push start?

[williamruck]

So I have just gotten my vision all back in one piece and I was wondering if it could be push started. I kind of assumed it could but I was wondering if there was anything specific about the vision that would prevent it from being push started. I have yet to take the starter off to rebuild it and I was looking for a glimmer of hope and wanted to see if I could get the bike running. Let me know what you think. Thanks.

[kwells]

Can do it if you know it will start.  I've been successful with 3rd gear.

[tben]

It's quite possible. Drop the clutch in 2nd while rolling. To be honest though, its not worth the effort. I wasted lots of effort doing this and got no good results. A fresh charged battery and rebuilt starter is you best bet. ;)

[kwells]

I agree
it's one thing if ur stuck somewhere...and u know it will start easily

[Rick G]

The Vision isn't all that hard to run and bump start. I was forced to use this technique, first learned in my youth , while participating in AFM road racing , which required run and bump starts.
I stopped on a flat secluded road , for a trip in to the bushes to answer a call to nature , upon returning to the v the starter whirred  but the  motor didn't turn over. The only question was, was  I at 60 years old still able to do it.  (push start the bike , not the other activity)   It wasn't difficult with a warm engine , stone cold could be a work out.

[tben]

My point is that a Vision that won't start off a stater in the first place will not start off a push. :) Its just wasted time. :-\

[Lucky]

Yeah it sure will, when i first got my V, & this forum was in it's infancy (we didn't have all the answers yet, lol) my charging system was nonexistant for the first year. i bump started it with regularity. it's more importaint to have the carbs in close tune than charging.

second gear & a large hill are your best friends.

--Lucky

[Tiger]

 :)...BUT, make sure that you "Prime" your carb's a few minute's before trying to bump start her 467 lbs of dead weight ;)

                  8).......TIGER....... 8)

[williamruck]

I see by all the pessimism I might just wait until I get the starter rebuilt. But in any event, how do I go about "priming" the bike?

[Kenny]

  Place the  Fuel petcock on to "Prime" that way you are receiving fuel via gravity not the Vacuum operated pump. The Brits used the  word "Tickle" on their start procedure.
    Our V isn't ticklish. ;) ;D
                 Cheers Ken S.

[don_vanecek]

18 year old daughters cannot push a Vision (with dad on it of course)hard enough on a level road to get get it to start (my experience when my stator went out and my battery was too dead to turn over the starter motor back in 1993 and  I was 70 miles from home).

[h2olawyer]

Don -

It helps to find a hill.  I know those are a rare sight in Nebraska!!   ;D

H₂O

[tben]

Each time I've bump started or tried when the bike died while running I've locked up the rear wheel. I've always done it in second gear. Is this usual?

[inanecathode]

Pretty much, theres a good torque spike when you first get the engine to start turning, i use third or fourth if i'm hauling ass. Once things are moving it should be fine.
Unless your engine is seized like mine was, in which case you're screwed.

[tben]

Its only until it kicks over. ;D

[don_vanecek]

My stator that day died in Lincoln, NE. I don't think that town has any hills that are not called bridges or overpasses.  The story did however have a happy ending as I did find a young man to give me push and we did make it home that day.  My oldest daughter who I was taking home from college that week-end (Labor day) was sure a good passenger. Her and I rode the V to North Platte and back about two years earlier-she of course is now long married and has five girls of her own!   

[VisionMeister]

I did a 250 mile ride this spring with push start only after my starter locked at the first gas stop.
I must have stopped and started it about eight times counting gas , lunch and picture breaks. It started very easily with a small downhill ( a driveway is enough); used second gear and didn't even get off the bike; just one footed it like a skateboarder and dropped the clutch. Zoom Zzoom.
Note that I didn't have to start it cold though.
Supervision rode the whole Colorado 25 year celebration with no electric starter.

[inanecathode]

Lol yeah i remember that, it was fun, like a race bike :D