Alton Electric Starter - Share Your Experience

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StandardGuy

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Apr 28, 2012
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Hi,

I am seriously considering the purchase of an Alton Starter kit. Can those of you out there with direct experience tell us your story on that system?

Thanks
Guy

1974 Dunstall Norton
 
Yep, read that thread and got nothing out of it on the subject of how does it work. I am looking for a review of the product in real use. I am sure that information will come to the surface in time.

Guy
 
I am biased, but I think it is the best solution for (at the present time) chain drive positive ground Commandos. It is easy to install, no modifications are made to the original parts and a new 150 watts alternator is also part of the package. It can be removed and the original parts replaced and no one would know it was ever there. It is also much cheaper than competing systems. The planned street price is less than $2,500 US

I have installed one of the prototypes on a old 1972 Commando and the whole process took about 4 hours which included lunch and taking a car ride to go buy a battery. Philippe Murat installed one on his stunning Commando and aside from some issues regarding his belt drive primary which had to be taken out and the triple chain put back in, has his installed and running fine.

Jean
 
There was a Alton stand at Stafford classic bike show, the starter spun the engine as if there was no plugs in! Looks like a good product,providing you have a good battery :!:
 
My 920 Mk2A is currently with the Motorcycle Restoration Company in Saffron Waldon (UK) having the Alton system fitted to my belt-drive primary bike. The chain-drive primary system has been around a while and seems well-proven but the belt-drive system is a new development. When I approached Alton ref the supply of a belt-drive electric starter kit they were very keen for it to be fitted by a workshop as there were/are a few 'unknowns'. My bike is fitted with a RGM 32mm belt-drive system. Reports so far from the chaps at the Motorcycle Restoration Company are that they have had to modify some parts and that they are struggling to fit the 20AH battery into the battery tray (note that as far as I'm aware, the battery tray is a standard Interstate item - the battery mounts across the frame rather than lengthwise (most illustrations I've seen of Commando battery installations show the battery mounted lengthways on the left-hand side of the bike). I hope to get the bike back very soon and I'll report back on how the ES behaves. Given that I've just come out of hospital following heart surgery as the result of a heart-attack I think that an electric starter could be a good long-term 'upgrade' for this bike.

Cheers,

Mark Woodward.
 
mwoo said:
the battery tray is a standard Interstate item - the battery mounts across the frame rather than lengthwise (most illustrations I've seen of Commando battery installations show the battery mounted lengthways on the left-hand side of the bike).
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850 Mk1A & 2A models (and 850 Mk3) had a different battery tray and L/H side cover fixing arrangement to the Mk1 & Mk2 due to the larger black plastic airbox fitted to the A models which resulted in the battery having to be re-positioned across the frame.
 
I hope to get the bike back very soon and I'll report back on how the ES behaves. Given that I've just come out of hospital following heart surgery as the result of a heart-attack I think that an electric starter could be a good long-term 'upgrade' for this bike.
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear that and hope recovery is going well. Have also been away from the bike for 18+ months due to circulation issues and a femoral bypass (bet my scar is longer than yours!). Have so far managed 100 miles in three rides and the biggest hurdle has been getting some strength back in the old bod'. That starter will be a boon especially with the 920 kit. Good luck with recovery and hope you are back riding soon......it does feel good.
 
The lack of posting here with actual experience is pretty disappointing. Hope more will come out of the woodwork and share their experiences. Please know I am very appreciative of the responses thus far, just thought there would be more on this important upgrade.

~ Guy
 
StandardGuy said:
The lack of posting here with actual experience is pretty disappointing. Hope more will come out of the woodwork and share their experiences. Please know I am very appreciative of the responses thus far, just thought there would be more on this important upgrade.

~ Guy
Click to expand...

There have been only a few kits released to regular people, see alton-starter-finally-there-t13363.html for more information. There will be more kits coming out very soon. As of now, distributors and resellers are mainly in europe and while this forum is worldwide, it does not reach every Norton owner. If you have the cash ready, don't spend it on beer, you may miss your chance of getting one before the end of summer.

Jean
 
Hi all - I have a 920 Mk2A Interstate fitted with a RGM 32mm Belt Drive Primary. I have just received the bike back from the Motorcycle Restoration Company (located in Saffron Walden, UK) following them fitting the Alton system to it.
I'm impressed !! - the engine spins over as if there are no sparking plugs in it - starting is instantaneous. A few notes:-

The Alton system for chain primaries has been around for some time but the belt-drive system has been delayed and as far as I know my bike is the first (at least in the UK) to be fitted with a belt-drive system fitted. The chaps at the Motorcycle Restoration Company had to make a number of modifications to the the prototype system sent to them by Alton and as such the system is specific to the RGM 32mm belt-drive system and thus system-specific parts may be required for other belt-drive systems (Norvil etc.) - I'm unsure as to who will be responsible for specification/production of these parts - I would assume Alton but who knows ?

The battery fitted is a Varta YTX20L of 20 AH capacity - this is more than up to the job (it may be a bit 'over the top') - it is a very tight fit in a Mk2A Interstate. The Alton 150w alternator has plenty of power to keep the battery topped-up.

HtH

Mark Woodward.
 
Mark you might look into the Lit-ion batteries from Shorai, you can get a 20 amp hr that is much much smaller. They will put it in a variety of differant sized cases.
 
Thanks gtsun - long-term I might look at such a battery but I've only just got the bike back with a circa $70.00 battery fitted - it works and I'll use it until it gives up the ghost. This whole Alton project has cost a lot of money and taken a fair bit of time and effort (I did promise it to myself as a retirement present and based on the results it was worth the it !!).

Cheers,

Mark Woodward
 
mwoo said:
The battery fitted is a Varta YTX20L of 20 AH capacity - this is more than up to the job (it may be a bit 'over the top') - it is a very tight fit in a Mk2A Interstate. The Alton 150w alternator has plenty of power to keep the battery topped-up.
HtH
Mark Woodward.
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Mark, what kind of rectifier/zener do you use in combination with the Alton 150W and 20AH battery? Original Lucas retifier and zenerdiode or electronic box like Sparx or PODtronics?
 
I can't tell you what Mark is using, but a Podtronic or similar rectifier/regulator is much superior. While the Lucas stuff is simple in design, it has one flaw, as revs rise and the alternator puts out more power, the power NOT used is shunted to ground, that is what the zener does. while 150 watts is not much, it is 1/5th of a horsepower and having that power simply dissipating heat instead of being used to move the bike forward is wastefull.

Jean
 
There is a pretty good article in Classic Bike Guide issue #253 about the chain drive version. Mostly about installation procedure. Looks to be pretty dialed in.
 
Jeandr said:
Podtronic or similar rectifier/regulator is much superior. While the Lucas stuff is simple in design, it has one flaw, as revs rise and the alternator puts out more power, the power NOT used is shunted to ground, that is what the zener does. while 150 watts is not much, it is 1/5th of a horsepower and having that power simply dissipating heat instead of being used to move the bike forward is wastefull.
Jean
Click to expand...

Don't the electronic devices (PODtronics or similar) work the same (NOT used power converting into heat)? This doesn't show their superiority.
 
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