Restoration of 1951 Vincent Rapide - Part 54 - Floppy Kickstarter

EDIT: I've received lots of great feedback on the position of the kickstarter. I might move the kickstarter back to it's original position. Having it too high may result in a hard stop at the front of the outer gearbox cover, possibly leading to breaking the corner of the cover.
Thank you Eric (DucDude) for first spotting the floppy kickstarter and many thanks to the guys on the VOC (Vincent Owners Club) forum for advice on how to fit the kickstarter spring through the inspection cap without having to take the whole outer gearbox cover off. Thank you Robert W for the spring. It was a tricky little devil to fit but it's miles better now.
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[@54macdog]

That looked like a tricky job but you made it seem easy. This series has become a masterclass in Rapide restoration.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hehe! That turned out to be a little fiddlier than I expected. Thank goodness it was a magnetic spring! Best wishes, Mike

[@rscaryrsc]

That inspection port sure came in handy. Another very nice feature on the Vincent. Nice job and excellent video as usual. The before and after views were especially useful.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thank you Scott. Yes, that inner space has no oil in it. It's just a cover for the kickstarter mechanism! Cheers, Mike

[@453421abcdefg12345]

That looks a lot better, the return spring certainly needed replacement! The bike looks better every time you show it Mike, you must be please with the results. Chris B.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thanks so much Chris. Yes, I'm really enjoying it. These smaller fine-tuning jobs are nice to work on and it feels like it is getting better all the time. Best wishes, Mike

[@453421abcdefg12345]

Mi Ty : I think the thing you can be proud of is that you re built it all yourself, this is a really good way to go as if at any time you get the odd noise coming from it, you have a much better idea of what is causing it than someone who has just had a "professional" restorer rebuild it for him, one book that you really need, if you have not already got it, is "Into the Millennium", you can get it from the club shop, and it covers all the usual problems and how to get over them, you can just enjoy your bike now !

[@tadpoles10]

Look forward to the 'outtakes' lol, well done Mike, tricky little so & so. Comfortable riding/gear change essential snagging. atvb t ..

[@TheMightyGarage]

Hehe, the outtakes would not be pretty ;) It did take a lot longer than I expected. Yes, I agree. These little fine-tuning jobs should hopefully make for a more enjoyable ride. Best wishes T!

[@paulj6662]

springs can be real puzzles sometimes, then an answer pops up. there`s a strange curled spike/hook/lever tool (made in Kenosha?) that makes fitting centre-stand springs etc really simple, where they used to be "almost impossible" now it`s a 5 sec knack. Which really impressed the customers; I made quite a few simple "odd-idea" tools, and a pushing hook is one that may have saved you some time.

[@TheMightyGarage]

Thanks a lot Paul, I will take a look for the puller tool. Cheers, Mike