MOPED ARMY

If it's a friction you feel for 1/3 to 2/3 of the pedal circles,it may be a bent pedal shaft,or misaligned or bent engine case.If it's a constant friction,it's probably a bearing that's seizing or somebody didn't get a thrust washer back in where it's supposed to be.Just guessing!

The old Sachs parts bike I have does have one Ree.But he said the flywheel was disengaged,so there wouldn't be any need of compression release,would there?I don't know my Sachs' either.But I think they're pretty well-built engines.

Ree,

The decompressor is only used for starting the engine and is only needed on peds with a centrifugal starting clutch. Without a decompressor, when you begin peddaling, the clutch begins to engage, the engine drag prevents the rpms from increasing to where the clutch can fully engage and you just wind up generating heat (and sweat), while slipping the clutch. The decompressor allows the engine to turn easily enough for the clutch to reach full engagement speed, then you release the decompressor and away you go.

As an example, my Motobecanes and my Batavus have almost identical engines, with no transmission and a simple external belt drive from the engine crank to the pedal crank. The only real difference is that the Motobecanes use a centrifugal starting clutch with a decompressor and the Batavus uses a manual (no slip) starting clutch and no decompressor.

Ron