The BSA A7-A10 Forum
Technical (Descriptive Topic Titles - Stay on Topic) => Lucas, Ignition, Charging, Electrical => Topic started by: LJ. on 10.08. 2009 10:18
-
Well it's been discussed briefly on a couple of other forums, so its time it was discussed here. What do you guys think to the idea of an electric starter on our A7 & A10s?
I was lucky enough to meet Steve two or three weeks ago at the BSAOC Wiltshire branch camp. I must say that I was impressed with his design although before hand and from reading another forum I was a bit sceptical.
There was nothing much to see when peering underneath his bike as the starter was very discreetly hidden away. There is no doubt after my looking over this, that this will be a winner to those who wish to keep riding these bikes well into older age. Take a look at his well made YouTube video, it says it all really.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuvKy9l75u4
-
seen some pic of the one Pearson has installed on Goldies.. looks quite neat as its a small chain to the front sprocket on the primary drive ( must have some sort of sprag clutch )
So the bike can be started in gear.. quite useful off road....
A10s are is quite easy to start in any case .. But I find the E start most usefull when two up and with luggage *smile*
would like to make it my self rather than buying a kit as they are quite dear.. any one got detailed plans?
ray
-
Please!! Don't compare this with the Pearson starter. Steve's has no chain or moving parts once the starting process is complete. They will also be available for the B31, B33 and Goldies and won't even need the use of a decompressor when starting these models.
The kickstart mechanism is also retained with Steve's method so you will have the best of both worlds.
As LJ stated, this is sooooooo neat and tidy and I had a job trying to find the starter motor on Steve's bike.
Beezageezauk.
-
Is it a one off project for him or does he intend to sell the conversion? If available, where can we get pricing and installation information? Is it available as a kit or does he have to install it? Etc Etc Etc. I'm really interested especially since my restoration work on the A10 is in it's initial stage (The 'look at all these bits spread around the garage floor that need work or replacement' stage!) and incorporating it would be less hassle than on a completed bike. Anyone with contact information please?
-
Alan... Steve does have a website... www.startyourbsa.com The project is in its very early stages and I think from reading the website, he needs to fit the kit himself for the first few customers and until he is 100% sure of the product he is selling. Have a read of the website its very informative!
-
I have given Steve a firm order for one to be fitted on my S/R and he informed me I would be No. 12.
I also asked Steve about having it fitted to a bike with a belt primary drive and he thinks that he has that covered as well.
A65,s are in the pipeline as well and even plungers are going to be looked at
The cost i beleive will be about £800 a small price to pay for something that will enable one to ride well into old age when legs and hips are not at there strongest.
Richard
-
Personally, if I could not cope with the kickstart I would trade in the BSA for a more modern bike like the Hinckley Bonnie. Some modifications like uprated brakes, tyres and lighting do make sense, to cope with present day traffic conditions but to me the starting procedures are part of what makes our bikes different and special. I suppose I'm a bit perverse though, when I had the Honda XBR500 I rarely bothered with the electric start as it was more satisfying to use the kickstart. My India Enfield has a Mikuni type carb with no tickler and it always feels wrong somehow, not having to tickle the carb. I free off the clutch before starting, using the kickstart. I suppose this would still be required if an electric start was fitted.
-
Ok....so what do we do with our bikes when we are too old to start them??
Put them in the back of the shed and let them rot??
Try to sell them to the younger generation who don't appear to have much of an interest in them anyway??
Break them and try to sell them as spares to those who decide to keep their own but can't start them??
Simply scrap them??
I suppose that there are other alternatives...like trading in them in for a modern bike but......
I would rather go for an electric start in order for me to persue my interest for as long as I possibly could!!
What do other members think??
Beezageezauk.
