Alton Starter

peter12 · Oct 28, 2017

I have just watched the Alton Starter video and am about to order a starter. A couple of things occur to me.
I have a 1974 11a with the battery across the frame rather than lengthways.
I have the black plastic airbox with a single carb.
Eventually I plan to fit twin carbs, possibly with the metal filter.

Having watched the video it looks to me as if at the moment I will have issues with the wiring especially the relay and leads.

Any first hand experience will be good.

Would it be better for me to buy and fit the earlier battery tray in anticipation?

Whats going on with the relay on top of the battery? Doesnt look secure to me, in fact possibly dangerous if it moves and shorts out, again first hand experience please.

I currently have no air filter, the box does I suppose offer some protection from stones.

1up3down · Oct 28, 2017

I have a 73 850 and an Alton starter fitted for three years now. I think you would be better off, easier to attach leads to, have more wiring room with the lengthwise battery tray. I also have a single 34 Mikuni with the thinner one inch thick round air filter that gives room, and that is with removing completely the stock air filter leaving just the backing plate. The relay on top of the batter is just fine, secure. I ordered in a PC-8 Wiring rig from Eastern Beaver, check it out on their web site, mulitiple connections for positive and negatives and with stronger wires to the pos and neg batter terminals, this is an excellent opportunity clean up the wiring at the battery area. I know your call on carbs, but I had a single Mikuni for 20 years and then sold it a year ago to try out new Amal Premiers. Mistake, although I lost about a half second in the quarter mile with the MIkuni as the twin set up flowed more air above 5000rpm, I lost the super easy choke Mikuni starting and rock solid idling without syncing two carbs, sold the Premiers after about 9 months and bought the CNW Mikuni 34 kit to install, very happy I did so. I do not know how to post pictures here but if you PM me I can email you some pictures of the PC-8 wiring set along with pics of the Alton installed.

peter12 · Oct 28, 2017

Thanks very much for your reply, any pics will be great.

peter12 · Oct 28, 2017

Two issues with the carb, I have a Mk2 Amal 32mm so perhaps a little small, runs fine though and idles. I do really want it as standard as possible, will make that decision at some stage. The PC-8 looks interesting though.

PeterJoe · Oct 29, 2017

I looked at the Alton starter installation video and I have to agree that the starter relay mounting looks hokey. Since you have a Mark IIA which is very close to a Mark III specification, you could probably use a 850 Mark III starter solenoid and bracket. This would mount to the rear frame bulkhead just above the rectifier. Also I noticed in the video that Alton uses a separate starter switch wire that runs to the solenoid. However, your bike is already prewired for the starter solenoid. As a matter of fact if you are still using the points ignition the ballast resistor bypass wires are already installed as well. One modification that you would have to do is to splice the two white/red wires together where they dangle aft of the engine's head steady.

You mentioned that you were considering an earlier type battery tray. If you do install one of those you would have to replace your left hand side cover and remove the plastic airbox as well. You could modify the battery tray so that you could use the Mark IIA side cover.

Also you stated that you were considering removing the plastic airbox and installing the earlier type metal air filter instead. To do that you would need to use the earlier type battery tray and also you would need to replace the side cover as well. Or you could modify your existing battery tray by drilling and installing captive nuts just inboard of the existing captive nuts where the air filter backing plate attaches. This is how I did it with my bike using aircraft nut plates however brazing or using press type nuts would work fine too.

Also you would need to make a new attach point for your side cover because the original attachment mounts to the plastic airbox. I made mine out of steel and here is a picture of what I did and it does the job:

I hope this helps

Peter Joe

peter12 · Oct 29, 2017

Very useful Peter, Have Boyer which I will probably replace with Pazon. Will have more detailed look with your info later tomorrow, thanks again.

MexicoMike · Oct 29, 2017

One option - with your current batt tray OR the older style, you could use a Shorai 18AH batt and the size/orientation of the batt tray will be of no significance since the batt is so small. You can mount the relay anywhere you want to mount it. I mounted mine directly to the battery tray - plenty of room with the Shorai. I have had the Alton/Shorai combo (same batt) since Jan, 2013 in my '73 Commando.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Oct 29, 2017

peter12 said:
I have just watched the Alton Starter video and am about to order a starter. A couple of things occur to me.
I have a 1974 11a with the battery across the frame rather than lengthways.
I have the black plastic airbox with a single carb.
Eventually I plan to fit twin carbs, possibly with the metal filter.

Having watched the video it looks to me as if at the moment I will have issues with the wiring especially the relay and leads.

Any first hand experience will be good.

Would it be better for me to buy and fit the earlier battery tray in anticipation?

Whats going on with the relay on top of the battery? Doesnt look secure to me, in fact possibly dangerous if it moves and shorts out, again first hand experience please.

I currently have no air filter, the box does I suppose offer some protection from stones.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Oct 29, 2017

I too have a Mk2A and I am looking at a starter for my bike also. Emailed Matt at CNW about his starter. He said the air box would have to come out for his starter to work. Not sure if the Alton one will work with the factory air box, need to do more research.

John in Texas

ashman · Oct 29, 2017

I have the black plastic airbox with a single carb.

I currently have no air filter, the box does I suppose offer some protection from stones.[/QUOTE]

ashman · Oct 29, 2017

peter12 said:
I have just watched the Alton Starter video and am about to order a starter. A couple of things occur to me.
I have a 1974 11a with the battery across the frame rather than lengthways.
I have the black plastic airbox with a single carb.
Eventually I plan to fit twin carbs, possibly with the metal filter.

Having watched the video it looks to me as if at the moment I will have issues with the wiring especially the relay and leads.

Any first hand experience will be good.

Would it be better for me to buy and fit the earlier battery tray in anticipation?

Whats going on with the relay on top of the battery? Doesnt look secure to me, in fact possibly dangerous if it moves and shorts out, again first hand experience please.

I currently have no air filter, the box does I suppose offer some protection from stones.

Thats not good running without a air filter, you might have protection from stones but no protection from dust and dirt particals and what happens if it back fires throught the carbies, your bike could go up in smoke, I learned that the hard way way back in the early 80s nearly lost my Norton from not running filters, backfire and up in smoke while I was on it.

Ashley

MexicoMike · Oct 30, 2017

N0rt0nelectr@ said:
I too have a Mk2A and I am looking at a starter for my bike also. Emailed Matt at CNW about his starter. He said the air box would have to come out for his starter to work. Not sure if the Alton one will work with the factory air box, need to do more research.

John in Texas

The Alton fits with the factory airbox.

Alton Starter

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