The kick start lever of my Montesa Cota 348 is bended out of shape. Can I try to straighten it (without heating) with a hydraulic press or will it shatter?

I wouldn't recommend putting it into a press. However, you might get away with it if the bend is not too severe. if you do decide to do that (and you've nothing to lose really), be ready to get the credit card out if it does shatter.

Putting heat on it will not make any difference in my opinion.

If it is a standard 348 kickstart lever, it will bend OK cold but it will be much easier to bend if you heat it up. A standard lever will not shatter. Either way you will be wrecking the plating finish.

It must have taken quite a hit to bend it out of shape as they are very strong - as you will find if you try and bend it cold.

Hi Jaan,

If you want to save the chrome, I recommend heating the kickstart up prior to bending, with boiling water from a kettle, it's better than cold bending.

Bye, PeterB.

Thanks guys for info!

Hi Jaan

I bouhgt an old 348 with a bent shaft as well. All I did was took the screw out of the top, made sure to catch the spring and the little ball bearing in there and then put the shaft in a vice with bits of aluminium on the jaws to stop damage to the chrome. Get a piece of pipe long enough to snnuggly fit over the top of the shaft and bend it back where it should be. Those levers are built like tanks and will not break. Belldane