-
Would be interesting to know how many members own a A10 with a alternator I;E ex police bike. As you can see Steve,s bike is a alternator type. Personally I wouldnt rely on a dynamo to charge the battery needed to power a electric starter (they can hardly produce enough power for a decent halogen lamp regardless of 6v-12v or mrc2 / solid state regulators.The dynamo fitted to A7/A10 has always been its own downfall we all know A7/A10s are bloody nice bikes, but what a stupid design to mount and drive lucas dynamos on A series BSA,s compared to other makes/models using same type lucas dynamo ( apart from ajs/matchless singles). This has always been one of most hated jobs when working on my Goldflash (removing & replacing dynamo). I know some of you are lucky regarding using halogen lights/solid state regulators, but you cant deny they will never beat a good working alternator. Dave
-
Thats right, where do you stop? You want an electric start but then you are expecting too much of the dynamo so you have to make alternative charging arrangements.You also need a bigger battery so you really need to uprate the wiring. The normal kill type button could be used to operate a starter solenoid but they are not very well made so it would be best to go for a modern combined twistgrip / switch unit. You don't want people messing about pressing the starter button when you leave the bike parked so you need to fit some kind of ignition switch....... You end up with so many modern bits that you might as well have bought a modern bike.
-
Fido
Why so negative?
I have converted my electrics to 12volt some time ago and have a belt drive on the dynamo, I have a 11 amp hour battery in the usual place I have indicators which are 21watt lamps although I could convert them to led's I have an led rear lamp and a 23 watt pilot light for town use at night and a 40/35 watt headlight for out of town riding and have not had any charging problems so far. The reason I have indicators is for safer riding as I ride this bike more than I ride my modern Hinckley T100 (2003). I have only 5700 miles on the Triumph because I prefer to ride the A10 s/r. I already have a Paul Goff light switch on the bars because of the indicators and as for putting a hidden switch or key switch to isolate the starter that is minor and would not necessarily be seen, the same as the starter, battery etc.
I can start the bike with the kick start and am probably fitter than most 60 year olds but I want the starter on it for no other reason than wanting to improve my bike, I have just had the fork stanchions and seals with the progressive springs delivered and already have the Dow two way damping rods standing by, this will also be an improvement, yet if and when you see my bike it will still be a good looking BSA a10 and probably more desirable to many as there can be no excuse that it can't be started and by the way I have a mikuni fitted and I have no guilt trips about not wasting fuel and staining the drip plate all the time .
There is also an Alton alternator that will fit where the dynamo is and let?s not forget the belt drive I will want to fit at a later date.
This is not a dig at anyone but I have written all this to show that not all of us are purists but still enjoy like most on here, owning, riding, and tinkering/rebuilding BSA's so we should be a bit more positive when things come along to prolong our enjoyment and improve the safety of our old bikes in today?s world.
I rest my case
Richard
-
Hi
Well the reason I put hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours figuring out and designing this starter was from requests from numerous people over the years to do one. I have heard of so many people selling there bikes because the cant start them any more, and buying scooters ect instead because they can still ride and want to. If you have had your BSA for many years and enjoy riding it I am just giving people the opportunity to keep riding a bike they love and have been attached to. While working on it I have had allot of personal satisfaction in successfully completing the task, even if no one wanted one, I felt satisfied with my design and pleased with what I had achieved. In addition, since I have finished it, all the complimentary comments people have said to me have been quite flattering. Thank you all!!
Steve
*smile*
-
Anyone know what the weight penalty is?
There's probably a demand from owners of other marques of old bike too.
-
Well, there are varyng degrees of leg strength and leg usefulness at any age and, particularly, with advancing age. I am 61 and, thankfully, even if it takes several kicks, I still have the wherewithall to apply the force. It would seem that a person who could still give three or four good kicks on a well-tuned engine with a healthy mag may have a better chance of starting the bike than the electric starter (before the battery dies) on a poorly tuned bike that, maybe, has a sick mag. I guess my point is, if you think you need an electric starter because you can't do all the kicking reps it takes to get started, perhaps a tune-up and a mag rebuild is a better choice. For those who can no longer do any reps, we can be thankful to Steve for giving our mates the option to stay in the game. (Steve, it is clearly an excellent piece of engineering.)
Just for curiosity, I would like to know what the age is of the oldest person here, or known by those here (feel free to say "a bloke I know" even if it's you), that can still kick start an A7 or A10.
Richard L.
-
And a welcome to the forum, Steve.
e
-
My my, hasn't this one caused some discussion !
Firstly, welcome to the forum Steve.
