1. Why Does The Kick Starter Get Damaged?
Some users may notice:
The kick starter suddenly becomes very hard to press
Extremely high resistance
The large gear spins freely
Kick starter mechanism damage
If this happens:
DO NOT force the kick starter.
In most cases,
the issue is NOT the kick starter itself.
The real cause is:
The engine cylinder has become flooded with excessive fuel.
2. What Is “Flooding” / Hydraulic Lock?
Too much fuel enters the cylinder.
Liquid fuel cannot compress like air.
When you continue forcing the kick starter,
the entire starter mechanism absorbs huge resistance.
This can easily damage:
-
Starter gears
-
Kick starter shaft
-
Internal transmission parts
3. The Two Main Causes Of Flooding
Cause 1 — Holding The Choke Too Long (Most Common)
During starting,
many users press the choke with their finger
to use vacuum pressure to pull fuel into the carburetor and cylinder.
This is correct.
However:
Many users hold it too long.
This allows excessive fuel to enter the cylinder.
Eventually causing flooding.
Correct Method:
Press the choke for only 2–3 seconds.
Once you see:
-
Fuel moving through the fuel line
-
Fuel reaching the carburetor area
STOP pressing immediately.
Do not continue holding the choke.
Otherwise the engine can easily flood.
Cause 2 — Fuel Mixture Adjustment Too Rich
The carburetor allows fuel quantity adjustment.
Some users increase fuel flow too much,
thinking it will help starting.
Instead,
this often causes excessive fuel entering the cylinder.
Carburetor Adjustment Direction
-
Tightening = Less fuel
-
Loosening = More fuel
Very Important:
The engine has already been factory tuned.
The stock air-fuel ratio works for most gasoline types.
Normally:
Large adjustments are NOT necessary.
If starting is difficult:
Only make very small adjustments.
Do NOT over-adjust the carburetor.
4. What To Do If The Kick Starter Becomes Very Hard?
If you notice:
Abnormally high resistance
STOP immediately.
Step 1 — Open The Throttle Fully
Open the throttle completely to release pressure.
Step 2 — Remove Excess Fuel
Drain some fuel if necessary.
Step 3 — Rotate The Engine
Use:
-
Electric starter
or -
Gentle kick starting
to rotate the engine.
This helps remove excess fuel from the cylinder.
Step 4 — Clear The Cylinder Completely
Continue rotating until:
-
Fuel stops spraying
-
No obvious fuel remains
Step 5 — Restart Normally
Reassemble everything properly and restart the engine.
If any parts are damaged, please contact us at service@vortrixe.com.
It is best to include photos of the damaged parts so we can quickly identify the issue.
We keep most common replacement parts in stock and can usually arrange shipment immediately.
5. Final Tips (Very Important)
Do not hold the choke too long
2–3 seconds is enough
Never force the kick starter
Stop immediately if resistance feels abnormal
Do not over-adjust the carburetor
Factory air-fuel ratio already works for most gasoline
Vortrixe Technical Support Team