450 kick start

[gibbo450]

hellow everybody i am just about to buy a 04 450fse but the previous owner has higlighted a fault it starts ok on the electric button but refuses to start by kick anybody else had this problem as its usually the opposite fault i did think it may be a weak spark but i do want to sus this out now.
thanks mark

[west aussie gas 450]

I had trouble with my new 450fse 06 from the start, could not kick start it to save me so i spent one sunday when bike was hot an got it going after a lot of abuse from my mates but even now still have probs when bike is cold nil when bike is hot strange but it works for me man.

[drzdemon]

Nearly everyone has problems starting their 450 FSE's. They're great bikes once you get them started, IF you can get them started.

[bergerhag]

I have a -05, i have managed to kick start it once, when hot. Cold, never.

Is there an automatic decompression that engages badly?
It feels like the gearing of the kick start doesn't move the piston more than half a stroke..

I will ask my dealer to convey this question to the swedish importers.

[Nick]

We've modified all the 05 450's we sold by taking .005 off of the decompressor as i was told by the engineer. Helps starting immensly.

[bergerhag]

Originally Posted by Nick

We've modified all the 05 450's we sold by taking .005 off of the decompressor as i was told by the engineer. Helps starting immensly.

Can you describe this procedure in more detail?
My dealer talked to the swedish importer, but they did not know this.

[Metalefty]

Originally Posted by drzdemon

Nearly everyone has problems starting their 450 FSE's. They're great bikes once you get them started, IF you can get them started.

lol...never had a problem here and I'm pretty sure that not nearly everyone of them has starting problems. Maybe '03 and '04.

[flybars]

Metalefty is right. The '03 and '04 have auto camchain tensioners that are way too tight. The DRZ 400's have had same problem. Do a search here and U will find a machinest who makes a manual cam chain tensioner for the '03 and '04 FSE's which rememdies the hard starting. U give the chain a little slack and the starter turns over much easier. From '05 on this has been remedied. As far as the kickstart problem, Nick has the '05 FSE also. Grinding .005 off the exhaust cam decomp. might only work on the '05. Better have Nick clear this up. He's been very busy at this time due to new ventures etc. and it might take him awhile to get back. But he's been a great help to me and other FSE owners. Thanks, Bob