Kickstart adaptation

Can my 83' KZ250 motor be altered to have a kickstart? I really don't want an electric starter on this bike. Will any parts fit from the older models?

Post edited by: skitch, at: 2005/11/02 16:59

I searched backward and the first kz single that I found with a kick start was the 1979 KZ 200. Sorry, can't do much more right now, I'm super tired.

Post edited by: luvmykaw, at: 2005/11/02 18:55

What about this? It looks pretty much the same as a KZ.

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ame=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT

Skitch, If you buy another engine from the dirt bike to take advantage of the kickstart feature, you might want to consider the way it mounts and how difficult that system would be to adapt to your bike. I will say, that it is probably easier to figure out how to mount a different motor than it would be to adapt a kick start to a bike with none to begin with. To put a kickstart in, you would have to remove all the inards from your engine cases and have the cases machined to accept a kicker shaft. The shaft has gears on the inside so it would have to fit on the first gear of the transmission I think. Kind of hard to engineer this sort of stuff if it isn't already in place. Moving motor mounts would definitely be easier. I am not sure why you are not liking an electric start but that looks like the path of least resistance to me...

It's not a logic sort of thing; I know logically that it would be simpler and easier to just use what I already have. And pay attention before bidding. It's more of a 'kickstarts don't die as often (a too common experience)' and 'am I capable of engineering this to work?' sort of idiocy.

I kept looking into it.
I would need a side case from a KL, with the kickstart lever and shaft and springs and gears and misc. bits.
Then I'd have to pull a shaft and gear from the trans to swap in. Simple enough to say.
So, that just leaves: finding a 1983 KL250 donor (cheap) motor, with a good trans.
Then weeks of work trying to figure out how it comes apart, why it won't go back together, why I have leftover pieces, and so on.
I guess I'll keep the electric start- for now.

Skitch, kudos to you for being a kickstarter guy. I'm sorry to see you throwing in the towel. If that bike in your post is the one you're working on, the kicker would be right at home there. If you spent some time searching, you could probably get a KL bottom end for next to nothing. I'm sure there are some engines out there with the top end off. Or one that little Johnny took apart and can't get back together. The biggest problem will probably be finding a kicker that isn't trashed. Usually they end up pretty loose and rattle after a few seasons. As for swapping the parts, That is an afternoon job. Are you in Atlanta? I'd be glad to spend some time in the garage on a fun project like that.

Yeah, my avatar is my bike.
I'm in Arizona, for the moment. My bike is actually in Vermont, waiting for me to get back to work on it.
I looked around for a decent KL bottom, but have not had luck, yet.

Being a "dual-purpose" bike often means, "let's thrash the hell out of it"

And I'm not really familiar with Kawasaki, so I don't have any idea what year range will fit.

Electric start on a 250 is a waste. Especially on a bike I'm trying to retain some of the classic design.

I had a Kz450 for a time, and not having a kick was very frustrating. That time I let the headlight on all day at work, or trying to fire it up after a long winter...

Thanks for the offer of help, though. In my area (VT) there aren't many people interested in older bikes, or fabricating, customizing, except what they watch on tv

HEY!

There's one other guy at least that's interested in old Kaws in VT! I'm no fabricator but if I can help in any way I'd be glad to. heck, even if it's just moral support.

As far as leaving the headlight on, as I understand it unless your bike has a magneto you'll still need the battery to get it to run.

Normally I do use the electric start, but I do kick it over every few weeks just for fun. My 650 normally kicks over pretty easily when I try it, but with the battery dead I couldn't get it to start. I kicked the darned thing until my leg was sore, but it wouldn't even try to catch.

After charging the battery, it kicked right over.

I don't know much about the bikes myself, but unless you have a magneto you're not entirely ridding yourself of the need to have a somewhat charged battery to start the bike.

Post edited by: gargantuchet, at: 2005/12/24 15:38

I don't know much about the bikes myself, but unless you have a magneto you're not entirely ridding yourself of the need to have a somewhat charged battery to start the bike.


you mean that guy from xmen?:laugh:

Yes, generally it does need to have some juice. But far less if you can kick it over.
Old battery and/or an old starter is a headache. And both age very quickly.
I can't fit a very large battery in this bike; it wasn't designed for much power.
I just can't understand why they stopped putting on the smaller motors. anything under 400cc is an easy kick.
I have a friend with a '70's Harley, a 1200, and he kickstarts it.