electric start for atlas

I believe the shaft centres are different and of course the Commando tilted engine makes the front end fittings different as well.

It might be worth contacting Alton who by all accounts are helpful (although I have to say I was not impressed by the Alton generator fitted to my Venom).

Previously dennis_cannings wrote:

I havean Atlas, which at present I can still kick over and start OK. Looking to the future, I am wondering about the possibility of fitting an Alton(Commando) starter to it. I dontknow if it is easyto fit the alloy chain case on the featherbed setup. Idont know if the distance between the shaft centresis similar and the footrest would need an alternative mount. I just thought Iwouldthrow it out there to see if anyone else had considered it as an option and what other difficultieswould I be likely to comeacross.

hello harley clutchs are need the same dia as nortons and the do a pre =engage starter this gose direct to the ring on the back of the clutch all 12v and they do belt drive kits to harley parts are very well made, look up harley parts yours anna j

Previously dennis_cannings wrote:

Thanks , I willlook into this.

in my HarleyDavidson parts catalogue, they do the gear ring as a separate item and with some engineer can be made to fit a Norton clutch and can be fitted from the bottom rear of the gearbox with some modifications good luck with it all yours anna j

I have a Commando engine in Dommi frame. I have fitted a Harley 888 1.4KW starter. I use Commando chain cases. I had a ring gear made to fit into the Commando case and it has less teeth than a Harley starter. cant remember exactly but about three less I think. If you use a Harley one it will be to big.

I also used a belt drive and attached the ring gear to the back of the clutch.

I wrote an artical for RH with pictures a while ago. It is not a straight forward job. It requires a fair bit of engineering, however it's worth it.

The starter was £35 off ebay and I had two gears made for £55 the pair I turned them and had the teeth cut.

I note that the installation above was done with a Commando engine and primary drive. The primary drive is much shorter, and may create enough space to allow the ring gear and starter installation.

With an Atlas engine and frame, there is no space behind the clutch for such a ring gear (have a look at the clearance between clutch and inner primary cover), You simply could not fit a starter motor below / to the rear of the clutch, because it would require cutting away the frame very close to the rear fork pivot. Not a very good idea.... Even if you could mount the starter motor somewhere more practical, like above or ahead of the clutch, it simply is not viable

The Alton starter, ie a motor within the primary drive cover driving a chain or belt, is a much more realistic approach. Note that there are other engineers making starter motors on the engine mainshaft as well.

Paul

Sounds like an awful amount of trouble to get electric start. What kind of condition is the Atlas in? I would consider selling it and getting a nice Commando with electric start.

I am in the same boat with 84 XR600. That big single can be a bear to start and my knees are not what they used to be. Its for sale now and will probably turn into a newer XR with electric start. Luckily the Dominator starts easily.

Ever see an electric start for RC airplanes? Saves the fingers.........

I have envisioned a version big enough to turn over a twin. Obviously you would have to have a compact battery powered version so it could be easily transported. A one way cone on the crank would be engaged by the starter, turning over the motor. I suppose it would have to be a bike with belt drive but perhaps there could be a sealed shaft through the primary cover with the cone on its end. Open primaries would be the easiest to deal with, may not need a cone. I think the BDL belt drive on my old shovelhead made me think of it originally. The big ass pulley on the end of the crank would be easy to spin with such a device. Sometimes I daydream too much.........

Chris

be good if you could fit some sort of dynastart

Decompressors were standard fitments to motorbikes of only 350cc. But since a 500cc twin is only a pair of 250 singles, the manufacturers must have assumed they were not needed.

But then the engines grew. And compression ratios shot up. A 750cc Atlas surely justifies a decompressor, doesn't it? Is it feasible? Or don't they work very well with two cylinders?

Must cost less than an electric starter.

It should be possible to install twin decompressors into the exhaust valve inspection covers or possibly some form of eccentric rocker spindles . I can't start the Atlas with the HC Commando pistons. I have no trouble with a 500cc Ulster single though.

I have seen a system where their is a decompressor fitted to the cylinder head that involves drilling the head near the spark plug. Bit drastic, however spark plugs are available with a decompressor built in. Press the two plug buttons, kick it into life and the plungers pop back into closed position.

"EZ Release" by Wimmer, primarily designed for Harley Davidson. got to be worth a shot

Enfields had a separate decompressor rather than a valve lifter. If you need the facility this might be a better route although AFAIR it did need a passage into the exhaust port.

Cannot find EZ release on their site. Maybe it's gone?

Somewhere else describes it as 'retarding ignition' - looks like a journalist lack of understanding.

The awkward problem with fittingvalve lifters to Norton twins would be finding a way to stop push rods from jumping out of place. The more I think about it, the more difficult that looks...

Barry's Dyonstart suggestion looks attractive - before I realised that I don't think the timing gear would put up with the loads!

Never thought about the poor old pushrods!, just as well I'm not designing a V6.

Hi Tony

Can you remember where you got the teeth cut? Did they harder the gears after fabrication?

I will search for your article

Thanks

Steve

Steve

Using the excellent Roadholder indexing located the article here:

Roadholder 328 Page 38-40 March 2015.

https://www.nortonownersclub.org/html/archive/rh/328/rh328_files/assets/basic-html/page-38.html

You have to be logged-on to view.

Andy