how to start a gt500 (was: electric starter on gt500)

[drøn]

hi, first post here. sorry if this has been answered before - my search didn't find anything.

i have a 1976 gt500 that i kan not start with the kick starter. other/heavier peaple can start it so there's nothing wrong with it.
can i fit an electric starter on it?
if so. where can i get one? will a gt550 starter fit?
or should i just sell it/trade it for something that i can start?

thanks a lot.

[bbillington]

hi, first post here. sorry if this has been answered before - my search disn't find anything.

i have a 1976 gt500 that i kan not start with the kick starter. other/heavier peaple can start it so there's nothing wrong with it.
can i fit an electric starter on it?
if so. where can i get one? will a gt550 starter fit?
or should i just sell it/trade it for something that i can start?

thanks a lot.

I can't answer that question, but will say that these bikes are very easy to kick over compared to other bikes I own. Have you tried shortening the distance you are kicking? Push the kicker slowly past the top of the the stroke and use the last 2/3 of the kick starter's travel, along with your body weight, to get it to start. You might find this easier. Also, start it on the center stand so you can really put your weight into it.

My apologies if this is all nothing new to you... just thought I'd offer some suggestions.

[jabcb]

Might be a good idea to go to youtube.com & search for motorcycle kickstarting. Try different variations on what you search for.
You might find a video of a technique that works for you.

[drøn]

thank you both. every advise is appreciated - i am a complete noob.
the bike is completely useless to me now and that makes me really sad as both my dad and me amongst others have put a lot of hours into it over the last year.
i have even advertised it for sale though i woud prefer to be able to ride it.

[bobotech]

How big are you and what happens when you try to kick it over?

[drøn]

around 62 kgs. nothing happens.
here's my procedure, maybe i do something wrong:

insert key - turn one click
make sure kill switch is on 'run'
choke
kick sharply followed by 1/4 - 1/2 throttle
kick sharply followed by 1/4 - 1/2 throttle
kick sharply followed by 1/4 - 1/2 throttle
kick sharply followed by 1/4 - 1/2 throttle
and so on
then wait for 5 - 10 min thinking the plugs are drowned
no choke
full throttle
kick
kick
....

sometimes the last meneuvre works, but most often it doesn't

[jabcb]

Can you start it when its hot?

Try this for cold starting:
bike on sidestand with front wheel turned all the way to the right
key & choke on
kick sharply, barely turning the throttle as you start to kick (no more than 1/8th throttle)
when it starts, may need to give a little more throttle

If everything is spot on, might even cold start with no throttle.

[bobotech]

To me that sounds like the bike isn't in proper tune otherwise it should start up on the first couple of kicks. It isn't a Royal Enfield diesel.

[GreenMachine]

Agreed - it isn't a 1000cc/12:1 Vincent Black Shadow. I'd be looking at technique. Are you sitting over the bike kicking with your left leg? Some have more success standing next to the bike kicking with their right.

Regardless - If you can turn it over, you should be able to start it. I'd suggest looking at the tune as well.

Another alternative - if you can start it hot, you can buy a cheap 12v set of starting rollers that might make cold starts more pleasant at home..

[Cliff]

Make sure you have a fully charged battery to start with.
For a cold start, put the choke on and leave the throttle closed. Push the kick start down slowly until you feel a piston coming up on the compression stroke. Raise the kick starter to the top and kick her over with all you've got! If the tuning is spot on she'll start with a couple of kicks.
When you do get her running, how does she run?

[drøn]

thanks for all the replies!
when it runs it runs pretty good - a little bit weak in the low rpms.
everything is set to stock. enire ignition system is brand new.
it's the same when it is hot.
could this be related to dirt (very small pieces of air filter) in the carburettors?

[Coyote]

I'm not a 500 man, but I think you are shooting your own foot by applying throttle at start up. Both my bikes start with zero throttle and are much harder to start with ANY throttle opening. In fact, odds are they won't start at all.

[H2RICK]

Cliff +1.
NO/NO/NO THROTTLE WHEN THE CHOKE/ENRICHENER(S) ARE ON !!!

It should start on the second or third kick IF/IF everything is correct with the engine and ignition.....and battery. Your battery MUST be at 12.8 volts.....and you should have at least 12.5 volts at the primary side of the ignition coils.

If it does NOT start after the third kick (in a cold start attempt) then you need to do some investigation:
AA) check your plugs for evidence of gas getting to cylinders
BB) check your plugs for a good blue spark

I am NOT aware of any possible way to install an electric starter on a T/GT 500. There is just no room for such a modification, IMO.

[tz375]

In answer to the question about dirt in the carbs. It is very possible that the slow (pilot) jets may be partially blocked or out of adjustment. What air filters do you have on it and what was done to the carbs?

[rbond]

Oh yes, NO throttle when cold with 'choke on'. Battery voltage does not matter on a GT500, the magneto supplies all power of it's own to the ignition. There are two other coils that all they have to do is charge the battery to run the lights. T and GT500's start properly cold with no throttle, as a general rule, one to two kicks and it should start. One thing to check first, do you have clear fuel lines? If so, turn the petcock to 'prime' and see if fuel flows for a short time, does not mean you have a problem, just little or no gas in the carbs. Especially if it has been sitting for a few days. Do try the method above, on the center stand and bring the lever down about a 3rd of it's travel, then push down quickly, these engines do not have too much commpression, but can 'kick back' some.