I read in other sites that folks with the 45" flatheads start on the second kick. I have to kick the hell out of mine. Are these just stories or am I missing something on the setup of my bike.

 

in my experience, any old bike has a certain combination to starting it. once the bike is dialed in, carb and timing, and you find weather it take two full throttle turns and chike 1/2 on to get it to start then youll have it. i had one that the choke full on, two complete twist of the throttle and held 1/2 open and it started 9 out of 10 times on the first kick, but i learned the combination.

 

Looks like Flatheads are a definite minority, but they are out there! My buddy just spent 7years redoing a '37 and Dec 23rd that bad boy came back to life. What a moment, now some fine tuning,(don't ask how many kicks it took), just understand that the motor had oil well circulated before before it fired. And an issue with the charging system should put him on the road as soon as the weather breaks!

 

I have a flathead in a servicar... I measure starting it in time, not kicks.

 

my older brother had a '37 80" flathead that he bought back in the mid 70's, drove down to Ky or Tn ( don't remember which ) & brought it back up to Mi, rebuilt it & sold it.

hmm,, i wonder

 

I have a 49 Flathead and in the summer it will start on the first kick...Of course unless there is a group of people watching..
with the ignition off,choke half way,retard the spark and lean the bike uprightfull throttle,2 kicks..close throttle turn the ignition on and watch it fire..