Inntroducton

Posts: 2 Join date: 2011-10-23 Bike: 08 KTM 530 EXC-R

New rider. Just getting into it with my kids. Bought a use '08 530 EXC. It worked great for several months.

The e-start started working less and less reliabley so I started using the kick starter more.

Today, the kick starter stopped working. I can rotate it out away from the bike but it will not rotate down (starting motion). It's lke it's frozen in place.

Am I totally screwed?

I felt like a complete dumb ass today. I have this really nice bike and I was sweating my butt off running up and down a hill trying to jump start it.

Thanks in advance for any pointers

Admin Posts: 971 Join date: 2009-01-01 Bike: 10 KTM 530EXC

Rook wrote:

New rider. Just getting into it with my kids. Bought a use '08 530 EXC. It worked great for several months.

The e-start started working less and less reliabley so I started using the kick starter more.

Today, the kick starter stopped working. I can rotate it out away from the bike but it will not rotate down (starting motion). It's lke it's frozen in place.

Am I totally screwed?

I felt like a complete dumb ass today. I have this really nice bike and I was sweating my butt off running up and down a hill trying to jump start it.

Thanks in advance for any pointers

Welcome to the forum

The 530 is a excellent bike although there are a couple small issues that are easily taken care of. First since you have a 08 model you want to make sure that you have the updated cam installed. The 08's came with a "mirrored" cam shaft where the auto decompression device was assembled backwards at the factory, leaving it in a non-operable state. It can cause hard starting issues and add extra stress on the electric starter system. Article on the cam here: CLICK HERE

Second there is a known issue with the starter torque limiter slipping...allowing the engine to turn over with the electric start but not quite fast enough to actually start the engine. Here's a How-To article on fixing it: CLICK HERE

Not sure on the manual kick starter...I'd open up the side cover and take a look, good chance it's just something simple.

There are a few other need to do things like correct jetting, de-smogging etc. If you have any questions feel free to post them up and hopefully one of us can help out

.

Hodakaguy

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Subject: Re: Inntroducton 10/24/2011, 2:13 am

Welcome!

Pop the side cover off and take a look. I did my updates.

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Subject: Re: Inntroducton 10/24/2011, 2:26 am

Welcome, HI!

Subject: Re: Inntroducton 10/24/2011, 3:49 am

Welcome to the Forum, did the engine turn over when you tried to bump start? Not a easy task on the 530.

Posts: 2 Join date: 2011-10-23 Bike: 08 KTM 530 EXC-R

There is a really nice KTM mechanic about an hour from me. He suggested trying to roll in backwards while in sixth gear. Said it might un-jar something simple.

Next step is to replace the battery and get the battery tender that everyone suggested when I first got the bike.

I'm new to the DIY scene so I get nervous about doing more damage than good taking things apart on a bike this nice.

The mechanic is real cool, the first time I went to see him he offered to give me a mutli-hour tutorial on the bike and upkeep so I could do more on my own. Couldn't take him up on it at the time but I will eventually.

This forum is a great source of information. Thanks for all the comments.