Poor kicker engagement

[Tador]

I'm sure people have encountered this. If you gingerly ease the kicker down... I mean seriously gingerly... you can then grab a tooth and kick it over. If you try to do it normally (ease down at a normal rate to catch tooth then kick) you will have a sore ankle. Supposedly the previous owner had a dealer look at it and they did something to "help" it... but I'm not happy with it.  I have that side of the lower end apart already for a clutch and basket, anything I should do? What's your input?

[PORTED R]

Usually the big kicker gear wears out before the ratchet gear and spring
I've had two big gears wear the teeth out on two different motors

[Redred55]

Your only option is to replace your worn out kicker spindle assembly with a better one. I think I have a new take out 86 style(with the spacer) if you need one. Also an almost new other
Style.

[rablack21]

I have had the same problem recently, I believe. With mine, if you kick it over too fast from the start the teeth won't catch, it just grinds and there is no force on the motor. I personally believe it is the spring wearing out. To remedy this, I spec'd out a new spring that I am about to test as my motor comes back together. I cut the spring to the same OEM length dimension but ordered a spring wire that would require more force to compress it than the OEM. This change should make the racheting gears engage easier and quicker than the worn out oem one. I will be mentioning this and commenting on it in my "little engine that could to beast mode" thread in the next coming weeks. I get tired of having to be so ginger with the kicker to get the gear to engage. And they ratchet gears aren't even wore out. They show minute to no wear on them.

[Tador]

I have had the same problem recently, I believe. With mine, if you kick it over too fast from the start the teeth won't catch, it just grinds and there is no force on the motor. I personally believe it is the spring wearing out. To remedy this, I spec'd out a new spring that I am about to test as my motor comes back together. I cut the spring to the same OEM length dimension but ordered a spring wire that would require more force to compress it than the OEM. This change should make the racheting gears engage easier and quicker than the worn out oem one. I will be mentioning this and commenting on it in my "little engine that could to beast mode" thread in the next coming weeks. I get tired of having to be so ginger with the kicker to get the gear to engage. And they ratchet gears aren't even wore out. They show minute to no wear on them.

Exactly! I'll rip it apart and see about that spring, might be on to something there! Thanks

[rablack21]

I'll try to post a pic this evening or in the morning of the compression spring that I made.

[Tador]

I'll try to post a pic this evening or in the morning of the compression spring that I made.

Sweet, thanks man