Now to the question of wether an electric start is good or bad. I am not in favour of modifying these bikes unless absolutely necessary, I believe that riding them as they were is what owning an old bike is all about. If you want modern carbies etc then buy a modern bike. I am in favour of sensible mods that are unseen and make our bikes easier to live with eg. the DVR2.
However, if I ever get to the point that the only reason I can no longer ride my A10 is because I can not kick it over then I would be the first to fit one of these electric legs.
As to the capability of the dynamo to run the system I can not see any problem. I am no electrical expert but a sound dynamo with a properly working CVC unit would be easily capable of keeping the battery charged. I dont see how a electric start is going to stress the system, it only has to turn over a relitively (by modern standards) low compression motor of 325cc.
Just my thoughts.................
-
I think we?ll all agree in common that a classic bike requires a fair old amount of attention to keep them running at their best, and the most important thing, is that we continue to ?enjoy? doing the necessary maintenance demanded. A classic bike in excellent fettle should be very easy to start, especially if it has low compression pistons. When it starts easily you know it?s a happy runner, if you need to whirl the starter over a few times to run the bike then it cant be as happy as one that has had a Human leg kick, to get it going.
For me, the kick starting will always be that magical moment, giving that exciting feeling of ?will it or wont it? and how many kicks will she want from me today? (The A7, A10 is very much a sexy Lady!) An electric starter seems to take away all that, it seems to take away that special part of the relationship with the bike, although Steve?s device still allows the option to kick if you want to. Somehow I feel this might be cheating a little But! don?t get me wrong, I am fully aware that there are guys around who?s circumstances are very much different to mine, and I?m very pleased that this option is available to them.
The idea of an electric start is indeed attractive and I think I would have one primarily to restart if I had a pillion and a fully loaded bike with camping gear and I had stalled at traffic lights. Sometimes you need to put aside the romantic moments and get a move on.
Apart from reaching old age and needing an electric starter I think a whole lot of other situations ought to be thought of, for instant, would I still be able to pull the bike onto it?s centre stand? Would I still be strong enough to handle such a heavy bike and manoeuvre it around in small spaces? General health? Arthritis? Reflexes? etc.
Personally, I think that when my kicking days expire then I?ll hang up my helmet, boots and gloves and call it a day. Bet the girls?ll still remain in my shed though! (https://www.a7a10.net/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ljswain.btinternet.co.uk%2Fpictures%2Ficons%2Fwink.gif&hash=9f0f393e90ba00dc4e9ac1e5c2133ea690230c21)
-
Hi Richard
I'm all for an easy life but you must keep exercising your right leg, thats what your right legs for a BSA A10 kick starter,there's only one problem with the kick starter as you get older your right leg gets bigger
I know I'm coming on 76 and still kicking,but joking apart I must say Steve done a wonderful job with the electric starter good luck Steve.
Richard
-
I'm coming on 76 and still kicking
Blimey! Now this puts me to shame after what I put in my last post, heck I'm only 49! However Richard, (Broom34) I dont think you hold the record for the oldest A10 rider as there is a chap up Cumbia way who is well into his eighties, I think he is known as Jon the one. Perhaps someone could put me right without spoiling the very interesting thread we have here. *red*
-
I'm not trying to convert anyone to my point of view but the forum is here so that we can express our opinions. I have similar discussions with the Enfield riders. A lot of them spend hundreds of pounds fitting go faster bits and I always wonder why they bought a slow bike in the first place. *conf* I can well understand people wanting electric start, indicators, alternators, electronic ignition etc but the choice of bikes available with all that stuff is mind boggling.
-
All I can say is a BSA with an electric start conversion is still a BSA.
-
Fido,
and others,
I know the forum is here to chew things over and hopefully express our own opinion without causing offence to others and that is what my few words were meant to do,However I realise that we all have different opinions which makes this a great site as no one, well at least so far, has taken offence at any members opinion.
I have been riding since 1965 and mainly BSA's and I have no difficulty starting my bike,I have a modern bike with bright lights good handling smooth motor no vibrations comforatable seat and electric start BUT I prefer the BSA A10 S/R I ride it a lot and like many others think nothing about riding it 160 miles to Dover and 180 miles across to the far side of Belgium for a couple of days and then riding it back and it takes some stick from me as well.
