tjt4792
I would not be concerned about breaking a sweat and still not being able to get your bike started. If your sprag is locked up, each time you tried to kick start your bike you were also turning the gears to the starter motor as well as trying to get enough thrust to turn the engine past TDC and compression. Small wonder you were breaking a sweat! All of us would have been doing the same thing, sweating with the same results. You will be glad to know your bike will be easy to start, once the sprag guts are out.
When one of us says he can do it with his hand, believe it --- he can. Just be sure the gas line is on, after you faithfully shut it off each time you get off your bike at the end of your last ride. Also be sure the kill switch is in the run position. This is basic to starting the bike. Then, --- leave the ignition switch off. Activate the decompressor and if it's a cold morning, also activate the enricher, then push the kick start lever all the way down several times to get an air fuel mixture into the inside of the engine barrel. Now, turn on the ignition, lift the kick start lever all the way to the top and push down until you feel the piston in the engine coming up on compression, even with the decompressor activated you should still be able to tell when the piston is coming up to the top. Then let the decompressor close and push down on the kick starter all the way to the bottom. That should do the trick and your engine will fire usually on the very first kick. Leave the enricher on for a short while and then shut it off while the engine warms up prior to starting off. If you can't get it to fire, the most likely reason will be your spark plug. Remove it and look at it. If it's sooty and wet, do your self a favor and install a new one. Then go through the routine again and I'll bet you will experience --- Joy.
Best to you and ride safely.
Neil and Buzzy the Bullet.
ps. Most of us can do it blindfolded, some blindfolded and by hand. Get the knack down pat and when you stop for gas and people gather around to watch and ask why your doing that you can reply " I only do it when I want to ride it"