My 34L starts in 2-4 kicks when engine is cold. When engine is hot, I'm sweating and swearing after kicking 20-30 times if there are no downhill places to start by gaining some speed and release clutch to roll start.

It is good workout, but not for style :-)

I've searched the forum/internet but found no definitive answer...

Hi,
Karl got the pickup from his bike repaired:
http://www.tenere.co.uk/forum/viewtopic ... &start=260
He says, even thinking the word "start" makes the engine run...
Maybe ask him... how it´s been done.
Olli

PS. : I got (sometimes ) the same issue. But not that often.
But allways when I´m in full gear or standing on a ferry...

My 34l is much better since I recut the valve seats over the winter when I had it apart to replace some gearbox ingredients.
It had a few hissy fits last year hot starting usually at motorway tolls with a que of cars behind,I've done a trip this year and it was much better,I just usually give it one kick like I mean it and it goes.
I used to have to resort to giving it a few kicks with the throttle wide open to clear it if it didn't go fairly quickly hot.
It may also be worth checking valve clearances have not closed up,this is the most common cause of bad hot starting on the latest generation of formula one engine technology inspired,self destructing 4 stroke motocross bikes that seem to last even less time than a simple 125 2 stroke but cost a monumental amount of money when they've crapped themselves on a regular basis....I know it can be an expense sorting an xt motor but at least it will last quite a long time when done.

Troxx
Yes both things are critical at the moment of kicking when hot.Valve clearances and having an healthy pick uo coil.Normal coils have 2 cables.This engine type have 3! so two magnets on the wheel too!If one coil starts to fail.......in my case it was like on yours.
Cold start perfect.Hot imposible untill it died totaly.One coil was fucked.
Went to a electronic CDI manufacturer here in BA who also repairs CDI units.They rebuild both coils to new standart using todays materials.Really easy to start now.
Karl

Ok,.. thanks to Fred, Marc & Karl :-)
This is what to check/do:

• healthy pick up coil
  recut the valve seats
  check the valve clearances

I searched some for guides, but didn't find anything specific to xt 600, an image/video of what to replace/fix would probably help a lot.
I did an google image search for "pick up coil" but can't figure out what to check.
"recut the valve seats", is that something I can do?
"check the valve clearance", probably something i can do, but what is correct clearance?

A friend of mine thought it was a rich fuel mix, so did the bike seller.

I will give you some info later, gotta go shopping.

Mezo.

I would check the resistance of stator with a multimeter set on ohms,I usually use west country windings in essex for stators and pulse coils etc,they are usualy pretty helpful and give test values so you can confirm before sending off to them for rewind.you can find them on tinternet,they do a pretty fast turnaround usually.
From what experience I've had your probably better getting your original items rewound than going with any of the replacement parts from like electrex world,I've had a few new components which didn't work from out of the box.
Then check valve clearances which is a fairly easy task as no bloody shims to sod about with.
Good luck.

I would check the resistance of stator with a multimeter set on ohms,I usually use west country windings in essex for stators and pulse coils etc,they are usualy pretty helpful and give test values so you can confirm before sending off to them for rewind.you can find them on tinternet,they do a pretty fast turnaround usually.
From what experience I've had your probably better getting your original items rewound than going with any of the replacement parts from like electrex world,I've had a few new components which didn't work from out of the box.
Then check valve clearances which is a fairly easy task as no bloody shims to sod about with.
Good luck.

OK you have it worked out, you know the specs? i have the 34L factory books here.

Mezo.

I guess the specs for valve clearances are here (in german, witch i don't speak, but can read to some degree):

this illustrates better I think:

I have some pdf-manuals in english to but probably not the 100% correct ones(think its not for 34L, but some of the other early xt600's).

I have a multimeter, and think I know where to measure on bike, but i don't know what values i should get.

How to adjust fuel/air-mix I don't know, but might have some help from a friend.