A kick-starter return spring may look like a simple coil-and-leg part, but a mismatch may not be obvious until it is fitted. For a wholesale RFQ, the useful evidence is the vehicle and engine identification, a traceable part reference, clear orientation photos, supplier-confirmed dimensions, and an agreed sample check. A product photo helps identify shape; it does not prove fitment or interchangeability.
Quick answer: do not approve a kick-starter return spring from a photo alone. Send the exact model, year, engine code, market, reference source, and views that show both spring legs and the installed orientation. Ask the seller to confirm the drawing or sample in writing before you release a bulk order.
- Keep the OEM or buyer reference separate from the seller’s SKU.
- Request dimensions and winding/orientation details with units and a stated viewing direction.
- Agree sample acceptance, MOQ, pack quantity, price basis, and shipping terms in the quotation.
Does a photo or part number prove fitment?
No. A photograph can show the coil and leg arrangement, but it cannot establish every dimension, the installed stops, the free position, or whether the part matches a particular motorcycle. A reference number is useful only when its source and application are confirmed. Ask the supplier to state which make, model, year, engine code, and market the reference applies to, and what evidence supports that cross-reference.
For example, the current VOBOM listing for MC-2327 shows reference 28281-K1M-T00, while its application field is not provided. Treat it as a candidate reference, not a confirmed fitment. Request seller confirmation for your exact vehicle before ordering. The starter return springs category shows the current listing.
What should a wholesale buyer include in the RFQ?
Send one row per spring variant. If two samples look similar but have different references or leg positions, keep them as separate lines until the supplier confirms they are interchangeable.
| RFQ field | What to provide | What the seller should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Make, model, year, engine code, and destination-market version | Whether this exact configuration is covered by the stated application |
| Reference | OEM number or source document; buyer’s internal SKU, if used | Seller’s matching reference and the source of the cross-reference |
| Photos or sample | Top and side views, both leg ends, installed position, and a scale reference | Whether the sample/drawing matches the requested orientation and variant |
| Dimensions | Any available drawing or measured sample, with units | Which spring dimensions and operating details are relevant, and their confirmed values |
| Order | Quantity by variant, requested pack size, and sample requirement | MOQ, pack quantity, quote validity, production timing, and shipping basis |
How should the spring geometry be documented?
Ask the supplier which measurements define the replacement and how each is taken. A torsion-spring data sheet may use fields such as wire diameter, outside diameter, body length, leg length, coil count, free position, winding direction, and torque at a stated deflection. Lee Spring’s torsion-spring catalog is one example of a technical format; it is not a fitment reference for this motorcycle part.
For the RFQ, label units and the viewing direction. A top-down photo can make the leg positions easier to compare; a side photo helps show the coil body; a close-up should show both ends. If you have an installed photo, mark where each leg contacts the assembly. A ruler in a photo is a visual aid, not a substitute for a supplier-confirmed drawing or measured sample.
How do you approve a sample before a bulk order?
- Match the sample to one written RFQ line and one reference; do not combine variants.
- Compare the supplier drawing or confirmed measurements with the buyer’s reference sample.
- Record the agreed fitment evidence and acceptance points in the quotation or sample approval record.
- Keep a dated photo of the approved sample and note any change before production.
If the sample cannot be checked on the intended assembly, state that limitation in the approval record and ask the supplier what additional evidence is available. Do not treat a visually similar sample as approved for every model in a broad application list.
What should the wholesale quotation state?
Ask for the MOQ and pack quantity separately; confirm whether the quoted unit is one spring or a set. The quote should identify the approved reference or drawing revision, quantity per variant, sample status, unit-price basis, quote validity, packing details, lead time, and destination-specific freight terms. Confirm shipping-carton dimensions and gross weight separately if you need a landed-cost estimate. Product price and freight should not be blended into an unexplained total.
Frequently asked questions
Can I order by photo alone?
No. Use photos to compare visible shape and orientation, then confirm the reference and dimensions with the seller.
Does a number printed on a listing confirm the motorcycle application?
No. Ask the supplier to identify the source of the number and confirm the exact model, year, and engine code in writing.
Should I place the full quantity before checking a sample?
For a new or uncertain variant, ask whether a sample or documented drawing check is available and agree how it will be accepted before approving bulk production.
Preparing an RFQ? Send the model, year, engine code, reference source, quantity by variant, destination, and clear photos through our wholesale inquiry page. We can route the details for supplier confirmation. Browse the wider motorcycle parts catalogue for related sourcing categories.