New to me '77 GS6 400

[cageyar]

Thanks to Steve Tanzella in MA, there's a GS6 400 in NJ:



First time I started a big bore 2-stroke in 30 years.
You have to kick it like you mean it....
Looking forward to bringing it all the way back.
Thanks Steve.

'10 KTM RC8R Akrapovic LE #21
'07 BMW R1200S Wossner

[Mike Lenz]

Yes some of the 400's will kick back too. Kick with boot on only!

[cageyar]

I bought a pair of Gaerne GX-1's after the work boot debacle.
It's OK - the numbness in my right ankle went away after 2 days....[B)]

'77 Penton GS6 400
'10 KTM RC8R Akrapovic LE #21
'07 BMW R1200S Wossner

[brian kirby]

Save your foot and the kick shaft some pain and do it like a big four stroke, just barely squeeze the piston past TDC, then recock the kicker and stomp it like you mean it. Always works for me, I have not had a bike kick back on me in 10+ years and that one was a big four stroke.

Brian

[Kip Kern]

I can sit on my 76 GS 400 and start it with my left foot one kick.  Make sure the timing is set properly or you will have the "backwards" thing happen. 2.4mm BTDC

[slvrbrdfxr]

I finished building my 77 400 GS6 in July 2014 and it started pretty easy with timing set at 2.4mm BTDC as Kip suggested and used Brian's starting technique. A couple other things that helped make it an easy starter were the factory compression release installed in the rear of the cylinder plus I had Jerry Birky at Penton Imports do the Carl Cranke mod on the cylinder head combustion chamber.
Dave McCullough