way to kickstart a XL.
So here are a few tips.
Tipp Nr. from Erik Hasenäcker by ALTTEC CLASSICS
(15.6.2001)
On
the first XL meeting I realized that some bikes are very hard to kickstart.
After some talking I found out, that the problems increase with a hot motor.
Basically the carburetor and the valve clearance must be adjusted the right way,
but this is anyway necessary for a correct motor run. My experience is that the
bad startup has it’s reason by the Air-Cut-Valve
which is found under a small cover held by two screws on the left side of
the carburetor. If this valve has only smallest rifts or damages, it has to be
changed. Watch out, this part will be charged about $75.- by Honda, at ALTTEC
CLASSICS it is only 17.-. If you want to demount this part, be aware of the
spring and a very small O-ring mounted behind it. The R models have an
acceleration pump underneath the carburetor. This device must be adjusted
correct. There is small seal at the egress of the mechanics which points upwards.
This part is always leaky, water runs on the pump and this causes a total
deterioration of the mobile parts. This part is only available at Honda. For the
R models, this part also has the function to spray petrol in the carburetor
while being in the cold start phase. Before kicking, you can jerky turn the
throttle grip one to three times to full throttle stop. This pump then sprays
petrol in the cylinder in the motor starts up immediately. This only works on R
models. To sum up, I can say that the AIR-CUT-VAVE on the left side is very
important. If it is damaged you can kick yourself to dead, the motor will be
drowned. These valves are different for R and S models.
Greetings
Erik (ALTTEC CLASSICS)