09-08-2019, 09:02 PM
A kick - where the starting handle flicks back strongly or weakly occurs when the spark fires. With the timing as set on my Ruby, I can feel a weak kick as I turn the engine over slowly every half turn as the cylinders fire in turn - I think because the handle is turned gently, giving a low compression at ignition, the kick is slight. Once, when I had the ignition too far advanced during setting, I pulled the handle quickly to start the engine, it kicked back hard and ripped the handle out of my hand. Obviously, the other force felt on the handle is the compression force from each cylinder as the engine is rotated - this is not so strong on my car - other engines I have owned have had much more compression, but this is a steady build up as each piston on compression rises in turn and separate from any 'kick'.
Colin
Colin