Hi all I am new to both the forum and bsa. I have purchased a ss90 with a wd engine fitted. Had all sorts of problems with poor starting etc. but now after being stood for a few weeks and after approx a dozen kicks she started but kick start lever stayed down until engine died and then it rapidly flicked back up? Any ideas welcome.
Seems like your kick start pawl is being carried around by the engine's rotation. Or the return spring is not strong enough. I think the pawl is held disengaged when the kickstart is raised, but it has been a long time since I have taken one apart. Maybe the pawl spring is too heavy.
Does the kick start return to vertical after a no-start kick...? If not, your return spring could be broken.
Hi thanks for the reply. The kick start does return on a no start kick although does seem a little reluctant, but when running just hangs down loose with a slight meshing noise as though a gear is just slightly catching ?
Probably as others have said just a weak spring. However, on Norton gearboxes it's a symptom that the inner layshaft bearing is going south as it lets the layshaft misalign. Sorry I don't know if it applies to BSAs.
On that C15 type kick start , there are 2 types of return spring.
Whip the outer cover off and treat yourself to a new spring
The buzzing sound is the sprung loaded kickstart pawl engaging incorrectly as the lever is part down
Thanks for that. I will take the cover off and have a look.
Well after removing the cover as suspected the return spring was broken.
Just another question, should there be oil inside this case? On removing approx 30 mls of oil came out.
You have 2 covers , inner that is oil tight and supports all the boxes etc , gear change etc.
The outer , which contains or covers all the kick start stuff.
You may have noticed the end of the camshaft , and a little hole at 3 o'clock next to it. The crankcase breathes out through there into the void between the 2 covers , so a tiny bit of oil comes out and collects at the bottom .
At the bottom of the inner cover, you'll see a minute pin hole and this collecting breathed oil goes back inside the engine that way.
Basically , make the outer cover oil tight all round.
That makes a lot of sense. the hole at the bottom has some oil dripping out of it which I assume would be drawn up once the pump is operating.Thanks for that. I have cleaned everything up ready to refit including the points, mounting plate etc so then have the joy of timing it back up which after reading how to do it sounds fun.It is a pain to start, even after cleaning carb, new gaskets, all electrics new connectors etc, so wondering if timing was out anyway as I note they are quite precise.
Shouldn't it be like the 65 onwards engines and also have quite a large hole near the bottom of the inner timing case connecting the kick-start section with the gearbox....sharing the gearbox oil?
Like this on ebay:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226466197295?_skw=bsa+b40+inner+timing+case&itmmeta=01JEBC9NC7DCNYS9DQ58AK8PGV&hash=item34ba6fef2f:g:4ZEAAOSwTl1nRITG&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKnpMSFGDMp%2FX1P3kiOea4ajH9AjG7QSBk4USdA%2FGDsqPsOZFMU1fDph8Es2xhIW3E3CfGLialw%2B6tNny%2FEEbt7aPqX8Lsya%2FX0PKk7rhODggSt%2FmNrAN6npJ1%2FiGzENLvu4BGTYAWcXrSlAPVW%2F%2Bf66NYzwDkMFNG5mOrPodSH%2F306VmR3JdUXCej0ufeiwyHP93JUGoX6BRJZWAvN4YHePEQF%2FXRC3Fm0kKpgxfzIe2K7XOhA13csg8xtO0U6JHQA%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5bWpuzyZA
I did wonder if it was gearbox oil as it seems quite thick although there was only a small amount in there? The hole is just below the kick start shaft. As you can see not much oil about.
Oh and for info the engine is a 1967 wd b40. Although I have been told it has a close ratio box fitted ? It's in a ss90 frame.
The pin hole is below and in front of the gear change shaft , just in front of the boss
The big hole on the kick start side should be behind the quadrant....as far as I can work out.
Thanks for the picture ...as I need to tinker with the timing side this winter. My 65 B40 has oil leaking from the kick start. Because this area shares oil with the gear box it can leak quite alot when the seal at the timing cover goes. Consider getting a new one for yours
( I'm still surprised by how small the hole on the points side of the case is. Whilst I can't visualise in my head how much oil comes through the camshaft to that side..it seems weeny. There must be a reason to be that small....just can't work it out.
The back half of that inner cover contains gearbox oil sae 40 and is held back from the front half by the vertical rib you can see.
Always replace the front AR unit oil seal.
You can just see the breather exit hole at the top front corner of this rib , it breathes out of the clutch cable block .
Yes the hole is just below and to the right of the quadrant.if you look closely at the picture(enlarged)then you can just see a dribble of oil. The only seal I can see on the cover was around the kick start shaft? The cover itself was sealed with sealant (hylomar). No physical gasket and was a blighter to get off. I did expect a lot more oil to exit so must check gearbox level.
Sorry just seen the post on the advance retard seal. I will sort that as there is a small leak obvious. Many thanks 👍
Yes it is the seal on the outer case over the kick- start shaft I was referring to. Mine leaks for Wales.....when the gear box is correctly topped up.....