Replacing a kickstart with electric start...

Hello Peter.

Love the combination! Mad Max meets Norton!

Regarding your query, assuming you already have the original chaincase, it's just an exercise in collecting parts. Reference to the workshop manual and parts list is straightforward enough, then look at Andover Norton, Mick Hemmings, RGM etc for parts. Between them, you'll find everything you need.

The starter motor itself can be a problem. I am in the process of reinstating the electric start on my Mk3. The previous owner had junked the starter motor and all the starter drive chain inside the primary case. I'm going to buy one of the upgraded, Hitachi-basedstarters that Les Emery ('Norvil')markets.

Allan.

"Dyno" Dave Comeau is the expert on upgrading electric starters on Mk III Commandos. He was at the NOC International rally in New York State last year. He is the supplier of the starter upgrades Les Emery sells. You can find him at:

http://atlanticgreen.com/store.htm

Colin.

Hi Peter.

So, you have a MK3 engine, it seems, with an earlier gearbox (right side gearchange.) Or, perhaps you have an earlier 850 engine with a later timing case fitted.....

Are you certain it is a MK3? It should be possible to verify this from the engine number.

Now we need to know which primary cases you have. Any chance of a photo of the drive side?

Allan.

Previously wrote:

Hi guys

I have a 1975 Norton Commando Mk.III 828cc w/sidecar. At the moment it has a kick start, which does work on warm days and with a lot of effort, but I'd like to fit an electric starter to it. I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice, such as where I could find the necessary parts, and if there are any instructions available from anyone who has done this before? I can provide more photos if necessary. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!

Many Thanks

Peter Acres

Tel: 07943 819293

Hi Peter , you may be interested in this website . Oldbrits .com . Its an American company who specialise in Old British Bikes , and they offer an electric start system for all Commandos. It is not cheap , but superbly engineered and far superior to the Norton fitment . It utilises a Bendix type starter and a Ring gear , so none of the problems associated with Sprag clutches . I am waiting for a more favourable exchange rate before i invest .!

Oldbrits.com is a rip off web site. I live in America and checked out what they have. I found it was less expensive to order from someone in Britain like Mr. Hemmings or Mr. Emery and pay for shipping across the Atlantic. Don't feed these sharks.

Previously wrote:

Here are a couple close ups of the right hand side of the engine, what should be the rear brake lever is actually the gear shifter, you can see the kick start lever next to it...

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/3212/imag0108x.jpg

http://img191.imageshack.us/img191/1270/imag0109xg.jpg

Sorry about the shonky imageshack links, the photos were to big to upload them directly to the NOC forum!

Guess I did it all wrong...

Removed the above text from the reply box, entered my text, and posted.

The resulting messageonly shows the text I removed...

New try.

What I intende to say: look arond for the Alton starter, fits pre-Mk3 primary, see this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlM90xBeZnw

Peter, interesting rig, I like the footrests... more pics are welcome!

The Alton/Norvil and the other set-up mentioned look good, but are an expensive way of reinstating an electric start on a Mk3 850.

IF the engine is a MK3 (needs to be confirmed) and IF it has the correct Mk3 primary chaincases (tbc also) then it is fasr more cost effective to source the original parts to replace the bits missing from inside the primary case, and fit the Hitachi/Norvil starter.

It all depends on what you have to start with, and that's why some drive side pictures would help.

At the start of the thread Peter wrote:

At the moment it has a kick start, which does work on warm days and with a lot of effort, but I'd like to fit an electric starter to it.

Just a thought, but is the hope that fitting an electric starter will make starting easy? I suspect that if she doesn't start very well using the kick start, she won't start very well with an electric starter. It would be a good idea to work out why she is a difficult starter and fix the problem.

Cheers

Alan