Parts for Old Britts Starter

bsaboss

bsaboss

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Sep 11, 2009
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I'm looking to build an electric starter for my Mercury and I'd like to take the same approach that Fred did with his Old Britts starter. I'm just wondering whether there are any parts for Fred's starter system available from anywhere? I'm particularly keen on finding a ring gear and the starter/outrigger bearing mount. A long shot I know, but I can always hope!
 
I believe so, but I'm not sure if they're happy to sell individual components. I'll have to ask.
 
bsaboss said:
I'm looking to build an electric starter for my Mercury and I'd like to take the same approach that Fred did with his Old Britts starter. I'm just wondering whether there are any parts for Fred's starter system available from anywhere? I'm particularly keen on finding a ring gear and the starter/outrigger bearing mount. A long shot I know, but I can always hope!
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Before I bought out the Old Britts AN inventory, they sent their entire inventory list. Best I could tell, there were no Old Britts upgrades or parts available. I believe most was made when required or already sold out. I elected to buy only the AN inventory since they wanted more than I already paid for most other things. We were negotiating for everything else when they found a buyer in CA (never knew who).

So, AFAIK, there's no point in looking for Old Britts upgrades or upgrade parts unless you know the actual manufacturer's part number. Old Britts did make a few parts but mostly made kits of parts from others.

I've heard that the Norvil starter is a copy/take off/version of the Old Britts starter, but I have no idea if that is true or if they sell individual parts.

BTW, when looking parts up in my parts for sale, you will find the current AN number with -OB appended for the Old Britts parts I bought and they are less expensive than the same part direct from AN. There are a few expensive parts available but mostly they only had small parts they that they didn't get rid of during their closeout sale.
 
It took me years to find a NOS Old Britts starter kit, still in its original box. The whole kit is impressive, comes with many new parts such as a modified cradle and primary case.

Before that, I had tried to buy some individual parts from OB back in 2017 but they were already out, and not making any more.

I don't think you can ever make this design fit a Domi, the Domi batt box and oil tank are in the way.
 
My plan is to follow the style of the Old Britts and Normal starters. Both follow Harley practice and use a ring gear on the back of the clutch that the starter acts directly on. I'm sure they'll be all sorts of modifications required to fit it all in/on but if it extends my riding by a good few years it'll be worth it.
 
Once you have decided on your starter find out the spec for the gear, then get a ring gear cut to match that spec. Or start looking at Harley ring gears, of which there are a lot of variations, and once selected use a Harley starter that matches it.

Excepts from the Old Brits fitting instructions.

Ring Gear – Plasma cut from 4130 steel then flame hardened and annealed. These ring gears are
upgraded versions of the Kenny Dreer VR-880 (yes, they’re interchangeable). For near perfect
concentricity the ring gears are machined with a recess that mates with a matching stepped edge
machined on the rear of the clutch basket. Flush mount hardened steel bolts are “loctited” in place
from the inside of the basket to provide secure mounting of the gear. These ring gears have virtually no
run-out and are long lasting. Additional ring gears as future spares (for your descendants) are available
when we produce yearly runs (the foundry hardening process happens in scheduled batches).
Spyke Super-torque Starter in polished alloy – These starters are made to fit Harley Sportsters from
1981 through 2003 so they’re readily available and made and serviced in California. Some minor mods
are required (additional clearance in one area; relocation of the starter relay wire connector).

So a Harley Sportster 1981 to 2003 starter looks to be a good place to start.
 
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