Need info on a lever on the head os my honda engine

[filipinoredneck]

I have this lever on the right side of the head of my honda atc200.
What is that for and when would you need to use it? It looks like there is suppose to be a cable attached to it. I haven't been able to locate it in the manual I down loaded yesterday.:wondering

[Howdy]

It's a decompression lever. You flip it up to start the motor easier ( though normally it's not needed ).
Howdy

[Dave223]

pull the crank up slowly to the compression stroke, flip the lever back till it stays on its own and yank the rope...easy peasy!:D

[filipinoredneck]

Thanks for the info guys.
:beer

[nouseforaname90]

Yup.. on the smaller engines like the 200ES/S engines, it is not needed. They are easy to pull anyway. But the decompression lever makes it so it is a smooth pull to start.

[honda_atc200es]

if you try to pop start the trike you will need to use the decompression lever, otherwise the wheels will lock up, but yes otherwise you dont really need to use it, although when i attempt to pull start my bike its almost impossible without using the lever (but then again my bike dosent run)

[oscarmayer]

if your trike is complet. I have a new cable, I'm not going to use if your intersted. someone said that it goes to the pull starter and it is automatically engauged each time you pull the starter.