Kick Start and compression.

[SuzukiGS]

Hey, how is the kick start suppose to work? Is there suppose to be a lot of pressure from the engine and how easy should it be? Right now, with the bike in neutral, i can take my hand and push it with little to no resistence.

Then, I put the bike in 1st gear while it is off and rolled the bike back and forth almost as easy as when it was in neutral. Is it suppse to do that or is my engine worn out and I need new Pistons/Rings and rebuild the engine?

Thanks,
Zachary Green

[doctorgonzo]

Well, SOMETHING is wrong for sure. If it was just the kick might be related to that, but if you can easily push it in gear....

Do you have spark plugs in it?

Do you have any way to compression test it (a tester)?

Have you tried putting a little oil down each plug hole, and seeing if it seems to have more compression?

[SuzukiGS]

I don't have a tester and i haven't put any oil in it. I have all the spark plugs in it.

And if I put the bike in gear, and push the kick start down, the bike rolls forward with the kicker. Don't know if this helps at all.

[doctorgonzo]

I don't have a tester and i haven't put any oil in it. I have all the spark plugs in it.

And if I put the bike in gear, and push the kick start down, the bike rolls forward with the kicker. Don't know if this helps at all.

Then the kickstarter isn't broken (at least probably not).

Putting a little oil in each plug hole will temporarily make the compression rise, you might try that and see if it seems to be harder to push/kick.

It could also be the valves badly out of adjustment, so bad that multiple valves aren't closing all the way. Check your valve clearances. That sounds like a likely culprit as well.

I'd suggest buying, renting, borrowing, a compression tester and getting actual numbers before you embark on a rebuild. Somebody else may chime in with a better idea, but that does sound like it has crazy low compression.

[tkent02]

What's the history of this engine? Has the bike sat out of commission for several years?
If so it may gain a bit of compression after it runs a few hundred miles.
I would start with checking the valve clearances.

[SuzukiGS]

Well guys after looking over a little today I decided to play with the clutch control a little and it happens to be when i replaced the cable that I had it too tight so it never would engage. Sp that solves my compression issue. Now it's next to impossible to push the kick start with my hand. I have to use all my body weight. So compression is diffidently there.