Kickstarter completely loose, no resistance

[Agera]

I recently saved an ole Honda dream out of a collapsing barn and I pulled it out and got it home and cleaned it off. I was messing with it for a bit and it had keys and everything but no matter but I tried to kick over the kickstart and instead of a ratcheting noise or it trying to crank over it was just smooth no resistance. I’m 16 and this is my first kickstart bike so I don’t know if I have to hook a battery up and when the key engages the flywheel or something moves out to meet up with the kickstart gear or something. It just feels really loose, like not necessarily slipping because it doesn’t even get any kind of friction, it just goes down and slowly pushes itself back up. So maybe this is a dumb question or whatever I have no idea. I’ve heard something about if you leave a bike for too long and the oil on the bottom of the gear will be good and the top of the gear will be rough and stuff but this bike has been drained of any oil or gas. It’s been sitting longer then I’ve been alive I’m sure. So if you have any tips or anything I’d help a lot. It’s a 1966? Honda Dream 305. I thought these forums were cool because I have a 66 Thunderbird and the forum guys help a lot

[G-Man]

Welcome to the Forum!

There are a couple of problems with the kickstarters on these bikes. The 'knuckle' on the bottom of the kickstart lever drives a splined shaft from the engine and is a 'loose' sliding fit. If the spline gives way you will get the symptoms you describe. You have to pull off the right hand engine cover to diagnose this.

Usually it is the knuckle bit that cracks and gives way. Before pulling anything apart I would download a parts manual or workshop manual.

The problem with the knuckle looks like ths. The crack starts from a sharp corner at the bottom of the slot.



It can be repaired by grinding out the crack, welding and re-machining.





You can try looking for replacements on eBay but they are usually quite expensive.

The second problem is a lot harder to fix. The kickstart ratchet is inside the engine so requires you to strip the crankcase.....

G

[G-Man]

Some diagrams to help you.....

https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists ... 8_4d5f.gif


19 is the kickstart shaft which connects to the knuckle 20, 21,22 are the kickstart ratchet parts.

https://images.cmsnl.com/img/partslists ... 6_6809.gif

G

[Agera]

Now this is why I love forum guys. Thank for the help I’ll definitely go check it out once I pull it Into the garage. I also saw a starter looking thing on the front so is that an electric start or am o just mistaken it for something else?

[DJM]

You're correct, that is the starter motor, once set up correctly it should be so reliable that you'll never need the kickstarter!