How to preload a kickshaft spring?

[Paul Whitehouse]

Happy New Year chaps.

Could somebody please explain how to preload a kickshaft spring on a `77 Z1000?

I have the engine in the frame...kick start shaft sticking out of the casings. I've been refering to both a Haynes and Clyma manual....although one states turning the shaft all the way to the right (I assume that's anticlockwise) and the other says clockwise!!...which doesn't help matters. The fact that there are only a couple of lines explaining what to do I assume this must be a piece of piss?...I think I must be missing something.

I've rotated the kick start shaft clockwise until it comes to a stop the horizontal end of the spring I have located in the hole in the engine casing...(about the 9 o'clock position). The other end of the spring (bent vertical is now resting on the shaft and is about 180 deg out to the hole in the kickshaft shaft that I am assuming this needs to locate into...is it just a case of physically turning the spring until this fits into place?...or do you use the kickstart lever? Once this is all sorted I assume you then fit the slotted collet?

Any info gratefully received. Cheers.

[z1bman]

turn the shaft fully clockwise then fit the spring + collar

[Paul Whitehouse]

Cheers mate...do you fit the spring in the hole in the shaft, or the hole in the back of the casing first?

[z1bman]

fit it in to the casing first then the shaft

[Paul Whitehouse]

Ok mate...thanks...I'll give it a go.

[Garn 1]

The only thing I would add, once you have the spring mounted in the slot at the back of the space and the kick-start turned fully clockwise, have plenty of light to view the hole in the shaft and a strong pair of long nose pliers. Then slip the end of spring into the shaft, then slip the slotted tube inside the spring. Ezze-Pezzi.
RegardZ

[Paul Whitehouse]

Cheers Garn...that's put my mind at rest. That's what I had been using only didn't know how much force to put on the spring as there is about 90 deg of movement required to align with the hole. I'm going out in the garage tonight to give it another go...wish me luck.