Ask Dr. Dirt: Kick Starter Stuck

Dirt Rider’s Chief Physician AKA Dr. Dirt is Scot Gustafson. If you have a question about bike maintenance, set-up, tuning, or if you need help diagnosing a problem or just want to know how something works, send your question, along with your first and last name and your city and state, to drdirt@bonniercorp.com. We may edit your letter and might also use it in Dirt Rider Magazine’s letters section.

Dr. Dirt

I just rebuilt the top end in my YZ125 and after we got it all together I went to start it… it has compression but the kick starter wont spring back up. Is there a spring in the crank that went bad and is that easy to fix?

Bradley Marusarz

There is no spring in your crank, so unless you got a ring stuck in your cylinder, you need to fix the spring that is in your kick starter assembly. Remove your right side crankcase cover, pull out the kick start assembly and fit the spring into the hole on the kick starter shaft. Put the assembly back in the case and fit the kick shaft stopper behind the stopper plate that is bolted to the case. Turn the spring clockwise and hook it into the proper hole in the crankcase.