alton electric start

champ7fc · Apr 8, 2013

Took the Commando out yesterday and today for a spin . I have used the Alton starter 12 times since I installed it this winter and I have to say that it is everything that the manufacturers have claimed. No problems and this 64 year old with a right hip replacement really appreciates the push button. Just thought I would add my two cents worth. It is a great addition to my Commando. Craig

gtsun · Apr 8, 2013

That's very good to hear, I have my 52nd B-Day coming Wednsday & I can tell allready I'll need a button leg sooner than my 64th.. Hope it keeps working good.

mikie3117 · Apr 9, 2013

Hoping to find a state side distributor with price and availability. Where did you get yours?

Anglophile · Apr 9, 2013

mikie3117 said:
Hoping to find a state side distributor with price and availability.

Commando Specialties has one on eBay right now. They say if there is interest they'll continue to be a US distributor of Alton.

RoadScholar · Apr 9, 2013

mikie3117 said:
Hoping to find a state side distributor with price and availability. Where did you get yours?

Rocky Point Cycle also has access to the Alton e-start, we are also a Tri-Spark authorized retailer.

Bill

commando6868 · Apr 11, 2013

champ7fc said:
Took the Commando out yesterday and today for a spin . I have used the Alton starter 12 times since I installed it this winter and I have to say that it is everything that the manufacturers have claimed. No problems and this 64 year old with a right hip replacement really appreciates the push button. Just thought I would add my two cents worth. It is a great addition to my Commando. Craig

Just wondering....what cost more, the hip replacement or the Alton?

Mick

ZFD · Apr 11, 2013

Andover Norton distributes Alton starter kits, see http://www.andover-norton.co.uk/News.htm and scroll to May 2012. Any Andover Norton dealer can get it for you. Alternatively, you can order direct from Andover Norton.

bwolfie · Apr 11, 2013

commando6868 said:
champ7fc said:

Took the Commando out yesterday and today for a spin . I have used the Alton starter 12 times since I installed it this winter and I have to say that it is everything that the manufacturers have claimed. No problems and this 64 year old with a right hip replacement really appreciates the push button. Just thought I would add my two cents worth. It is a great addition to my Commando. Craig

Click to expand...

Just wondering....what cost more, the hip replacement or the Alton?
Mick

The hip replacement would be covered under your insurance.
But a good argument could be made to the insurance company for the Alton to save them the greater expense of the surgery. :lol:

champ7fc · Apr 11, 2013

I needed the replacement whether I had the Bike or not. It was done three years ago, when the Norton was in its first stages of resurrection. I have a 2007 Bonneville and ride that on a regular basis. I found that kick starting the Norton was creating a problem for me if I had to do it more than three or four times in one day. I installed a longer throw kickstart arm for greater mechanical advantage but found that even that mod wore me down. My mind tells me I am twenty but my body informs me otherwise. So far the Alton has worked well, I will keep the forum advised about any changes. I do not contribute much to the forum but I really enjoy the information and the technical tidbits here. Thanks to all. Craig

cjandme · Apr 12, 2013

champ7fc said:
I will keep the forum advised about any changes. I do not contribute much to the forum but I really enjoy the information and the technical tidbits here. Thanks to all. Craig

I value the feedback about the new alton starter system ,,,,so thanks for posting it Craig

commando6868 · Apr 12, 2013

The Alton was demonstrated at last summers INOA Rally in Vermont, at Dyno Daves tech session. The components looked well made and finished.
a '75 is, I think, the only other way to have an electric start on a Norton. There was another kit out there, you needed to cut the primary case. There was one of those at the Rally, the owner had lots of problems with it. Not sure if it is still available.

