AussieSteve
Active Member
The standard FW can fail in either mode, free or locked.
That's more or less what I thought. The HD type would probably be the same, if it does fail in the pawls.
The HD, which I believe you have has not failed due to the pawls failing. We have only seen 2 fail and both were bearing failures.
That's comforting, from my kick-start point of view. I'll get a spare soon and keep it on hand, just in case. At the first sign of potential failure, I'll fit the new one.
I guess I will have to try one of those heads to see how difficult it is to turn over. I forget that not everyones engine, bike etc are like mine. Mine is so easy to turn over it is ridiculous.
I am an extreme case, at 50 kg, (110lbs), and not much puff, but yeah, the 66cc with billet head is hard to turn over. The stock head was 115psi, the billet is 142psi. Doesn't sound like a huge increase, but even a 23yo friend of mine was shocked by the compression and has trouble turning it over and he's a lot younger, stronger and fitter than I am.
I really don't think you will have any issues with your starting technique. I just wanted to point out to the rest of the audience that it is not the preferred method.
No worries, Jim, and as I mentioned, I'll just buy a spare HD freewheel when I buy the sprockets etc and keep it on hand, just in case. The cost is worth the ability to kick-start.
The rain has finally stopped, so I'm off for a test-ride shortly.
... Steve