Hello again, it's been a while since I've been seen on here begging for help! it's been a long winter here in Saskatchewan. I'm patiently preparing my enduros to ride as soon as the temperatures warm up.okay, so this has had me scratching my head since last summer. It's never been right since I got the new engine, which is supposedly from an RT2 351cc. The kickstart lever only goes onto the spindle about half way, so the kickstarts always slowly knock it off, grind the teeth down etc. I've had the kickstart mechanism off trying to figure out why, can't get it figured. I'm wondering if the cover plate is from a different bike or something?ill attach pics for the OG's to take a look at, and hopefully help me solve this thing!thanks in advance,Johnny

Have the same issue with mine but my one is my fault as built a motor out of what i had & ended up with a short shaft & long case. Mine is hanging in there by luck more than anything. Is there room to slice a bit off the back of the boss to get it further on. Not sure if its possible to drill the shaft & use a high tensile 6mm alen screw & washer just for safety. I'm not sure of the part number but other things on the correct shaft might be different to just swapping what you have onto a new shaft.

Check the engine number in the VIN list . That clutch cover has the gearchange shaft exiting through the cover .
RT2 / 3 didn't have that feature . I suspect you have an RT1 motor , or bottom end .
Kickstart lever is different between RT1 and RT2 , but both use the same kickstart shaft , so perhaps there is damage
to the splines on the kickstart shaft .

Might be the 250 that had the short shaft. Here's a few pics of my 250 & 360 [not easy to get to the 250] you can see how 250 case is shorter using a shorter shaft--which i think was my only option in my junk to use in my 360 but wider case. Might be the 250 that had the short shaft. Here's a few pics of my 250 & 360 [not easy to get to the 250] you can see how 250 case is shorter using a shorter shaft--which i think was my only option in my junk to use in my 360 but wider case.

Maybe i'm losing it [again] but #0 in the link shows a 308 shaft which "looks longer" than the 214 shown down in #13. To me 214 relates to a 250 DT1. Maybe i used one of those in my 360. Can see a different layout of parts, different spring. I dunno. time for a coffee.
www.partzilla.com/catalog/yamaha/motorcy...970/rt1/kick-starter

 

To expand on what Swoop56 and RT325 said based on what I have seen over the years:

The kickstarter lever was changed 3 times. The one in the parts diagram has the first version pictured, this was fragile and broke. It has the 4 o'clock pinch bolt. (And everyone looking to restore a '68 knows how rare they are). The one on the left in the picture is the upgraded version that was used up through '71. The one on the right came on the '72 and '73. It is much thicker.

The previous owner of one of my RT1B ground down a thicker one to make it fit. This could work for you if you can't get a second version.

 
 

Thanks guys! I found one on eBay, over $100 , but looks thinner. its from a 1970 RT1 according to the description.

It looks thin like the one 1971DT250 posted above ^^.

I'll keep you all updated ,

thanks again.

Johnny

Give us a pic please with your lever removed & lets see if you have a full spline sticking out. Looking at the pic of the two above if yours is like 'that', could you slice some off the inner edge & save $100 & get it far enough on the spline to have the 8mm bolt engaged in the groove. Actually i think on mine i might be running a 1/4 high tensile bolt as can't get far enough on--dodgy things i do. I have one of those narrow levers & its bent like a banana but came like that in box of bits.
Ok looking back at my pics i see i do have an 8mm very high tensile but might be a wasted bolt that steps down a little on un-threaded part. probably screwed it in then tapped it on complete with bolt as step bit will be right under the spline.

Jogar,

I have a good kickstarter lever that has been shaved down so it fits both the short and long kick shafts on the early DT250's and RT360's. It's much cheaper then the one you see on e-bay for $100. But doesn't look like your in the U.S.?  so shipping might cost to much?  PM if interested.