From:Doug Strange e-mail:AMCAdoug@aol.com
Subject:RE: RE: RE: Starting 1918 Henderson Date:Tue Apr 21 09:02:51 2020
Response to:7302
Regarding your kick starter. I'm aware of the frailty of
the unit but when starting, just make sure the teeth are
engaged before kicking through. Stabbing at the kicker
will only lead to problems, including injury. Had a
friend who broke his foot by not engaging the kicker and
it slipped through with his foot crashing to the ground.

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I checked the rear brake it is definitely not dragging. I
will try what you said
with the magneto shaft. As far as oil goes I use 50
weight year round. Is
that the wrong thing to do? I’ve had the bike for about 9
years and it took
like 5 years to make it roadworthy( 4 years to get the
engine done ). I live in
a congested area so I really only take it on short rides
around town
occasionally. There are a couple of books and a few
websites I go on to
ask questions and try to learn more. I will let you know
how I make out.
Thank you and the other guys for your help. I appreciate
it!
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I start my early Hendersons this way, in 3rd gear, the
foot-starter jaws are small and fragile, unlike the later
Deluxe and KJ jaws. It is possible your magneto is
dragging, this happened to me. After you have checked
what
what Doug, Peter, and Ken said, make sure the plugs are
out, turn over in 3rd gear, and if the brake is not
dragging...and your cylinder walls are not rusty from
sitting in a damp location for too long, your magneto may
be dragging.
Mark your magneto shaft location so you don't replace
180deg out of time, pop out the tapered pin on the shaft,
now spin the rear wheel. Any different?
The varnish on the magneto armature gets hot and melts,
and has little clearance to spin, if parked when very
hot,
the varnish melts and gets sticky, and drags on the walls
having no clearance.
There is enough force by turning over and having your
magneto dragging, to do serious damage on your drive
system.

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I own a 1918 Henderson. To start it up I spin the rear
wheel with the bike in third gear. I went to spin the
wheel today and it’s super hard to turn. I can’t get the
wheel to spin fast enough to start the bike. I can’t
figure out why all of a sudden it’s hard to turn. Any
ideas why this is happening?

Thank you.

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