Alton electric start doesnt work anymore

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pierodn

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Hi.
The Alton bought two years ago doesnt work anymore.
The electric start motor gear doesnt moove and you can hear only a lower “tac tac” from relay when push the start bottom.
The battery is full charged; all the wires are well holded in place.
I am not an expert and i dont know what check and search.
Thank you.
Piero
 
Last edited:
Bridge the high current terminals on the solenoid, if the starter works then replace solenoid, if starter does not work then more tests need to be done.
 
kommando said:
Bridge the high current terminals on the solenoid, if the starter works then replace solenoid, if starter does not work then more tests need to be done.
Click to expand...
Hi.
Bridge done.
The starter gear doesnt moove.
What i must do?
Thanks.
Piero
 
Ok, so now check that all the connections to the starter on the high current cables are clean, apply a smear of Vaseline to the cable ends and then firmly tighten them, include the route for the earth back to the battery not just the cable from battery to Solenoid and solenoid to starter. Then try again, if still nothing then the starter motor needs taking off and checking.
 
Another thing to consider is the health of the battery. Though it may be fully charged and appear to be good, it may have developed an internal failure or may have a high internal resistance. A test is to watch the brightness of the headlight when pressing the start button. If the headlight significantly dims on the solenoid "click", it may well indicate a bad battery. It could also indicate a shorted starter motor.

~998cc
 
Worth eliminating ... other thought is how is your solenoid wired? Alton seem to have suggested originally that one solenoid wire went to the ignition switch , then latterly direct to earth which seems a better idea .
 
Piero, I ran into this problem on my own Alton, and as 998cc says it was the battery not putting out enough current.
You do not know the battery health without load testing it. Can you borrow an excellent battery to hook up and try the Alton with? And the battery must have the same cranking power as Alton specifies in your instruction paperwork.
Your's may be charged but unable to put out the load required for the Alton.
 
oldmikew said:
Worth eliminating ... other thought is how is your solenoid wired? Alton seem to have suggested originally that one solenoid wire went to the ignition switch , then latterly direct to earth which seems a better idea .
Click to expand...

Correct
 
1up3down said:
Piero, I ran into this problem on my own Alton, and as 998cc says it was the battery not putting out enough current.
You do not know the battery health without load testing it. Can you borrow an excellent battery to hook up and try the Alton with? And the battery must have the same cranking power as Alton specifies in your instruction paperwork.
Your's may be charged but unable to put out the load required for the Alton.
Click to expand...
I will do it, of course.
Ciao
Piero
 
pierodn said:
Hi.
Bridge done.
The starter gear doesnt moove.
What i must do?
Thanks.
Piero
Click to expand...

What happened when you bridged the relay, was there any sound or heavy spark when you did that? If not, it may be the connection to the starter motor is faulty - either the positive or negative cable. I guess it's possible that the starter motor has an open connection internally but that seems very unlikely to me.
 
Piero I had a similar problem .. press the handle bar button two almighty clicks from the soviet era solenoid but nothing.. i ran a lead direct to earth from the Handle bar side of the solenoid. Immediate spin . Frankly I could not believe that such a massive component could fail -but it had. Replaced with heavy duty solenoid from auto store and all was and continues to be well. Sorry its the time of the year when my brain does not go immediately into gear. should have posted this before
 
If you need to it is possible to remove the starter motor itself. First you will have to remove the Alton inner primary case which means the whole primary drive assembly etc. needs to come off. Which is basically the reverse of the fitting process so do other checks mentioned first so your not wasting your time and effort.

Once removed you will see three caphead screws holding the motor and first reduction gear case on.
Take those out an remove the motor and case from the primary case. The dowel one of the gears run on goes into the case so if may be hard to remove.
THIS IS THE IMPORTANT BIT
Now peel off the ALTON name sticker (you can glue it back later if your carefull)
You will find a crosshead screw behind the sticker which YOU MOST REMOVE IT. Once it is out the two alloy plates the form the housing will separate and you will see some caphead screws holding the motor to one of the plates.

The moter itself comes apart much like most normal electric motors by removing the two screws at the power terminal end.
Check the insulation around the terminal is not shorting to ground where it goes through the metal cap.

If there is an issue with motor windings contact Alton as spares are available but there are two types of armature use.
Alton can sometimes be hard to contact and it is the Christmas holidays so it may take a while but Paul Hamon there is very helpful
 
toppy said:
If you need to it is possible to remove the starter motor itself. First you will have to remove the Alton inner primary case which means the whole primary drive assembly etc. needs to come off. Which is basically the reverse of the fitting process so do other checks mentioned first so your not wasting your time and effort.

Once removed you will see three caphead screws holding the motor and first reduction gear case on.
Take those out an remove the motor and case from the primary case. The dowel one of the gears run on goes into the case so if may be hard to remove.
THIS IS THE IMPORTANT BIT
Now peel off the ALTON name sticker (you can glue it back later if your carefull)
You will find a crosshead screw behind the sticker which YOU MOST REMOVE IT. Once it is out the two alloy plates the form the housing will separate and you will see some caphead screws holding the motor to one of the plates.

The moter itself comes apart much like most normal electric motors by removing the two screws at the power terminal end.
Check the insulation around the terminal is not shorting to ground where it goes through the metal cap.

If there is an issue with motor windings contact Alton as spares are available but there are two types of armature use.
Alton can sometimes be hard to contact and it is the Christmas holidays so it may take a while but Paul Hamon there is very helpful
Click to expand...
Hi.
I have bought Alton from Andover less than two years ago.
I have written to Andover that the starter is failed.
I am wayting for an answer.
Piero
 
I would contact Alton. In my experience, their customer service was superb; AN, not so much. ;)
 
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