electric start,

Mr. Sparks,

I wound up drilling and tapping the case for two 6-32 brass screws. I put the screws in from the inside w/ lock washers and peened them on the outside. There is a write up on the NOC site about brush location and ball bearings. When I get back to my computer I'll look for it. My understanding is that if the motor spins the wrong direction move the brushes over.
Since I don't have a complete 2nd starter I have to take the armature and end caps off the one on my bike (which works great even though it is a 2 brush) and swap parts. So I won't be testing it soon. As other members have stated once I put 6 gauge wires, 3 phase lucas and Podtronics on my bike everything works better. Hope this helps.
Pete

Deets55 said:

There is a write up on the NOC site about brush location and ball bearings. When I get back to my computer I'll look for it. My understanding is that if the motor spins the wrong direction move the brushes over.

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This?:
http://www.nortonownersclub.org/support ... rter-motor

L.A.B.
That's it. Damn your quick. Thanks for the assist.
Pete

Deets55 said:

Mr. Sparks,
I am in the process of converting to a 4 brush. The problem I am having now is finding a way to attach the ground strap for the field coil to the case. I have an Norton starter case the I am putting Accel field windings in.The original was somehow brazed/spot welded. I am considering drilling and tapping a hole and using a 4/40 screw. What is your way of doing this?
Pete

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I have converted several starter motors using Harley field coils and attempted to put Accel field coils into a Norton housing, but it was such a pain I found a an old Harley housing to put them in. The Norton housing is "clocked" differently and the cable connector interferes with one of the additional field windings. Using the Harley housing avoids this.

The needle bearing replacement does help reduce the drag on the drive end, but if you have access to a lathe you can open the drive end plate for a ball bearing. You will need to slightly skim the armature to take the bearing as well, but performance is greatly improved. Check the fit of the small end of the armature into the end cover. Often these are badly pitted and even a new bush doesn't help. You may have to turn the end of the armature to clean it up and then make a custom bush.

The last few starters I did I bought a new aftermarket Harley starter and put a refurbished armature in them. It was no more expensive than refurbishing a used starter.

Usable armatures are hard to find and broken down starters are bringing crazy money. Unless you want original appearance, I'd give DynoDave's Hitachi starters a good look.

Here's a picture of my Harley brush plate during and after the rotation of brushes. I recommend you number them before disassembly to keep track of them, it is easy to get confused. Rotate each brush 90 degrees CW, my wires were short but they all reached after a little fiddling.





Jaydee

Thanks for the photo Jaydee, I'll have a go at it at work this week.

Jaydee, can you take a photo with the brush plate out to show me the position of the field coils and where they attach to the frame please?

Ron L said:

SNIP
Usable armatures are hard to find and broken down starters are bringing crazy money. Unless you want original appearance, I'd give DynoDave's Hitachi starters a good look.

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I find the original 2 brush starter to be perfectly fine and adequate. To me the charging system is by far the biggest problem. The original battery, with a good charging system, was also fine... but I now use the correct AGM replacement for the original YUASUA.

I made my NIPPONDENSO based starter primarily at the request of people who don't have a good armature. But it seems to be good enough for those wanting an upgrade without the hassle and marginal improvement of a 4 brush conversion. This is in the opinion of the overwhelming majority of my customers. I've never used a 4 brush conversion myself, though I've examined one and tested it for data.
It's been out now for 10 years and getting ready to ship my 800th starter this week.
Dave
FWIW I don't really advertise it much, but I can supply chrome on the field and brush end cap.

I made my NIPPONDENSO based starter

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Oops! My bad.

illf8ed said:

Oh, that part of Idaho.
Moscow High School class of '71.

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If you're trying to start a Vandals/Broncos battle, you won't get one from me. Parents; U of I - '55. Myself; ISU - '80.

Back on track; I always felt that it's time to stop riding when I can't start my own bike, but, after watching my wife's 90-year-old grandfather continue to right (with an electric start), maybe I should re-evaluated my earlier thoughts. After all, you don't see me hand-cranking my car to boost my self-image!