So to me a modern carb and indicaters and other make it go better and more reliable bits are ok, it is still a BSA.
I have no difficulty kick starting my bike I just fancy the electric start
So I intend to modify my A10 with any thing that takes my fancy so long as it still looks like a BSA, its only money and I can not take it with me, and I do not want another modern bike.
-
Ok....so what do we do with our bikes when we are too old to start them??
Put them in the back of the shed and let them rot??
Try to sell them to the younger generation who don't appear to have much of an interest in them anyway??
Break them and try to sell them as spares to those who decide to keep their own but can't start them??
Simply scrap them??
I suppose that there are other alternatives...like trading in them in for a modern bike but......
I would rather go for an electric start in order for me to persue my interest for as long as I possibly could!!
What do other members think??
Beezageezauk.
get a much younger girlfriend to kick it over??
-
Well, there are varyng degrees of leg strength and leg usefulness at any age and, particularly, with advancing age. I am 61 and, thankfully, even if it takes several kicks, I still have the wherewithall to apply the force. It would seem that a person who could still give three or four good kicks on a well-tuned engine with a healthy mag may have a better chance of starting the bike than the electric starter (before the battery dies) on a poorly tuned bike that, maybe, has a sick mag. I guess my point is, if you think you need an electric starter because you can't do all the kicking reps it takes to get started, perhaps a tune-up and a mag rebuild is a better choice. For those who can no longer do any reps, we can be thankful to Steve for giving our mates the option to stay in the game. (Steve, it is clearly an excellent piece of engineering.)
Just for curiosity, I would like to know what the age is of the oldest person here, or known by those here (feel free to say "a bloke I know" even if it's you), that can still kick start an A7 or A10.
Richard L.
I am only 35, but I do have two metal hips fitted (I suppose you could consider these to be an aftermarket modification to myself). I manage to kickstart my A7ss reasonably well. Unfortunately I can only do it when it is on the centre stand and I can get a good swing at it. Obviously this is extremely inconvenient if I stall in heavy traffic, and there have been numerous occasions when I have had to wheel the bike up onto the pavement and put her on her stand just so that I can get started again and carry on. It's times like this when I really wish I had an electric start.
-
Obviously this is extremely inconvenient if I stall in heavy traffic, and there have been numerous occasions when I have had to wheel the bike up onto the pavement and put her on her stand just so that I can get started again and carry on. It's times like this when I really wish I had an electric start.
Obvious to everyone except the makers, BSA in this case.
-
[
I manage to kickstart my A7ss reasonably well. Unfortunately I can only do it when it is on the centre stand
Starting the thing is never a problem for me, but trying to get it on the centre stand... *eek*
Iain
-
LJ stated......there is a chap up Cumbia way who is well into his eighties, I think he is known as Jon the one. Perhaps someone could put me right without spoiling the very interesting thread we have here.
Yes LJ, you are thinking of John Hewitt from Warrington. He still regularly rides his A10. In fact he is going to the International Rally in Belgium via Spain and France. The direct route is too easy for him. He will be riding his A10 all the way and camping. I believe that there is a group of four riders doing this journey and John himself really struggles to kickstart his bike. He will be 81 years young in September.
This time last year he was asking for ideas regarding an electric starter. He might have one fitted by now!!
Pat Quinlan from Manchester (ex Treasurer of the UK BSAOC) can't use his B31 unless his son-in-law goes with him to kickstart the bike. I wonder how many more riders are in the same position and would welcome an electric leg??
As it is, I'm 64 coming up and so far I don't have a problem starting any of my BSA's but I often wonder what the future has in store. I'll certainly be getting a push button starter when the time comes.
Beezageezauk.
-
I have several Bikes ( in various states of dis-repair and use ) and am 53 *eek*
worst one to start is my 250 starfire... kicks back something rotten .. if you show it mercy, if used regular it starts fist boot.. but if not it is a real pain.. ( dont use it much I am afaid )
650 A10 has not been started for some time but from memory is a doddle to start ( this is my next project !!!!! )
the beast is my Suzuki dr600 which is kick start only. this bike is quite high ( I am not ), and has a single piston the size of a dinner plate !! however it does have a decompressor and a Knack to starting.. if kicked over a few times with the decomp in it to prime .. it will start first go.. but it kicks back with a vengence if you do not go for it ! its a dirt bike so if stalled in the mud it can be re-started in gear takes three hands !!clutch in, decomp sequence then hefty boot....