Mick

champ7fc · Apr 12, 2013

I looked at the Alton unit at the INOA Rally in Vermont. I was impressed with the finish and the concept. I also looked at the unit from Old Britts and studied it on their website. I felt that too much had to be changed and modified to the standard bike. I wanted something that would be unabtrusive and easily reversed. The Alton unit certainly fit the criteria that I had set. I am hoping that this unit works well and has a long life, but if there are problems I can restore the bike to its pre electric start form with very little effort and no modification. The installation was easily accomplished, however the instructions could have been made more clear by explaining the sequence in conjuction with the photos, some of the steps assumed too much. I have been wrenching my own bikes for over forty years so I think a relative new comer to a vintage bike would be well advised to secure some assistance from an experienced pro. This is just my observation, I lack much of the expertise of many of you on this forum.

mikie3117 · Apr 14, 2013

Does anyone make an electric start system for a belt drive?

Just dreaming here in Colorado-got another cold front coming

champ7fc · Apr 14, 2013

Yes they do, I have a Norvil belt drive on my Commando with the Alton starter system. You can contact several of the distributors stateside for information. I think there are two within this thread.

Brad · Apr 14, 2013

For what it's worth:
I'm 70 yrs old; weigh about 135, and I ride an unrestored Combat. On LL 100 octane avgas it starts first or second push every time. My experience (over 40 years with this bike) is that you don't KICK a Norton anyway. You push it through till it's on the sweet spot and just stand on the "kickstart", and the sucker fires up. If it doesn't, something is wrong.

Somewhere on this forum is a short video of someone (Comnoz?) starting a Norton with his hand! Don't remember if it was a 10:1 or not, but that was cool. One of these days I'm gonna try that, if I can do it I'll get the wife to video it and post the results.

Seriously, I love kickstarting my bike. Wherever you park a Norton there is going to be some admirers when you come back. And it really gets their attention when you fire it up with your FOOT. I know I'm probably senile, but I just love that .

pete.v · Apr 14, 2013

Brad said:
For what it's worth:
I'm 70 yrs old; weigh about 135, and I ride an unrestored Combat. On LL 100 octane avgas it starts first or second push every time. My experience (over 40 years with this bike) is that you don't KICK a Norton anyway. You push it through till it's on the sweet spot and just stand on the "kickstart", and the sucker fires up. If it doesn't, something is wrong.

Somewhere on this forum is a short video of someone (Comnoz?) starting a Norton with his hand! Don't remember if it was a 10:1 or not, but that was cool. One of these days I'm gonna try that, if I can do it I'll get the wife to video it and post the results.

Seriously, I love kickstarting my bike. Wherever you park a Norton there is going to be some admirers when you come back. And it really gets their attention when you fire it up with your FOOT. I know I'm probably senile, but I just love that .

I must be senile too cause I just love that also.
Well said and my sentiments exactly.

cjandme · Apr 14, 2013

Brad said:
For what it's worth......I love kickstarting my bike. Wherever you park a Norton there is going to be some admirers when you come back. And it really gets their attention when you fire it up with your FOOT.

Have you guys seen the video clip of the actor Keneau Reeves starting his bike, there were a bunch of onlookers standing around and I believe he flooded it, so it didn't fire up right away, and it looked like he got a little frustrated but he hung in there and got it going and then road off...I think it was on youtube.

G-Force · Apr 14, 2013

"I'm 70 yrs old; weigh about 135, and I ride an unrestored Combat. On LL 100 octane avgas it starts first or second push every time. My experience (over 40 years with this bike) is that you don't KICK a Norton anyway. You push it through till it's on the sweet spot and just stand on the "kickstart", and the sucker fires up"

When you're half the weight nothing happens at all on a combat unless you give it all the kickstart stays where it is with you standing on top

Brad · Apr 15, 2013

G-Force said:
When you're half the weight nothing happens at all on a combat unless you give it all the kickstart stays where it is with you standing on top

I AM half the weight! If I slowly push the engine over with the kickstart until I get maximum resistance (just before TDC, I think), and then stand on it, it will slowly but surely "leak down" and the kickstart will lower me through the stroke (Combat is 10:1, not 100:1). Then a half-stroke to get to the sweet spot, and VROOOM.

bwolfie · Apr 15, 2013

I also did a hand start on my Combat, pre restoration. If all is setup well, starting is a simple task.

alton electric start

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