Kick Starter Cranks

Kick starter lever, kick starter arms

The first V-twins with a 3-speed gearbox from 1915 still had bicycle pedals to "kick-start" the engine. (The expert with the well-adjusted engine only needs one of them, by the way.) However, Murphy's law says that the one on the inside of the curve is always in the way. So for the 1916 model year, the gearbox was quickly changed and a kickstarter and mechanism were flange-mounted. The factory called it a step starter and the pedal for pedaling was retractable so that nothing was in the way of the rider's calf.

The kick starter arms of the F and J models up to 1929 were a forged part with the shaft. The same applies to the other 3-speed gearboxes up to 1940 (V, R, D, W models) and the 4-speed gearboxes up to 1953. Even if they often look the same, you have to pay close attention to the model assignment when selecting them. The reason for this is the exhaust systems, which may be in the way of the kicker arm.

The advantageous division of manufacturing into kickstarter shaft and kickstarter arm (750 models from 1941, Big Twins from 1954) also offers the customizer a wide field of activity. Panhead style, shovelhead style, stroker kicker arms or those from BAKER - there is a kicker arm to suit every taste and every exhaust system.