T500 cobra is a 500 two stroke twin.. can start it by hand!!! low comp..
the rest have no kick starts..so are electric only.. they are tall big traillie bikes I use for long distance touring.. loaded up and full of fuel, I guess they would be a hand full to boot over....
so what am I adding here? well yes the A10 is low and never had a button start, but as they were comuting bikes at a time when few folk had cars they were never really fully loaded with luggage etc, and as I intend to use the A10 in 'big traillie' guisse, an electric start would be useful. so I think it has its place.. £800 is steep though being able to start in gear is a bonus too
my two pence :-)
-
Ramo,
It may sound allot but there is a starter for Gold stars @ £1350, and someone is doing one for the vellocett and that is aprox £1230 (not including battery)
A Vincent one will set you back around £1380 (not including battery)
I have put such an amount of effort in making this possible and can only just manage to do the kit at that price. Most businesses would charge a mark up which would put it in the region of over £1000 for this, so it really is a good price for such an extensive peace of kit (there are around 100 parts that make up the complete kit) it includes a battery which has a retail price of £82
so i mine is over £500 cheeper than any other retro fitted starter!!!!!!!!
Steve
*smiley4*
-
Steve, keep up the good work. I sold my DBD34 Gold Star because of starting/knee problems (cue tears) so the thought of having an electric start on my RGS cheers me up no end. Just need to know in the coming weeks/months if you can perfect it for belt primary drive and which supplier. I had a Bob Newby system on the Goldie but whatever you say it works with is ok by me. PS Steve ever thought about SRM doing an alternator conversion with new outer casing to suit??
-
Hi Alanp,
A few people have been asking about the electric starter with a belt drive, I have a belt drive on one of my A10's and have just had a Tony Hayward drive delivered to my workshop and I was looking at modifying it to suet belt drives also, I think I would just about be able to fit it in, I have already found suitable seals for the bearings. I it will be a few weeks before I will know, there will be slight differences in the gears but the basic design will be the same
Steve
-
Steve
that will do nicely then just stick the spare hayward drive on my A10 at the same time as you stick the starter on
Rich
-
Ramo,
It may sound allot but there is a starter for Gold stars @ £1350, and someone is doing one for the vellocett and that is aprox £1230 (not including battery)
A Vincent one will set you back around £1380 (not including battery)
I have put such an amount of effort in making this possible and can only just manage to do the kit at that price. Most businesses would charge a mark up which would put it in the region of over £1000 for this, so it really is a good price for such an extensive peace of kit (there are around 100 parts that make up the complete kit) it includes a battery which has a retail price of £82
so i mine is over £500 cheeper than any other retro fitted starter!!!!!!!!
Steve
*smiley4*
Hi Steve,
no problem with the price mate, well done for sorting it, I know you are not profiteering :-) you will not be retiring to Bermuda soon :-) guess you will not even cover your hours spent :-) but for me I would rather spend the money sorting the bike.. perhaps later as a retofit to a running bike may be :-) well done though
cheers
Raymo
-
I have been getting quite a few peoples asking me if it will fit with a belt drive fitted, I have received a Tony Haywood belt drive kit and I am going to see if I can alter it to be able to fit.
I was wondering how many peoples have a belt drive and what make it is?
Steve
*smiley4* ????
-
Just for curiosity, I would like to know what the age is of the oldest person here, or known by those here (feel free to say "a bloke I know" even if it's you), that can still kick start an A7 or A10.
Richard L.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/2670673
Ok not a BSA rider, but Gordon is our local legend, still racing hard and 70 and races with his grand daughter.
I can see an electric leg being a useful addition, when I finally replaced my magdyno on my B33... actually having reliable 12v lights was a revelation. Ride them, its what they made them for, not as static museum pieces like a dodo or a dinosaur skeleton.
-
Steve.
