CNW Electric Starter Conversion Installation

C317414 · Jun 16, 2018

I just finished installing an electric starter kit from Colorado Norton Works on my Commando. Matt from CNW was very helpful and answered a number of emails from me during the process. I very happy with the results.

http://s107.photobucket.com/user/c317414/slideshow/Norton Commando Electric Starter Installation

nortriubuell · Jun 16, 2018

Very, VERY cool. Thanks for posting. Cheers, Pat

Mr. Rick · Jun 16, 2018

After wearing out my leg this afternoon to no avail, I'm a little more than envious.
Which part of the instructions was not clear, that required your enquiries and emails? I may be going there soon myself.

Bob Z. · Jun 16, 2018

Nice video; I like the audio of the bike running too.
You now are officially cleared to start the Norton while on it's side stand.

robs ss · Jun 16, 2018

Not sure about others but the botophucket link doesn't work for me...

Rob

Guido · Jun 17, 2018

I'm jealous! I ordered a kit about 3 weeks ago. There was a problem with some shipping of parts for the kit to Matt. I got the polished one with the black starter. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for this kit. My knee won't let me kick it over any more. I have to have my son start it for me. I can't wait!

C317414 · Jun 17, 2018

Guido said:
I'm jealous! I ordered a kit about 3 weeks ago. There was a problem with some shipping of parts for the kit to Matt. I got the polished one with the black starter. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for this kit. My knee won't let me kick it over any more. I have to have my son start it for me. I can't wait!

I'm in the same situation. I injured my right foot and leg 35 years ago and have kickstarted bikes with my left leg since then. Now my left knee is giving out.

The kit I installed has the polished inner primary case and black starter. It looks good on the bike.

C317414 · Jun 17, 2018

Mr. Rick said:
After wearing out my leg this afternoon to no avail, I'm a little more than envious.
Which part of the instructions was not clear, that required your enquiries and emails? I may be going there soon myself.

The instructions are very thorough, but I like visuals. Matt sent me an exploded view of the starter assembly and this was helpful.. The other questions were not related to the installation procedure. They were about the compatibility of items with the kit: Will the kit work OK with a first generation Boyer ignition? - Yes. Can an existing handlebar switch be used to actuate the starter instead of the supplied switch? - Yes.

Incidentally, I am a retired aerospace engineer and I am very familiar with fabrication processes, wiring, etc. In my opinion the quality of the design, fabricated parts, and wiring harnesses are top notch.

lazyeye6 · Jun 17, 2018

Just because I'm not the brightest mechanic in the world, I sometimes need things explained/shown a couple of different ways.
I would have liked an electrical schematic diagram to better understand things. I like to know why, not just how. I opted to
use the unused existing handlebar switch rather than the starter/kill switch provided in the kit.

N0rt0nelectr@ · Jun 17, 2018

I installed one not that long ago. With the exception of the stock breather pipe on my 850 coming out to close to the starter I had no issues. That and Matt hiding the wiring harness in the box for the belt, that was a quickly explained by Matt.
Only put about 300 miles on it since my install, all trouble free.

John in Texas

XTINCT · Jun 17, 2018

IMHO the Alton kit looks fragile.
The CNW kit looks very well done.
With the CNW you get a belt drive which gets you a dry clutch that really is a dry clutch.
You can use your choice of stators.
You deal with Matt (that is a good thing).

My rebuild project may not be finished for another year but one of the last things I do for it will be a CNW starter. I will wait so my cash is not tied up earlier than it needs to be.

Holmeslice · Jun 18, 2018

At the risk of going off topic slightly, I just want to come out and say that, while cNw sells a lot of spectacular bits, this starter kit is quite possibly the best thing I've seen come out of their shop (or any shop). It works perfectly, it's very well engineered, and it's beautiful. We've fit them to several custom bikes we've built, and never have they let us down after thousands of miles.

-Kenny

cjandme · Jun 18, 2018

When I got married 18 years ago I sold off all my bikes so that my kids wouldn't develop a hankering for them too early on, ( I busted up my collar bone in a big wreck on my dirt bike when I was 13). Fast forward a few years and it was clear my kids were so into video games and now team sports that they could care less about motorcycles that I decided to get another bike and purposely searched for a '75 MkIII because of it having an electric starter ......now it doesn't matter because of this outstanding offering from Matt/cNw.

1up3down · Jun 18, 2018

IMHO the Alton kit looks fragile.
------------------------------------------

Well, I am going on six years now of perfects starts with my Alton.
Please let me know when I can expect to start having trouble.

XTINCT · Jun 18, 2018

1up3down said:
Well, I am going on six years now of perfects starts with my Alton.
Please let me know when I can expect to start having trouble.

Good for you. I only said what I said. I did not say that they weren't any good.

XTINCT said:
IMHO the Alton kit looks fragile.

I tend to say what I mean. No more and no less. I sure did not mean to offend. I hope you get many more years.

CNW Electric Starter Conversion Installation

Similar threads