I would be interested to here from anyone who has purchased an Alton electric start conversion kit. I quite fancy one but due to the cost of the kit I would like to know a little more about how they work in practice. My Commando 850 MK11A has a 55/60 H4 Halogen head lamp and electronic ignition fitted, with a 180 watt 3 phase alternator. I run with my head lights on and the alternator seems to cope with the load around town.
The MK 111 electric start commando with a 180 watt single phase alternator was known to struggle to keep the battery charged with lights on.
The Alton has a 150 watt single phase alternator would this be sufficient to keep the battery in a healthy state of charge with head lights on at moderate speeds around town?
I would interested to here from any one has purchased one.
Hi Peter - I was intereste…
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Thanks mark I found your c…
Thanks mark I found your comments very interesting.
My present 180 watt alternator with bridge rectifiers and twin zener diodes seems to balance the load with lights on at about 2500 RPM.
I have one of those tri colored LED indicators fitted in the head light shell in place of the warning light assimilator which flashes red( rather confusingly) up until about 12.25 volts then changes to amber and from amber to green at about 13.20 volts.
If the Alton 150 watt alternator can charge the battery at a similar RPM I think it would be OK to keep the battery in a healthy state.
I share your concerns about the sprag clutch however I think it would be relatively easy to replace (if it were to fail) on the Alton setup.
And of course the Alton kit is reversible.
I am interested in this kit but I would like to hear a few impartial reviews before I take the plunge.
Thanks Peter
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Here a link to a video I m…
Here a link to a video I made of a demo of the Alton starter:
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You can see,also,a small r…
You can see,also,a small report on the french site : motos-anglaises.com : forum,page3,author Jeandr, dÃ?marreur norton commando,on this adaptable starter for commando squads conceived in France by ALTON.
Regards, Francis
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Hi Peter - I was interested in you questions as I'm in a similar situation - I haven't purchased this system yet (note that Norvil now market a system which I'm pretty sure is the Alton kit circa £1300.+ VAT. I too have a MK2A (now 920cc) fitted with a 180w 3-phase alternator and Boyer Power Box regulator system. I have fitted a voltmeter into the headlamp shell and find that with lights on I see about 13.5v during normal riding (3000+ RPM). When idling this drops to about 9-10v (this might be low enough to 'upset' an old Boyer ignition system - I have Tri-Spark Classic-Twin which works fine). It too feel that a 150w alternator may be a liitle 'small' if it's to keep a battery up 'to scratch' to spin an electric starter reliably in all conditions. I reckon there a a few options:-
1) Fit as big a battery as possible (limitations are under-seat space, battery tray size etc.
2) Rather than use the headlight fit a 'daytime riding light' (lower wattage but bright enough - - )
With repect to the overall Alton design the only other slightly 'suspect' aspect is the use of a sprag clutch - this always seem to be the achilles heel of many ES systems (my 2007 Enfield Electra X sprag clutch disintegrated 3 months out of warrantee - not too expensive but a bit of a pig to replace.) I gather that the sprag on the Mk3 Commando was also known as a weak-point. Brit Bikes in the USA produce a ES system for Commandos which utilises a 'Bendix' type engagement system which seems a better idea however the system is very expensive and looks to be a major job to fit.
I know Alton produce a ES system for Vincent twins but have also heard that some Alton products are a little 'suspect'.
My Commando is fitted with a belt primary (RGM) which works well - Norvil state that a ES system for belt drives will be available in the Autumn - they don't state whether this is for a specific belt drive or for any type.
I was keen on ES as my Commando has been a bit of a pig to start however a few weeks ago I replaced the single 34mm Amal Mk2 carb with a new pair of 32mm Mk1s - I checked and adjusted the ignition timing and now it startseasily first-kick every time (hot or cold) - with this improvement I reckon I'll wait a while and see how the Alton/Norvil system 'pans-out'.
Cheers,