I saw your SR at the BSAOC event in Kettering. - Its brilliant well done. Thanks for making it possible for us to keep going with our cherished BSA's as we get older instead of having to change to a more modern bike.
I am one of those people who likes to keep the character and experiences of the 1950's in my motorcycling, but surely this is a very useful mod along with the likes of 12volt lights, oil pressure gauge etc etc.
Its not in anyway ruining a perfectly good BSA by doing all that BS engine tuning you read of in here, - there is a reason to think if you want 100bhp, go and buy an R1
-
Steve.
oil pressure gauge etc etc.
A permanently installed Bowden gauge on the end of a tube is a built-in breakdown.
Its not in anyway ruining a perfectly good BSA by doing all that BS engine tuning you read of in here, - there is a reason to think if you want 100bhp, go and buy an R1
Can't say I've noticed much "BS" in the tuning stories.
If you want 100bhp, you can get it on a much smaller and cheaper bike than the 170+bhp R1.
-
I didnt say the stories were BS. Sadly I'm sure they're all true.
-
I'm keen on modern updates/aids so electric start is a plus for me and as for an oil pressure gauge, well I've bought an A10 which had seized up when its oil failed to return to the tank with its previous owner, so an oil pressure gauge mounted between the clocks will help put my mind at rest as I blat along. As far as it being a breakdown waiting to happen, ok agreed, but it has to be done properly in a correctly engineered way and someone I know with the gauge has not yet had any problem with it, in fact, on two occasions he forgot to open the oil valve (manual anti-sumping) on the oil line down to the engine and spotted it on the gauge before he had moved a few yards.
Regarding a belt drive primary (like on my Goldie) which I want to use to run a dry case, unfortunately with electric start the primary will still have to run with oil to lubricate the electric start gears, but a belt is preferred to a chain anyway, so electric start it is for me.
Hope to hear good news from Steve soon.
-
Good on ya Steve. Lectric leg. I've got a Super Rocket (work in progress), Velo Clubman, 450 R/T Ducati, and 750 VFR in the garage.
I get to ride the VFR. Why? -I'm the wrong side of 60, back operation recently. I'll never be able to afford Steve's starter, but I reckon go for it!
With various previous restorations I've kept them pretty well original with discreet improvements, but with the SR I wanted to feel as though I could creatively customise with a clear concience!
So I built it from bits. (Mind you it's a hard way to do it).
-Jools
-
well done steve im all for it and you can hardily tell its fitted to the machine
if i had some extra cash id get one but also id make sure nobody could start it
except me so id put another switch somewhere out of sight or put the starter button
behind the tool box
dave
-
Thank you all for your kind comments. I am working on the electric start to work with the belt drive primary at the moment and I should have it finished in a few weeks. I will update the web site with picture of it fitted to a bog STD primary and also with a belt drive. Ill let you know when I have done it *smile*
-
that will be interesting i have srm belt drive kit on mine
-
Hi,
I have updated the web site with some new pictures, some more by the end of the week; I will be fitting some of the first batch of
starters later on this week *smile*
I have also worked out a designed for use with a belt drive primary too!!
If there is proves to be enough demand I will make them........
Steve
-
Does anyone know if Steve Mcfarlane is still doing the A10 electric starter conversions? I have been trying to get an electric starter fitted to my bike since March. So far I have not had much luck, and he does not answer any emails that I send to him. Today I checked out his website http://www.startyourbsa.com/index.html and a message appears stating that the site is no longer active.
John
-
I believe so. Last I heard (a week ago)he was waiting on a new batch of gears to be made.
Seems to be a bit hit and miss answering emails.
Don
-
Fringedweller,
Thank you for that information. I will try to get in touch with him again.
John
-
Greetings, I am new to this forum but have a keen interest in A10's and currently own 3 of them. This electric start is of significant interest and I wonder if Steve McFarlane is at the point that he will ship them to Canada. Currently his web site is down and other notes in the forum suggest that email also does not work. If anyone has any info on the current status of this starter and better still how I can get in contact with Steve, it would be much appreciated. Thanks, Bob...
-
Sorry to see that it's difficult to get news about his project, have sent him an email with a reminder about the posts here, let's see if there is any reaction.
e
-
Hi Erling,
Thanks for your e-mail,
My computer was broken for a few weeks over the Olympics but I answered all the e-mails I received when I got it back.
