1965 SS80 starting issue

[rhyatt]

Good evening,
My pal has a 1965 SS80 and I've been helping him work through countless things on it.
We're pretty much done now thankfully , but he can't get the hang of starting it!!

I show him the routine , up to tdc,  over the top , big swing and away.

But he experiences a small kick back as he eases it up to the (obviously the points open on the way up) , I said turn the key off until you're at the right spot , the key on and swing it then.

All bobweights, timing etc are fine. Once it's going its lovely.

Anybody else get these little kickbacks ? And your solutions please?

[DerekAnderson8]

this might be easier

put it in 2nd gear and roll bike back gently until you can feel compression this is piston just after tdc.

put in neutral, ignition on and kick

worked for me on various bikes over the years.

[rhyatt]

yes maybe thank you.

it is taking me a long time to "educate" him as the foibles etc of british bikes - to have an empathy and feeling towards them - I will succeed eventually