Latest on Alton starter

[sfelps]

What the latest research on Alton Starter sprag failures

 

[MexicoMike]

I installed my Alton in late '12. Never had any sprag failure AND that was the first version with none of those nylon anti kickback thingies. The Alton has been absolutely trouble free. Ignition was (is) the original Tri-Spark, installed in 2008 which has also been completely trouble free.

 

[olympus]

I believe Alton are now recommending that 5 plastic dowels are used

 

[Bonzo]

I believe Alton are now recommending that 5 plastic dowels are used

Is this a recent announcement from Alton, or from some contact you've had from them?

 

[DennisMo]

I have had mine for over 2 years. If I did open it up, which I did before I installed the Tri-Spark, I cleaned the sprague with Brakeclean and then packed it with an ultra tacky grease. When I got the kit, I asked Paul at Alton what about lubrication for the sprague and he said that if the chain case cover is off, spray some dry lube into the two holes (that are used to put it out). Sadly Paul is not with us any more and I remember him as very committed to and supportive of the product.

 

[B+Bogus]

I just received one direct from Alton with 5 dowels fitted

 

[Bonzo]

I just received one direct from Alton with 5 dowels fitted

Hmm interesting, thank you.

 

[DennisMo]

Mine came a few years ago with three plastic shear dowels and I had some kickbacks due to the old ignition system that I replaced with TriSpark successfully. What I did do was increase to 4 dowels as I thought the 3 dowels sheared too easily when there was a slight kickback. I might do 5 dowels when it is next apart....

 

[olympus]

Is this a recent announcement from Alton, or from some contact you've had from them?

Sorry for the late response Bonzo, , As Bogus as stated this is the recommendation from Laurent at Alton when i had dealings with them over a warranty oil leak

 

[MexicoMike]

Just out off curiosity, when/why did Alton decided they needed those plastic dowels. As I mentioned, the original version that I installed in late 2012 didn't have any sort of "shear protection" and I haven't had any problems with mine. What is the issue folks had on the versions without dowels that necessitated Alton implementing them?

 

[DennisMo]

I think that the reason for the dowels is that an engine kickback will cause the sprague to lock up and thus the kickback tries to drive the starter motor which can damage it, so the idea is that the dowels shear before that happens

 

[baz]

I've always had 5 dowels in mine
Never had a problem with kickbacks etc
Lucas Rita ignition

 

[Bonzo]

I sheared the dowels toward the end of last year - there were 3 fitted as standard.



I bought and installed new dowels (and retarded the ignition a little) but not tested it yet. I put 3 in again - and now I'm wondering whether I should open it up and put another couple in.

I've emailed Alton for advice, but not heard back yet.

As an aside, I'm not sure if there's any difference in them, but the originals (above) and the ones I re-fitted, and another packet I bought for spares, are all different colours.

 

[baz]

I sheared the dowels toward the end of last year - there were 3 fitted as standard.



I bought and installed new dowels (and retarded the ignition a little) but not tested it yet. I put 3 in again - and now I'm wondering whether I should open it up and put another couple in.

I've emailed Alton for advice, but not heard back yet.

As an aside, I'm not sure if there's any difference in them, but the originals (above) and the ones I re-fitted, and another packet I bought for spares, are all different colours.

What ignition do you have?

 

[MexicoMike]

Based on my "bulletproof" experience with the original (no dowel) version, if I bought a new Alton for another Commando I'd just put the max number of dowels that can be inserted and forget about it!!! (Or replace them with steel!)

 

[Bonzo]

What ignition do you have?

Pazon Surefire

 

[Bonzo]

I think while the weather is still rubbish, I'll open it up again and put more dowels in. And as I'll be halfway there, I might as well go all the way and do the one thing I should have done when I installed the starter in the first place - change the gearbox sprocket from its original 20T to a 21T.

 

[baz]

I think that's equivalent boyer MK4 ?
IE work at a lower voltage without firing all over the place

 

[kommando]

Its the Boyrer MK3 that is the one to avoid and probably the reason for the dowels.

 

[snowdr]

When I contacted Alton recently about the dowels sheering after some years of faultless operation, they sent the attached information sheet.