The firm that made the web site was re-vamping it and it was off for a few weeks, I was NOT happy and told them to get it back on line ASAP
I have just tried to e-mail myself through the web site and I have not received either of them
When you e-mail through the web site it sends the e-mail to the web site hoister then it is forwarded to me and they don't seem to have been forwarded to me recently
I have spoken to the boss of the company today and hi is going to see if he can fix it tomorrow , and I have asked him to see if he can find the e-mails which must be somewhere in cyber space
I do answer all the e-mails and hopefully it will be receiving e-mails again soon
Regards,
Steve
You can e-mail me through this forum if you have any questions.
I am sent these as kits to the USA, New Zealand, Australia, and Germany
And they have been fitted by competent people OK
This is an e-mail I got off the first person I sent one to in the USA,
I had asked him for any feedback he could give me, he sent the following e-mails:
Fred Hatcher
From Texas
USA
Hello Steave
I now have the starter on my bike, it works great. The instation went very well, all the instructions you gave me was spot on. I have started the bike more than 100 times. I can not thank you enough, this has made riding the A10 a so easy now. You did a very good job inventing the starter. The OHIO VALLEY BSA OWNERS CLUB had a nice write up about your starter and a picture of your bike on the cover. Steave I thank you so much for this. If any one here in the states has any questions about the starter they can email me. Mine works great. your friend Fred
He later added in reply to an e-mail I sent to him:
Steave you have my permission to post the email to your site. I am very happy with the quilty of the starter and your work. Any thing that I can do to help others with the fitting of the starter they can call me at 409 925 0318. thanks your friend Fred
-
G'Day Steve, One question, Is the kit for the plunger models, and how much shipped to Australia
P.M me patojp@bigpond.com
Thanks.
Pato
-
Hay pato if you can push that tractor of yours, you can kick start a BSA. *smile* And your not old enough ;)
Cheers
-
Just to give you all an update,
There is a 2 page article on page 48 of Old Bike Mart in August 2016 Issue
Steve
link to page http://issuu.com/mortons-digital/docs/obmaug16preview/9?e=7600234/37522696
-
Well, there are varyng degrees of leg strength and leg usefulness at any age and, particularly, with advancing age. I am 61 and, thankfully, even if it takes several kicks, I still have the wherewithall to apply the force. It would seem that a person who could still give three or four good kicks on a well-tuned engine with a healthy mag may have a better chance of starting the bike than the electric starter (before the battery dies) on a poorly tuned bike that, maybe, has a sick mag. I guess my point is, if you think you need an electric starter because you can't do all the kicking reps it takes to get started, perhaps a tune-up and a mag rebuild is a better choice. For those who can no longer do any reps, we can be thankful to Steve for giving our mates the option to stay in the game. (Steve, it is clearly an excellent piece of engineering.)
Just for curiosity, I would like to know what the age is of the oldest person here, or known by those here (feel free to say "a bloke I know" even if it's you), that can still kick start an A7 or A10.
Richard L.
Hello Richard.
I'm 77 almost and I'm still kick starting and lugging about an A7, A10 , B33, A65, and a Matchless G9 Oh plus a little BSA C15,
There's no age limit to motorcycling, I was with a chap last Sunday he is 83 and riding a 1300 machine and still likes speed.
TTJohn *smile*
adm edit: fixed quote
-
Well one of my customers boasted that he can still ride his A10 at 83 now he has got an electric starter fitted !!!
ALSO to my knowledge at least 6 or 7 people have now bought A7's or A10,s just because they can have an electric starter fitted to there new acquisition so that they can ride a B. S.A. whereas before the could not.
i have also fitted one ( as a one off ) to an Arial Huntmaster engine, as he could no longer start his bike, he had sold all his other bikes as he could no longer kick start them, he rode his bike over from Bristol to show it to me
which is about 45miles away from me . so he is well capable of riding hid bike, so he is well pleased as he has had is bike for something like 45 to 50 years *smile*
-
hi guys, yes well done Steve, I'm just waiting for the belt drive version, shouldn't be that difficult now you have chain type, cheers
-
Yep Steve, that's brilliant stuff. Now I'd better get saving (or decide what to sell to finance it!!!)
