Alton Electric Start

When my right leg starts to struggle... I'll be calling Matt... no brainer IMHO...!

I'm saving up my penny's for a CNW starter kit as the Alton kit is no different than the MK111 nightmare.
A Bendix starter over a sprag? Now thats a no brainer.

Guido said:

I'm saving up my penny's for a CNW starter kit as the Alton kit is no different than the MK111 nightmare.
A Bendix starter over a sprag? Now thats a no brainer.

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The CNW kit still has a sprag clutch.

http://coloradonortonworks.com/part-cat ... #post-1214

High capacity sprag clutch/bearing used to drive the front sprocket. This sprag has a deep groove sealed bearing on either side of it

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new-electric-start-conversion-t21196-165.html#p304097

Inside the large gear that is on the crank shaft there is a sprag. This sprag has a sealed bearing on each side of it so its completely shielded from the elements

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auldblue said:

What I am saying is this, Colin's words to me were " all commando clutches drag, don't worry about it" , " it won't be your fuel tank that's leaking, it the taps" " speaking about mick Hemmings engine work, when I told him mick was doing the top end, at the time I contacted Colin about the failed starter " well...he can do a good job. " " I'll have to speak to Alton four hours is not enough time to fit a starter"





Judge for yourself from the photo if when I got the bike back it was pissing fuel out the tank, mick Hemmings work was first class I fitted valves , springs Pistons etc the bikes doing fine doesn't smoke or use oil or wet sump.
The clutch does not drag and I took me a lot fecking less time than four hours when I put the starter on after doing the gearbox. So what would you do ?

I have an Alton Starter that is now very much out of warranty but ANI is a dealer so I will deal with them if I need to when the time comes, but as far as customer care and satisfaction for me the only thing I can say is the replaced the part ,which has never been fitted as the time it was off I got the bike starting great.

Also one last word on Loch Ness restorations, if they had not dicked me about I would never have seen the locally placed advert for my beloved T160, so just for that alone I can forgive them as I just love that Trident.

Jg





A view down to the Kyles of Bute.

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With all due respect, my first impression was that this poster's primary language is not English (maybe Gaelic?) It is very hard to follow what is being said. Is it a rant about Alton or a rant about a mechanic?
Want a solution? Buy the cNw starter and start enjoying your Commando.

Of course it's hard to understand , it's a rant written for my benefit if anyone wants to read it, stroll on! The entire debacle cost me two K, but nobody died and it did motivate me to get into bike maintenence , so all is good.

As for the advise to buy a CNW electric start, that was not an option when I bought the Alton. Had It been available at that time , although more expensive , probably far better after sales service and less hassle in the long run, CNW would have been my choice.

enjoying my bike without an electric start, we're just back from the NOC national rally which for me , round trip was farther than lands end to john o' groats. The only time I didn't kick start her was when I booked in and Nipper fired her up and rode it to my pitch for a laugh.

I am enjoying my 750 , just not the Electric start bit. Congratulations to the NOC on another brilliantly organised shambles, best laugh for ages

auldblue said:

Of course it's hard to understand , it's a rant written for my benefit if anyone wants to read it, stroll on! The entire debacle cost me two K, but nobody died and it did motivate me to get into bike maintenence , so all is good.

As for the advise to buy a CNW electric start, that was not an option when I bought the Alton. Had It been available at that time , although more expensive , probably far better after sales service and less hassle in the long run, CNW would have been my choice

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I bet that rant made you feel better too !

I'm sorry to hear about Alton's poor after sales support. I thought they had a good reputation. (It's slightly worrying too, as I have one of their alternators on my Venom).

Is there an agent for CNW stuff in the U.K ? Although I would probably buy the CNW setup, shipping and import taxes would bump the cost up quite a bit I would guess.


Cheers,

cliffa.

cliffa said:

auldblue said:

Of course it's hard to understand , it's a rant written for my benefit if anyone wants to read it, stroll on! The entire debacle cost me two K, but nobody died and it did motivate me to get into bike maintenence , so all is good.

