86 Tecate kickstart gear slips- why?

[nd4speed]

Well I pulled out my T3 and the oil is like Elmer's glue and the kickstart gears slips sometimes.

First I have water in the gear oil. So a new waterpump seal is in order. I will use cheap ATF Type F to flush the trans. Sound like a good idea?

Second what is wrong with the kicker? and is this common on the Tecate?

[Merge_88]

My Tecate slips as well, I have to roll the kicker slowly till it engages and then kick it thru. Id like to fix it someday too.

[tecat-z]

The kick pawl is still availiable from kaw for about $50. The gear it engages with is discontinued. The problem is the tips of both ratchet faces gets worn from years of kicking abuse, and they don't 'hold' together under downward pressure. Then they slip apart instantly and send your foot or ankle into the peg in a sometimes painful manor. The only fix is new or good used parts. If you take the kick assembly apart, it's easy to understand. It's similar to a liquid R, and why you hear the same ratchet noise when kicker is coming back up.

[Tecate250]

My tecate has slipped for years. You just need to get it in the right spot and giver hell.

[azzkikker]

mine kicks back up and almost breaks the bottom of my foot--Why would it do that?

[scooterroo]

mine kicks back up and almost breaks the bottom of my foot--Why would it do that?

check your timing. digity x's old t3 used to do that. cant remember if it was advanced or retarded though. as far as the kicker, yeah your ratchet sounds worn out.

[azzkikker]

how do you check the timing on that. Is it a magneto the same as a snowmobile? Thanks guys--Im new to these bikes but I have experience with sleds.

[JohnBeton]

another solution for a slipping kickstart is grinding the 2 flat gears of the kickstarter a little bit on a grinding wheel. Just a little but so they roughen up.
I have done it with a kx250, tecate,...
It's a common problem with these bikes, I had the solution from a local dealer, and it worked perfect on the ones i tried it.

[BigGreenMachine]

I used an old (83-85?) KX250 gear set to fix mine. Took the two gears off the KX kicker shaft and used them on the Tecate shaft. Worked great.

Make sure the little spring that goes on the kickstart shaft is on right. That caused mine to slip once.

[nd4speed]

Cool I have some gears from some other KX motors.

Just hoped it was cause my oil was all fouled up and like sticky paste.

[scooterroo]

how do you check the timing on that. Is it a magneto the same as a snowmobile? Thanks guys--Im new to these bikes but I have experience with sleds.

adjusting the stator plate advances or retards your timing.

[T3 LOPES]

how do you check the timing on that. Is it a magneto the same as a snowmobile? Thanks guys--Im new to these bikes but I have experience with sleds.

Take the stator cover off. Then take off the flywheel. You will see the stator . At the top of the stator plate you will see your timing mark on the stator plate . you will also see a timing mark on your engine case right were the stator fit in place. Loosen up the 2 bolts that hold down the stator and line the 2 marks up. Put it all back together. Good luck.

[azzkikker]

thanks guys

[3Razors]

In the future make sure the kicker is engaged with the gear before stomping down on it..helps the parts live longer.