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the kick starter on my px200 is buggered - it's like it's become detached from the internal mechanism.. hangs low and doesn't catch on anything until relatively close to the floor.. ie not enough for a spark. happened yesterday but managed to get it started to get home from work.. now it won't start... was hoping it would struggle on until i see the mechanic i know but he's only working tuesday and thursday at the moment (low season here in berlin).. soooo.. is this something i can repair myself and anyone able to offer a quick explanation? it would be really appreciated.. lovely weather here this weekend and was looking forward to a nice ride out.. depressing.

check the splines on the kickstart pedal arent worn due to loose kickstart pedel bolt.
Im betting that will be it!!

thanks for the reply mate.. here's hoping eh.. haven't had the kick start pedal off yet to take a look as no tools with me here in berlin.. otherwise it sounds (from what i've read on the internet) like it's the kick start quadrant or starter gear.. which sound painful / expensive / beyond my doing. if the teeth on the quadrant had gone would it still spring back up to the top position? mine's prob hanging at about 20 degrees below the horizontal.. so that does sound like the splines... and on friday when it was low i could still start it. fingers crossed !!

Remove the kickstart entirely and bump the bugger everywhere. Oh, and yes, it is a self tapper for the headlight. Or thats what I use anyway, which isn't quite the same thing....

thanks dude.. i'm gonna give the bump start a go tonight.. never tried that before not even in a car so should be an experience..

OK....

Second gear, clutch in, run like mad, dump the clutch and grab the throttle! Don't do it in first on a P2, I did that and the bloody thing stood upright on its rear wheel when it fired first time.

thanks man.. cracked it.. it did almost run down the street on me but managed to grab hold.. also managed to start it again on the kick lever by almost hanging it off the side of a high kerb.. there's still enough room at the bottom end of the arc there to do it. hope to see the mechanic tomorrow and fingers crossed all round it's just a replacement kick start level required. the fact that the lever is totally slack now between just above and 20 degrees below horizontal should indicate this no?

your bet was spot on MrG.. new kick start pedal and fitting.. 15 euros cash.. bargain.. especially as i was fearing the worst reading about the starter quadrant etc.. happy days and thanks for the input folks.. i appreciated it.