As for the advise to buy a CNW electric start, that was not an option when I bought the Alton. Had It been available at that time , although more expensive , probably far better after sales service and less hassle in the long run, CNW would have been my choice

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I bet that rant made you feel better too !

I'm sorry to hear about Alton's poor after sales support. I thought they had a good reputation. (It's slightly worrying too, as I have one of their alternators on my Venom).

Is there an agent for CNW stuff in the U.K ? Although I would probably buy the CNW setup, shipping and import taxes would bump the cost up quite a bit I would guess.


Cheers,

cliffa.

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From what I can gather the Alton alternators are good but they know about my problems and have replaced many customers shock devices with updated parts, however mine is the old style not worth a duff kind. They told me at the time it was problems with bubbles in the resin which was an outright lie, rather than just say they were having problems with the part. Which they obviously were or it would not have been redesigned .That is one of the reasons I think they are poor on communication .

The VAT is a bit of a killer, best have a trip to the USA and stick a CNW Starter in your suitcase on the road home. Good times.

Hi,

I'm currently thinking about an electric start and am holding off because of some of the Alton feedback especially as I have a Combat. I have also looked at the CNW one but that is very pricey in the UK once you factor in VAT and import tax. Although there does not appear to be a UK agent Holland Norton Works do stock them and getting it from there should be cheaper as they have already paid the VAT and import tax to the EU (I think) - so get one before Brexit!

One advantage of the Alton option for me is that I can walk to (or even push the bike to) a UK agent.

Graham

Because of the extra overlap on the cam the Combat should be easier on a starter than a 10:1 compression suggests as both valves are open together longer losing air to be compressed at starting revs. On Britbike an Alton starter has failed with one bad brush and there are only 2 brushes. A 4 brush starter will always outperform the 2 brush version of the same starter but costs more Hmmmm. Looks like CNW would be the favoured option especially if that is a 4 brush starter.

Well, put me down as a very happy Alton customer for my 73 850.

I did the installation myself in a couple of hours and it has worked perfectly every time.

Just spoke with my Alton distributor Classic Cycle Supply in New Jersey, USA yesterday asking if after three years now does if need any ongoing maintenance I should be aware of. He said nope, nothing to do, and that the early models did have the pins sheering issue but that mine does not.

After four spine surgeries I can no longer kick it over. I would have bought the CNW version from Matt but his was not available at the time.

1up3down said:

Well, put me down as a very happy Alton customer for my 73 850.

I did the installation myself in a couple of hours and it has worked perfectly every time.

Just spoke with my Alton distributor Classic Cycle Supply in New Jersey, USA yesterday asking if after three years now does if need any ongoing maintenance I should be aware of. He said nope, nothing to do, and that the early models did have the pins sheering issue but that mine does not.

After four spine surgeries I can no longer kick it over. I would have bought the CNW version from Matt but his was not available at the time.

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I am glad that you're happy with the product after 3 years of use but the information the dealer gave you is incorrect as the early Alton starters had no pins in them to shear, I know this to be fact because I have one , if it had shear bolts it would not have wrecked the drive. I have had my starter for nearly five years and I know of many Alton customers on here who have had there shock devices replaced however Alton know I have the old style shock but have never contacted me to offer an FOC replacement, and I an certainly not going to fit it to have the drive disintegrate again , would you?

If you are so happy why would you have bought a CNW starter and not an Alton? But as your back is fragile you had no alternative and at least your still riding your pride and joy , thanks to an Alton starter.

kommando said:

Because of the extra overlap on the cam the Combat should be easier on a starter than a 10:1 compression suggests as both valves are open together longer losing air to be compressed at starting revs.

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I'd credit that effect to late closing of the inlet valve during the compression stroke, rather than anything happening around the top of the exhaust stroke.

If you are so happy why would you have bought a CNW starter and not an Alton? But as your back is fragile you had no alternative and at least your still riding your pride and joy , thanks to an Alton starter.

