Rebuilding a Vittorazi Atom80 pull start

[@martinberwanger4928]

After watching your videos , I am decided to start working in my ATOM. Thank you for all your efforts!

[@hairsmith101]

I very much enjoy and have found your Atom 80 videos very helpful. Recently I had to open up my pull starter as the arms were not opening to engage, it was clean and low hours at the time. I had to leave the washer out of the pull starter as it was putting pressure on the arms and not letting them open into engagement position. Has worked fine ever since. Also used your video to replace the output shaft seal on the gear reduction housing. Great to hear some history on your Atom 80, it would be interesting to see a video of its use and service history. Yours is the highest hours I have herd of. Thanks for your videos !

[@wednesdaykartingflyingclub8164]

Thanks so much for the kind words. I’m glad to hear that these videos are useful to others. I’m about to tear my entire engine apart and replace the bottom end (crank, seals & bearings) along with the clutch, piston & cylinder. I’m planning on recording that job too. Should be a very long, boring video also. 😂 But hopefully useful to anybody who might need to do the same.

[@matthewpesce765]

Always love the videos Dennis!

[@martinberwanger4928]

Bravo! Great useful video!

[@donjordan5227]

My unit has about 200 hours. I used your video to do that part of the 100 hr. top end rebuild. My cord looked fine, but was replaced since it came in the kit. Most of your video was fine. However you made it look toooo easy placing the clips in the head! I wish you had included how the rope is attached to the pull start wheel. I guess I should have figured it out, but didn't. Now I have an issue that is baffling me. After reinstalling everything, the pull cord now comes over my left shoulder, whereas before it was over my right. And the place to attach the pulley is on the right side of the two 'v' tubular struts from the frame to the cage.

[@wednesdaykartingflyingclub8164]

Hey Don. I didn’t replace the cord on this rebuild so I didn’t have any footage on replacing the cord. As far as why the cord is pulling over the left shoulder. All I can think of is that you might’ve installed it 90 degrees off. Maybe take a look and make sure that the outlet for the pull cord is facing upward on the carb side of the engine. Hope that helps.

[@MrBigjoecincy]

really wish i had cleaned mine while I had my motor off. Now I have to take it all apart again because my pull start isnt working right

[@wednesdaykartingflyingclub8164]

Yeah. I ended up buying another pull starter so that I’d have a spare on hand. Now I simply rotate the two in and out whenever I have the engine off or need to swap pull starters. This enables me to have somebody hold the engine in place for a minute while I swap pull starters. I don’t have to disconnect all the wiring, fuel lines, etc. Then I clean and inspect the dirty one and keep that as my backup.

[@Tabuka24]

Did the cleaning resolve your issue? Also, do you recommend replacing any parts since you are already in there? Anyways, thanks for the video.

[@wednesdaykartingflyingclub8164]

The pull starter was simply sticking and not retracting properly prior to cleaning things out. This did resolve the issue. I’ve since learned that Vittorazi does lube the spring. I did lube mine with a very lightweight oil that is most often used to oil guns. But I’m sure anything will help. I didn’t replace any parts. But I did inspect everything, especially the pull cord. Everything looked great.