Author Topic: Starting aid!  (Read 595 times)

Offline unclerob

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 218
  • Karma: 7
Starting aid!
« on: 01.04. 2015 17:00 »
My knees not being what they once were I'd been toying with the idea of making an electric paddock type starter for quite a while but came across a chap in Suffolk making these. He supplies them without the motor which I picked up secondhand the other day, got it all connected and working today....it is wonderful!!!
I haven't tried it on the A10 yet since its still in hibernation but tried a couple of other bikes that are considerably harder to start and both were forced instantly into life with no effort at all....and no sore knees!

Offline Greybeard

  • Jack of all trades; master of none.
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Feb 2011
  • Posts: 10008
  • Karma: 51
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #1 on: 01.04. 2015 17:16 »
Gonna make a trailer so you can get the bike going again when you stall it at the traffic lights? ;)
Greybeard (Neil)
2023 Gold Star
Supporter of THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE https://www.gentlemansride.com

Warwickshire UK


A Distinguished Gentleman Riding his 1955 Plunger Golden Flash

Online bsa-bill

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Mar 2006
  • Posts: 5720
  • Karma: 66
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #2 on: 01.04. 2015 17:35 »
interesting bit of kit.

Ha Ha Greybeard, usually quite an adrenalin rush in those occasions helps the old leg action
All the best - Bill
1961 Flash - stock, reliable, steady, fantastic for shopping
1959 Rocket Gold Flash - blinged and tarted up  would have seizure if taken to  Tesco

Offline Beezageezauk

  • N.E. England
  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2006
  • Posts: 669
  • Karma: 21
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #3 on: 01.04. 2015 19:56 »
If the time came that I couldn't kickstart the A10 I think I would go for one of Steve McFarlane's electric starters.

Beezageezauk.


Offline Butch (cb)

  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 1690
  • Karma: 16
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #4 on: 02.04. 2015 11:19 »
I have a ride on mechanic who covers these aspects for me - a smallish lad perched up on the flapper bracket.
Warning - observations made by this member have a 93% unreliability rating.

Of Bikes; various, including ...
'58 S/Arm Iron Head Flash Bitza


Offline edboy

  • Resident Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2012
  • Posts: 531
  • Karma: 5
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #5 on: 02.04. 2015 11:51 »
quite a common mod when old boys with sore knees used to ride their bikes daily was to lengthen the kickstart to the length of a bar. i remember an old boy with an ariel combination in the late 70s- 80,s who frequented knights and son and started his combo sitting down and pulling on the lever. unfortunately the mobile phone camera wasnt around then and i cant remember the final detail of how he made the lever but as a snotty teenager i was impressed.

Offline RichardL

  • Outside Chicago, IL
  • Wise & Enlightened
  • *
  • Join Date: Nov 2007
  • Posts: 6489
  • Karma: 55
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #6 on: 02.04. 2015 13:31 »
Gonna make a trailer so you can get the bike going again when you stall it at the traffic lights? ;)

Easy to argue that reducing the number of kickstarts saves the knee(s) to be used when there is no choice while out and about.

Richard L.

Offline renos-a10

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2010
  • Posts: 209
  • Karma: 8
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #7 on: 02.04. 2015 13:44 »
Very good job... *smiley4*
1954 BSA A10 Plunger
Cyprus

Offline unclerob

  • A's Good Friend
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jul 2012
  • Posts: 218
  • Karma: 7
Re: Starting aid!
« Reply #8 on: 02.04. 2015 18:06 »
Yes, that was my thinking too! Not so sure about the trailer, it would have to be quite hefty to get a generator in there as well....or a very long length of cable! But really I didn't buy it specifically for one bike so the electric start wasn't really an option, not to mention the whole thing came to less than £300 all in....
Realised it has another benefit today as well, I've just finished some engine work on another bike and tried it on the starter for 5 or 10 minutes without plugs in just to see oil was circulating etc....got up to over 30mph on the speedo!