Alton Electric Starter NOT for Mk III

scott12180 · Sep 22, 2011

I've been corresponding with Harkshaw -- www.hawkshawmotorcycles.com -- about the Alton starter which is being developed and should be ready for sale this fall. I was getting all excited about the chance to install a modern trouble-free starter. But Chris Harkshaw just told me that the Alton starter isn't designed for the Mk III Norton. Only the non-starter earlier Norton.

Bummer. . .

Anyone know of a modern electric starter which will work on the Mk III? And not just the motor, but something to replace the original sprag gearing and all that troublesome stuff? Yeah, I could use the kicker, but sometimes the electric is the only way to go. . .

--Scott
'75 Norton Commando Mk III Roadster

nortonspeed · Sep 22, 2011

Re: Living with a Mk III starter

by Jeandr » Thu Sep 15, 2011 4:28 pm

nortonspeed wrote:... but unfortunatelly there is no replacement for the vulnerable sprag system which keeps on failing to me time after time

Alton is working on replacements for those

Jean
Jeandr Posts: 2069Joined: Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:13 amLocation: Montreal, Canada

L.A.B. · Sep 22, 2011

scott12180 said:
I've been corresponding with Harkshaw -- http://www.hawkshawmotorcycles.com -- about the Alton starter which is being developed and should be ready for sale this fall. I was getting all excited about the chance to install a modern trouble-free starter. But Chris Harkshaw just told me that the Alton starter isn't designed for the Mk III Norton. Only the non-starter earlier Norton.

Yes, the new Alton kit isn't suitable for the Mk3 as it would have to be totally re-designed. But that was known a while ago.

(April 2010)
alton-electric-starter-conversion-show-stafford-t6186-30.html

click said:
Hi Lads,

Got this back from Alton:

Our electric starter kits are not suitable for 850cc Norton originally fitted with electric start.
But we have had a couple of enquiries for them (we were at Stafford Classic Bike Show last week end) so that I think that this could be the next project.
I will keep you informed.
Regards
Paul

So, anybody who has a MK3 ES & is interested in upgrading send them an email

Kevin

Holmeslice · Sep 22, 2011

Old Britts just did a starter for a bike I built, a MKIII, and it works absolutely flawlessly. It seems their kit is rarely mentioned, but believe me, it's the bee's knees.

Jeandr · Sep 22, 2011

scott12180 said:
I've been corresponding with Harkshaw -- http://www.hawkshawmotorcycles.com -- about the Alton starter which is being developed and should be ready for sale this fall. I was getting all excited about the chance to install a modern trouble-free starter. But Chris Harkshaw just told me that the Alton starter isn't designed for the Mk III Norton. Only the non-starter earlier Norton.

Bummer. . .

Anyone know of a modern electric starter which will work on the Mk III? And not just the motor, but something to replace the original sprag gearing and all that troublesome stuff? Yeah, I could use the kicker, but sometimes the electric is the only way to go. . .

--Scott
'75 Norton Commando Mk III Roadster

Well if you can wait a bit, Alton will come out with the bits to replace the failing Norton ones, combined with a new motor by Dyno Dave, will make a push button start very possible.

Jean

nortonspeed · Sep 23, 2011

Holmeslice said:
Old Britts just did a starter for a bike I built, a MKIII, and it works absolutely flawlessly. It seems their kit is rarely mentioned, but believe me, it's the bee's knees.

Old Britts starter kit for a MKIII is rarely mentioned because nobody knows it does exist? At least I can't find any information on their site about this MKIII kit. So please inform us, pictures?

Old Britts · Sep 23, 2011

The reason we have not published anything about mounting our starter on a MK3 is that we do not have a firm price and as soon as I complete converting my MK3 we will publish pictures and prices. Ella will not let me mention things on our site that are in the works and since she is the boss, what can I say. It will not be a simple conversion, since the ring gear will not fit inside the MK3 inner primary cover. We have developed an inner primary case and have a local metal fabricator making the outer primary cover. For pictures, ask Kenny for pictures of Billy Joel’s bike which we designed the starter conversion for.

Fred Eaton
Old Britts

click · Apr 4, 2012

Hi Lads,

Any updates on a new starter 'system' for a MK3?

I might be pulling the trigger soon on new parts for the original starter system, I'd prefer to spend my funds on a better system rather than investing in a system that has, lets say, issues

Anything from Alton or OldBritts for a MK3?

Thanks in advance

Kevin

calbigbird · Apr 4, 2012

FWIW, I bought a MKIII starter from Baxters when I was bringing mine back to life in 09. It bolted directly to the bike with no modifications. It doesn't look like the original and isn't black, but I works great. I am pretty sure it would start my truck. In 09 it was $395. I have also heard good things about the rebuilt starters from Old Britts.

powerdoc · Apr 4, 2012

Somewhere on the web, I can't tell exactly where, are the instructions for making the 2 pole starter into a 4 pole with either HD or Mercury outboard parts; just changes some innerds of the starter; I did it some years ago.

Try this for a start: http://www.nortonownersclub.org/support ... rter-motor

click · Jul 28, 2012

click said:
Hi Lads,

Any updates on a new starter 'system' for a MK3?

I might be pulling the trigger soon on new parts for the original starter system, I'd prefer to spend my funds on a better system rather than investing in a system that has, lets say, issues

Anything from Alton or OldBritts for a MK3?

Thanks in advance

Kevin

Any updates on the 'bits' for the MK3?

Thanks

Kevin

Jeandr · Jul 29, 2012

All I can say is that it is coming, how soon, I can't say, but within the next year for sure. Right now they are hard at work on the kits for the pre-MK3 and supplying Europe first (closer). I have one kit on hand for demo here (Montreal) and I may get another one soon.

Jean