When kick starting the bike the kick start slips like the clutch is slipping
I have just replaced the clutch plates ect and although it did this before fitting them i put it down to sticking plates , it is intermittent
Does the problem lay with the kick start ? and not the clutch as first thought
Has the cush drive nut come loose? It's quite a common occurrence if a lock washer or Loctite isn't used or the nut is not done up tight in the first place. The lobes will then bounce over each other and drive is lost. Ron
If you have just replaced the clutch plates have you remembered to adjust the clutch cable so that the clutch arm is not being actuated. I made this mistake years ago - convinced that I had contaminated the plates when assembling - stripped the clutch 4 times and re-assembled before the penny dropped that the clutch cable was applying the very small opening pressure causing the clutch to slip.
i have checked the cush drive and the nut seems tight , and the cable is not connected so it is not the problem
It is intermittent so iam wondering if the cush drive is worn and as Ron says, is it jumping over although sods law when watching to see what is happening when kicked it does not slip
Obviously it will be more pronounced when trying to kick through compression. Best to get your mate to kick it slowly through compression whilst you study what it happening. If the cush lobes are rising high up each other by more than say 2/3rds the travel, it's a good sign that either the nut is loose or the spring is wrong or weak. (Then try it with some vigor to see if they rattle over)
I have some of Robb Nortiers special sockets for the cush nut .....£22 plus Post.....Selling on his behalf if you haven't already got one. Ron
The cush drive spring should be 1 5/8" long when new...Personally I take remedial action if the cams move more than 1/3 of their total lift when the engine is being turned over slowly using the kick start. You should find the engine will come onto compression, the cam will operate slightly and then the spring pressure will exceed the compression pressure and the engine will turn over through compression........Ian
The simple thing to do is to pull off the primary cover and watch what is happening by prefference with some one else doing the kicking
The method I use for adjusting latter model clutches ( not single spring ) is to put the front wheel against a brick wall, engage first gear , remove the spark plug lead so the engine can not start then give it a kick.
Naturally you should not be able to do this if you can then the clutch is slipping.
Or on a preunit bike the clutch or the cush drive is slipping.
If you are by yourself, a slipping clutch will be quietish, just making a whooshing sound and be sort of smooth
A slipping cush drive with go thump , thump as the lodes slide over each other and will be lumpy.
If the lobes are jumping over each other then the cush drive requires replacing.
The sprocket gets replaced regularly but the retainer does not so cumulative wear makes the lobes flat .