Kickstart shaft for 78 Auto

[PEZBerq]

Got my 78 AMX running after giving it a good head to toe inspection and addressing things like lubrication, gaskets, cables, seals etc  .  Usual stuff you expect after 30 years plus.  After a quick blat up and down the street it was time to test it for longer to go through all the gears, check jetting etc prior to taking it into the dirt.  Great anticipation  ......got it running and started to put on my helmet and gloves when the kick starter fell off onto the ground    Damn thing had sheared completely in half - looked like a clean break with no sign of a crack being there for a long time - nice bright fracture.  Anyone heard of this happening to these bikes before?  Unfortunately being an auto I couldn't push start it so back to the shed it goes until I can get a replacement shaft.  Anyone know of a source - NOS or used?

I'll post some photos of the bike for those interested shortly.  Cheers

[PEZBerq]

Here it is.  Pretty much unmolested and unrestored low hours original 78 390 Auto Motocrosser. It will be raced so wont stay this way for long!

[Canam370]

Mate, that is soooo nice! Sure you want to struggle and suffer through discovering that you might not find that shaft when you could dispose of the now pathetic carcass to a collector of auto's and save all the drama? Someone like,maybe,....me?

[Husky500evo]

That bike is a dead set piece of art . I have one of the same model, but it is a completely stripped basket case. After seeing those pictures, I might move mine up the order on my list of projects. Back in the day, I thought that Huskys of that era were ugly. Now I think that they are beautiful, so it must be an acquired taste.     

[Colin Jay]

I still have engine and other parts of the '78 390 AMX I bough new in 1978, in bit in boxes in the shed.  As to the kickstart shaft breaking, from memory I had at least 2 snap on me, which was one of several reasons that I ended up putting a 500 Yamaha engine into the frame. You pictures are just one more thing to encourage me to put the old girl back as she should be.

CJ