I took off my scruffy old kickstart lever which was just held on by a 3/8" bolt and loose. I decided to buy a new lever and a tapered cotter pin but the pin dropped straight through. I measured the engine shaft from base to the flat and it measured 0.562". Is this measurement correct? What can I do to hold on the kickstart tight if the flat on the shaft is undersize? Im really annoyed that im beaten by such a small issue >:(
straw bear, if a proper fitting cotter is not readily available, find your friendly home machinist wanting to exercise his lathe. The hole in the lever is usually round, the flat on the shaft will shape up with a file, and the tapered flat on the cotter can be made and fitted as needed with file. I'd use a socket head cap screw for material and I'd have a reduced diameter threaded portion. I'd stay away from stainless as a material.
Hi,
Sounds like you have the wrong kick start lever. Its cotter pin hole is drilled further from the quadrant hole centre, hence it falls straight through.
Best wishes...
Many thanks for advice good people - I seem to struggle with everything I do...... ::)
Hi Bear,
We all struggled, it's the only way to learn, I had the same problem with the levers.
Try comparing what you bought to what you had.........
Well I managed to get over my school boy error. I found out that the cotter pin hole on early Triumph and BSA are different offsets. It seems that I have a Triumph kickstart lever which suits a 0.125" cut out on the kickstart shaft. The BSA has a cut out on kickstart shaft of 0.200" so that's why it don't lock with the cotter pin. I have added a 0.040" shim and it has all gone together sound with no movement. Its a shame that it was listed as for a A65 kickstart.
Many thanks for advice - its certainly a learning curve with these oldie bikes :)
I have paid me monies and now a paid up BSA Owners Club member ;D