1980 T140ES

Hi everyone it seems I am returning to the fold after selling my Mk3 Commando and have now been tempted by the above bike, while speaking to the current owner on the phone I asked him about the electric start operation and he said that the system required oil pressure in the timing chest to operate correctly so the electric start should not be used for cold starting which to me rather seems to defeat the point in having one can anyone advise me on this and also the effectivness of it and the downfalls thank you Many thanks Chris

I've not heard that before.
As the electric start can be bought as a kit, any pressure feed would have to be in the electric start timing cover (as there's no external pipework) from the crank feed gallery and I can't see any sign of one in the picture.
Maybe ask the owner for a detailed explanation of how this pressure feed is supposed to work.
https://www.triumph-spares.co.uk/electric-start-conversion-kit-t120-t140-right-hand-change

I don’t believe that’s true at all.

Not to be a doom munger… but…

As I understand it the weakness was the sprag clutch that could disintegrate and in unfortunate circumstances the shrapnel could lodge between the gears and in the worst case scenario this could bust the crank cases !

TMS used to be a Triumph dealer, and they used to remove the electric starts from brand new bikes before selling them. My mate bought such a brand new Bonnie from them, the tell was the ‘Electro’ decals that remained on the side panels!

Some years later Tony explained to me that this was indeed the case, and they did it to avoid the warranty claims and aggro.

So maybe the fairly sensible warning to not use the e start from cold when there is more strain on the system has translated into folklore into the oil pressure story ?

I think the advice to kickstart from cold is more likely due to the starter having no anti-kickback/backfire device, the same as the early self-destructing starter drive Norton wisely decided not to fit.

https://www.britbike.com/forums/ubb...triumph-electric-start-models-help#Post122165
"The problem I have, is being around one brand 24-7 for 40 plus years, you loose fresh outlook one has when first presented with a problem. Been there, done that starts to become the norm.

Development the electric starter didn't stop with the closing of the Co-erative in 1983. Brian Jones, while working for LF Harris, continued to devloped several new parts. But as development continued it seemed that the failure just kept moving to the next weakest part. The last thing I saw come from Brian was the hardnened crankshaft timing pinion. Now, back fire and the crankcase exploded... nice.

Key to success using electric start: Live in area where air temperature is always warm, keep the bike in a perfect state of tune, use the kick starter when motor is cold, and the most important - because teh electronic ignition comes in to play here - be sure you have a GOOD and fully charged battery any time you think about hitting the electric start button.

This problem is not just with Triumph as the electric starters rero-fitted to Vincents lately suffer the same problem. A back fire breaks something expensive."

Allways seemed a bit weird / Heath Robinson , to me . Fitting a thing to abuse the cam gears , which are a salient feature of Triumphs .
Allowing extremely accurate control of the cams . A Olde CYCLE magazine has a birds Electric Start Daytona around 1968 ( think its on the cover ) .

It was tied into the alternator somehow .

A Triumph is excelent to start , IF you swing it through to PRIME . Ignition OFF . Both Cylinders - a few times if its stone cold / freezing .
Then position Pistons to near T D C , with the clutch cleared and kicker enaged , leap skyward till your legs straight ,
your weighht will then push it though three compressions , as youve turned the ignition ON , it will be running .

Normally cold , youd push it through three compressions . Itll fire on the first or second comp.