Electric Starter for Matchless Single

Joined
Dec 4, 2017
Messages
19
This message is for frankdump
Some year ago, I was very interested in this equipment, ( described in Jampot Magazine, issue N°708/ July 2011 and your 2015 comment) and consequently, I've placed an order, received rapidly all the parts and fitted them on my 750cc G95 CSR
Being very satisfied with the quality of the starter, I would have wanted to order a second one for another project. But now I can not contact Alex TAYLOR or Richard MACCOON who provided me this equipment.
Can you help me to contact him?
Electric Starter for Matchless Single
Electric Starter for Matchless Single

Thank you in advance -
 
For those who might be interested, there's a great video on the design and development of this starter system here:



Ken
 
Very interesting video Ken, thanks for posting.

Jean-Paul, there is and email address at the and of the video...
 
Jean-Paul:

I don't remember the name of the guy who designed that starter system. He has the first one on a 500cc single cylinder Matchless. He lives a few miles away, but I'll drive up there over the next couple of days to see if he's still around. He'll be in his late eighties by now. I'll let you know what I find out.

From what I remember, he and his partner built about 200 of those kits before they quit.

Frank Damp
Anacortes, WA.
 
Jean-Paul:

Alex and his wife are still in the local phone book. I'll try to contact him now that the family Christmas activities are over. He must be approaching his 90th birthday and I doubt he's still involved with that conversion.
 
Hi Frank,
Thank you so much for informations -
Could you know if anyone else has gone on to continue manufacturing of electric starters for Matchless ??
Cheers and happy new year !! - Jean-Paul
 
Jean-Paul:

If I can contact Alex, I'll ask him if anyone bought his design data and is making the kits. I will try to find him after New Year's Day.
 
Any update on this? My right knee would be very interested if they are still available.

John in Texas
 
I haven't been able to make contact with Alex so far. I'm a bit puzzled, since they're in the current phone book. I'll keep at it. Watch this space.


Frank
 
I would be interested in one or two kits, one of which would need to be adapted to fit my '64 G12 (the twin primary chaincase is slightly larger than those for the single engine ). If no stateside entrepreneur pics up the venture, I volunteer to have a go.

Regards,
Knut Sonsteby
 
I would be interested in one or two kits, one of which would need to be adapted to fit my '64 G12 (the twin primary chaincase is slightly larger than those for the single engine ). If no stateside entrepreneur pics up the venture, I volunteer to have a go.

Regards,
Knut Sonsteby

Hello Knut,
Be careful, it is not possible to use the primary covers of a single for a twin, because the position of the starter motor, interfere with the magneto !!
It is necessary to modify the design of the casings - If you wish it, I have the drawing of this modification ....
Cheers - Jean-Paul
 
If this conversion relies on the use of the exhaust decompressor then it can only be used on singles, the gearing is the issue and the same applies to the Pearson Gold Star starter which will not work on twins.

There are 2 potential solutions

1. Use a starter with internal planetary gears like the Mitsuba SM-13 and a ratio of 28 to 32:1 starter turns to crank turns. This same starter is used on Honda XRV 750 V twin with 11:1 compression and 29:1 gearing and a 700c twin quad bike motor with 32:1 gearing.

2. Fit chain saw exhaust decompressors to the twin head.
 
I just sprung for a starter kit for my 74 Commando made by CNW. It is due in in a few days. Just had knee surgery so this will A) keep me busy and keep my wife from killing me
B) allow me to keep riding my Commando
After that I can concentrate on the Matchless.

John in Texas
 
The tooling must exist, as must the CAD file for the machining op's - it would be a real shame to have lost these.
 
If we can find the CAD file, that would be a good start. Maybe find someone with a 3D printer to make necessary parts. I would think that we would need a number of Matchless owners willing to put money down to get these made and that might be the hard part.
John in Texas
 
Hello Knut,
Be careful, it is not possible to use the primary covers of a single for a twin, because the position of the starter motor, interfere with the magneto !! It is necessary to modify the design of the casings - If you wish it, I have the drawing of this modification ....

Hello Jean-Paul,
I am aware of the differences between single and twin primary covers, that's why I mentioned design adaption. Thanks for the offer to share drawings ... PM sent.

As for the design discussed here, it's probably not necessary to improve the design much, but the design files (CAD + CAM) should be secured and refined to enable a new batch. I am running high-end NX design software including surface modelling, and would be happy to provide this service free of charge. Then it would be possible to offer single and twin engine versions having similar components and looks.

Regards,
Knut Sonsteby
 
Hello Jean-Paul,
I am aware of the differences between single and twin primary covers, that's why I mentioned design adaption. Thanks for the offer to share drawings ... PM sent.

As for the design discussed here, it's probably not necessary to improve the design much, but the design files (CAD + CAM) should be secured and refined to enable a new batch. I am running high-end NX design software including surface modelling, and would be happy to provide this service free of charge. Then it would be possible to offer single and twin engine versions having similar components and looks.

Regards,
Knut Sonsteby

Wonder if with the twins there would be a clearance problem with the Magneto?
John in Texas
 
Wonder if with the twins there would be a clearance problem with the Magneto?
John in Texas
Hi John,
To avoid the problem of the magneto on the twins, it is necessary that the attachment of the starter motor is shifted backwards by 15 ° - which requires a new casing .. !!
or modify an existing casing by welding -
Attention, because of the ring sprocket mounted on the clutch , the internal dimensions of the casing are larger than the original one !!
Jean-Paul
 
Hi John,
I am trying to track down the previous CAD files used for designing and milling the castings for the starter kit. I have received valuable information from Jean-Paul on modifications necessary to make a kit for the twins.
The initial project was undertaken 2011/2012 by Alex Taylor and Richard Maccoon. There was a second video by Michael Muir-Harmony. Maybe he or Mr. Maccon knows who did the design and if the files can be retrieved. Any help contacting these individuals would be highly appreciated.

Regards,
Knut Sonsteby
 
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