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as I said in my post, at the time I wanted an electric start CNW was not yet selling them, thus Alton
in addition, if both were available at that time I would have bought the CNW simply because I know how Matt has stood behind every quality CNW product I have bought

1up3down said:

If you are so happy why would you have bought a CNW starter and not an Alton? But as your back is fragile you had no alternative and at least your still riding your pride and joy , thanks to an Alton starter.

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as I said in my post, at the time I wanted an electric start CNW was not yet selling them, thus Alton
in addition, if both were available at that time I would have bought the CNW simply because I know how Matt has stood behind every quality CNW product I have bought

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My point exactly,you need the supplier to stand truthfully behind his product and not give you the runaround, which is what I felt Alton did with me and another customer with whom I spoke to through the NOC forum at the time. The Alton starter seems to have come a long way in five years, my starter number is 2-30 I wonder what serial number they're at now.

Alton sent me 6 new nylon bullets to reload the chamber.

Checked the Pazon ignition timing, was spot on.

I bought this bike site unseen ( I do stupid stuff like that).
Recent engine, gearbox rebuild with docs, Mk3 Isolastics, paintjob,Pazon, new exhaust and Boranis chat on the phone to owner drew me in.
He was not mechanically minded, was over paying for work and had bought a new Harley....and the Missus said get rid of it.
Day off today as not keen on working on my Birthday, took bike for a WOF ( test) and got it registered for 12 months, $54.00.
I think any time I press the button and it starts is going to be a " wow it still works" moment.
Went for a ride along the waterfront to Carbon Garage who service and sell classic bikes for a coffee.
Met a chap there called Steve who was on a 850 Commando he had for 30 years with over 100 000 miles on the original bottom end.

Sidecover is off as he had it bolted on , can you buy the Duz part for the cover as a part?
Turns out he lives about 10 minutes away from me, so new riding buddy.

First time I had ridden an Interstate, other than the footpegs being too far forward nearly as nice to ride as my R90s :roll:

Hi.
Did you replaced six pins?.
I only four, only one more the stock.
Dont you think could be dangerous?
Piero

72Combat said:

Sidecover is off as he had it bolted on , can you buy the Duz part for the cover as a part?

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https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-dr ... ansmission
https://andover-norton.co.uk/en/shop-dr ... ttery-tray

pierodn said:

Hi.
Did you replaced six pins?.
I only four, only one more the stock.
Dont you think could be dangerous?
Piero

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Yes all six pins.
Alton sent me and no instructions so fitted all six.
If it breaks I have reliable Italian bikes to fall back on :mrgreen:

I bought an Alton e start when they first became available and, after some initial teething issues - two exploded rotors - they revised the rotor design and the starter has been excellent. I have been off this site for a couple of years and I see that now Alton has revised the system to include nylon pins. What, exactly is that about? What "problem" does it address? Since I haven't had any issue at all with mine (since Alton supplied the "new" rotor), I'd rather just leave it alone... So what's the deal?

I see this thread hasn't had a reply for a while – this isn't a reply, but I'm interested. I like the look of the CNW kit, it seems to be very seriously engineered. I also like the fact that CNW allow you to keep your Lucas alternator. But I couldn't possibly afford the CNW kit, and I don't want to mess with the original look of my airbox, which the CNW kit forces you to ditch. The Alton kit looks much less robust, but it's slightly less out of my reach financially, and would allow me to keep my precious airbox. On the other hand, I would have to ditch my 3-phase, 180-watt Lucas alternator and replace it with a less-than-substantial-looking, 150-watt one – the documentation for my 180-watt alternator says that it produces 85% (so 153 watts?) at 2,400rpm, while Alton claim only 'an average of 90 to 95 watts at normal cruising speed'. While adding an electric start. And I ride with my lights always on, often in urban areas. Powering heated clothing is also a consideration.

Not having any electrical knowledge beyond those bare figures; having had batteries go flat with lower-output alternators on different bikes while riding with lights always on, but otherwise not; and having never fried a battery – should I worry about the change in alternator? And any further anecdotal indications of whether or not the Alton is any good would be appreciated too. The fact that AN stocks the Alton kit is very encouraging, but reviews here seem a bit mixed. TIA