kickstart for Evo sportster - Harley Forum

dpm206 · #1 09-30-2009, 02:32 PM

For possible vintage motocross application (yes - even at my age), I am looking for a way to adapt kick-start to the Evo motor (alloy barrels and heads make for less weight, lower center-of-gravity). Will an early, 'kicker' transmission (I know that it will be 4-speed) - work in an Evo motor? A sportster motocrosser would be a crowd-pleaser.

shovelmike · #2 09-30-2009, 08:06 PM

Welcome to the forum! In the early 70's the electric start Sporties still had the bosses cast into the case so that you could install the kick starter, not sure the year they made the change but it's certainly not a bolt in affair anymore. The early EVO Sporties were 4 speed but no kicker provision. It might be feasible (with extensive reworking) to put alloy top end on an old Ironhead Sporty with kickstart but the expansion rate of the aluminum would loosen the pushrod clearance which is why EVO's have hydraulic lifters...no provision for them in an Ironhead. That said maybe with a lot of determination, machine work, and the higher volume oil pump from an EVO you could pull it off.
Keep us posted on what you come up with.

dpm206 · #3 09-30-2009, 10:21 PM

Shovelmike - Thanks for the information. It sounds like a lost cause to have kickstart on an Evo. I could just remove the electric starter and accompanying big battery for weight reduction - and use rollers - or push - to start (OK for racing). Or, I could just get an 'iron-head', 'kicker' motor. I was just hoping to use a more serviceable motor - with better parts availability.

dpm206 · #4 10-01-2009, 11:56 PM

- Love your grand-daughter's smile - angelic

street bob · #5 10-02-2009, 12:51 AM

dpm206, I love your idea, and willingness to have a throw back scoot, or at least starting bike. I had a 72' iron head " kick only " xlch sporty. I loved that bike mostly because it was my first Harley. Good luck on your build and welcome to AIM's forum!

dpm206 · #6 10-02-2009, 01:40 AM

- Thanks for the encouragement. I bought a '67 XLCH - new. The magneto ignition made it a bear to start on a cold morning. No battery - you could tell the CH's of that era - at night - by the tell-tale headlight flicker at stoplights; the generator output was marginal at idle. An iron-head XLCH - up to 1974 -is eligible for the ''Sportsman Open-twin" class in AHRMA Vintage motocross. For the last 7 or 8 years, I have heard of only one Sportster-based motocrosser. That guy even got his picture taken with Mert Lawwill! It's time for another H-D - for variety - and that gorgeous sound (straight-pipes). I was hoping to get permission to use the Evo motor - but, without kick-start, it probably won't happen.

street bob · #7 10-02-2009, 01:46 AM

Awwhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Straight pipes on an iron head sporty.... nothing sweeter, unless two iron head sporties cruising side by side down the highway..... pure music......

shovelmike · #8 10-02-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dpm206

- Love your grand-daughter's smile - angelic

Thanks so much.