Norton Electra starter

Are you sure that the problem is not a weak battery?

Paul

Byron,

There is a washer missing behind the circlip as you suggest.

The way the starter engagement works is not immediately obvious.

The large starter sprocket has to rotate for the first few degrees while the dished wave spring stays still . The relative motion of the two is what drives the engagement pegs up the slots. Place the dished spring with it's outside against the stationary steel face.

In your case the dished washer is rotating with the large starter sprocket and the pawls are not engaging.

Replacing the missing washer under the circlip will flatten the dished washer some more and help it to stay still by pressing the large diameter harder against the stationary face.

I'm sure the first Norton design used one thin dished spring with slots. Notice how your spring is made up of 3 springs plied together. Norton probably experienced insufficient drag of dished spring relative to large sprocket. Simple fix.

With a bit of thought you can probably work things out. Roughen up the stationary surface with some emery cloth? Anything to gain friction and break any oil film.

Good luck

Peter H

Previously bryon_currington wrote:

Thanks a lot Peter that explains it very well. Bryon

Sorry I got your name wrong. Today, I'm going to be able to measure the washer you are missing. It's made of hardened steel.

I propose getting my apprentice to make you one in stainless, which should be good enough in this application, and I'll post it on to you.

No harm in him learning the art of turning on Monday.

This any use to you?

Forget the critics of stainless. Stainless only seizes against stainless of the same type. Nut against bolt in particular. Against the components of the sprocket assembly and circlip it will be fine.

Peter

Previously peter_holland1 wrote:

Previously bryon_currington wrote:

Thanks a lot Peter that explains it very well. Bryon

Sorry I got your name wrong. Today, I'm going to be able to measure the washer you are missing. It's made of hardened steel.

I propose getting my apprentice to make you one in stainless, which should be good enough in this application, and I'll post it on to you.

No harm in him learning the art of turning on Monday.

This any use to you?

Forget the critics of stainless. Stainless only seizes against stainless of the same type. Nut against bolt in particular. Against the components of the sprocket assembly and circlip it will be fine.

Peter

This is exactly where I am with the Electra, Peter. The gubbins spins and grasps the engine when cold and when hot, pah...any chance of a washer some time Peter. It might get my single steel dished washer to work.

By the way the three little pawls, very much like kick-start pawls, have a spigot sticking out, very strong steel. Mine bent. I remade them (second time!) with the shank of a 4mm drill!! Seemed a costly repair initially! But that bit works.

Trust you are well.