1981 XS400 not turning over

Alex Morales · Jan 1, 2017

So iv recently finished working on my bike and now I am trying to start it. Whenever I press the start button the engine clicks but doesn't turn over. The battery is fully charged and when I press the start button the kick start jerks a little. Now the kickstart has been broken because it spins all the way around and doesn't catch. Any ideas? Here's a video to show you.

xschris · Jan 2, 2017

Something is definitely wrong with that kick lever. It should never move when you use the e-start. I would pull of the clutch side cover and see why your kick start don't work. It may be binding up the motor.

Alex Morales · Jan 2, 2017

xschris said:
Something is definitely wrong with that kick lever. It should never move when you use the e-start. I would pull of the clutch side cover and see why your kick start don't work. It may be binding up the motor.

Well I do have a problem with my clutch it has no tension and someone suggested it may be hyper extended that's why the kick start doesn't engage. I took off the clutch side cover awhile back to clean it and I'm pretty sure I put the kickstart back correctly so I'm kinda stumped.

NewHavenMike · Jan 3, 2017

Does putting it in gear lock the wheel? Taking the kickstart shaft out for examination isn't too hard, same with the clutch and pushrod parts.

Alex Morales · Jan 4, 2017

NewHavenMike said:
Does putting it in gear lock the wheel? Taking the kickstart shaft out for examination isn't too hard, same with the clutch and pushrod parts.

I havent checked if putting it in gear locks it yet but I will.

XS400NJ · Jan 8, 2017

The kick lever seem too far back, at that position it may be 'engaged' and this is why it moves. Can you move it forward? Look at any picture of the bike, the lever is nearly vertical when not used.
And if clutch is not engaging - check if cable is released, there should be some play. It is also possible that when you took clutch cover off - something in the clutch mechanism moved from original position causing clutch always disengaged (pushrod is pushing ).

Alex Morales · Jan 9, 2017

XS400NJ said:
The kick lever seem too far back, at that position it may be 'engaged' and this is why it moves. Can you move it forward? Look at any picture of the bike, the lever is nearly vertical when not used.
And if clutch is not engaging - check if cable is released, there should be some play. It is also possible that when you took clutch cover off - something in the clutch mechanism moved from original position causing clutch always disengaged (pushrod is pushing ).

The kickstart wont stay in the vertical position there is something wrong with it. I can spin it all the way around it doesn't catch any where. And the clutch has no tension so I think I'll need to take the side panel off and play with it.

NewHavenMike · Jan 9, 2017

He could've just adjusted the kicker like that when he attached it. Did you make sure to wind the spring up when you put everything back together? The spring is pretty hard to wind and set if you don't have a pair of needle nose pliers.

1981 XS400 not turning over

Alex Morales

XS400 Member

xschris

XS400 Guru

Alex Morales

XS400 Member

NewHavenMike

1976 XS360C

Alex Morales

XS400 Member

XS400NJ

XS400 Addict

Alex Morales

XS400 Member

NewHavenMike

1976 XS360C

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