Personally my problem is the 'ammer 'n tack, (I bet I'm not alone there), engine tune is not an issue since I had my mag reco'd.
-
[
I manage to kickstart my A7ss reasonably well. Unfortunately I can only do it when it is on the centre stand
Starting the thing is never a problem for me, but trying to get it on the centre stand... *eek*
Iain
putting a 1938 rudge ulster on centre stand so simple pull the lever and up she goes
-
Anyone fitted one of these of late? What's the latest on them please.
Kicking mine over is becoming less easy for me, have to get off the bike and centre stand it.
-
Me too! (No def' not the 'me-too' crap!!!')
I'm down to my GT500 (kickstart- although two banger twin so not too hard), my beloved Velocette Clubman, and my 'partscaster' S.R.
You there Steve? Electric legs available?
-Jools
-
Steve has a nine month waiting list for installation or four - six weeks for kit supply.
Suits me next winter
-
Hi John
They are available as a self fit kit the instructions have step by step pictures with captions or I can fit them at my workshop but ther is a long waiting list for me to fit one in Cardiff, South Wales
regards
Steve
-
This might be a question for John Chaterlea.?
Yesterday I decided to change the gearbox oil from 30 grade engine oil (as BSA recommended) to Gear Oil 80-90 (both similar in viscosity), and add some slippy stuff to quieten the 3rd gear growl and hopefully to improve shift. Nothing wrong with the 30 grade - fairly new.
However, the starter motor is in the way for access to the drain plug (You'd have thought I would have thought of this before *doh*). I could get it out with much spanner work, but no finger access to get the thread started to reinstall the plug. I decided to leave it alone but add some slippy (Penrite Shift-eze 10%).
Next option is to remove the outer cover and tilt the bike over, or remove the gear indent plunger??
Any easy solutions?
-
G'day Col.
If removing the plunger gives you enough room that would be my first attempt. Just count the threads. Bike on it's side would be even better.
Cheers
-
seen some pic of the one Pearson has installed on Goldies.. looks quite neat as its a small chain to the front sprocket on the primary drive ( must have some sort of sprag clutch )
Wotcha.
There's no sprag clutch - the starter drive sprocket spins at roughly three times the crank speed. With two chains running side by side you can guess what's likely to happen. Twice now mine has had the starter chain snap and fly around with the clutch. Luckily it never locked the rear wheel.
I've removed the electric start - as far as I'm concerened it's just too dangerous to be used safely on the road. A pity really, 'cos it's a damn useful thing.
-
Hi All,
Col,
I have not looked at the problem of removing the drain plug (yet)
As Muskie suggested removing the indexing plunger might be easier?
Lone Wolf,
When I looked at the Pearson Goldie set up I did wonder about the speed the driving chain and its little sprocket shaft would do? I cannot remember now or where the sprag is on the GS set up, There has to be one
The A10 starter is gear driven and the gear spinning with the crank is not spinning at anything like speed of the GS small sprocket
I have the McFarlane starter fitted for two years now and am very happy with it
I changed the primary case oil last Friday as we were going on a trip on Saturday , It must have lost some since I last checked ??? but there was no metal in the drained oil
I filled with 10/ 40 motorcycle oil and taking a quick trip around the block felt it was running quieter ?
John
-
Hi John, Thanks for the reassurance that I'm not alone and thanks Musky for you putting me on the right track.
I have a spare gearbox which I want to go through soon. While swapping it over, I'll look at whether I can fit a 90 degree fitting to take the drain plug out to where I can access it - it would be well-protected by the starter motor. No rush yet - the Penrite Shift-eze has improved the gear changes and is a little easier to nudge it out of 1st when I stop. I took the bike out for a fast (for the BSA) 80 mile run today with the Newcastle Vintage Club. Faster than I would have normally, as there were no vintage bikes on the run - only moderns and big ones too!. It has done about 500 miles since overhaul and was a great opportunity to give it the berries and see if it would survive. It did with flying colours *yeah*. AND--- the electric starter worked a treat *yeah*.
Col