Deleting the e-starter

[Guest]

I'm tearing apart and rebuilding my '79 750E and I'm planning to remove the electric starter and use kick start only. I have read rumors that there are some sort of machined plug that you install in its stead once you've removed the motor, is this true? And is it as simple as removing the starter motor and moving on with your life? As a side note, I likely won't replace the whole wiring harness, and will still run a Li battery.

[blowerbike]

you can buy an aluminum plug from say APE or go to your local auto parts store and buy a rubber expandable freeze out plug.
just that simple

[Nessism]

You can also remove the starter clutch if you want. Not as easy as installing a plug though.

[Steve]

Or you can just ignore the little button and kick away to your heart's desire.

But, I get the impression that you are trying to save a couple pounds of weight.

.

[blowerbike]

You can also remove the starter clutch if you want. Not as easy as installing a plug though.

eh?
well hell he should pull the stator cover and remove the idler gear and pin but...
of course remove the cable from the Solenoid....
i got these instructions from NASA i swear

[Nessism]

eh?
well hell he should pull the stator cover and remove the idler gear and pin but...
of course remove the cable from the Solenoid....
i got these instructions from NASA i swear

So you can't pull the rotor and then the starter clutch? Loose some rotating mass?

[blowerbike]

So you can't pull the rotor and then the starter clutch? Loose some rotating mass?

i have for people that i have installed a magneto for on 750 kicker model's..
but of course he will have no charging system if he pull's his rotor.

[Nessism]

i have for people that i have installed a magneto for on 750 kicker model's..
but of course he will have no charging system if he pull's his rotor.

Didn't explain well. Should have said to put the rotor back after removing the starter clutch. Is that possible?

[blowerbike]

Didn't explain well. Should have said to put the rotor back after removing the starter clutch. Is that possible?

i never said to remove the starter clutch..it can stay unless he want's the little benefit of removing it...(the rotor would be noticeable)not the S/C.
hell the idler gear and pin can stay if he doesn't go to deep with the plug.
he just wanted to plug a hole...i told him how

[Chuck78]

If doing a battery delete, does the magneto setup benefit the amount of spark on kickstarting? I have been playing with the idea of removing the battery, starter, gear, pin, etc to drop some more weight.


Off-topic, but Blowerbike, Ive been working in your area & staying at the 122&75 Super8 hotel for a few weeks. I found some nice roads out your way - Oxford Rd, Elk Creek rd, brown's run rd (the south segment off howe), greenbush, rocky rd/hinkle rd etc. Hoping to find some more twisty roads if I bring my GS back with me when I come back in a few weeks, & may hit you up for some cruising or suggested routes!

[blowerbike]

If doing a battery delete, does the magneto setup benefit the amount of spark on kickstarting? I have been playing with the idea of removing the battery, starter, gear, pin, etc to drop some more weight.


Off-topic, but Blowerbike, Ive been working in your area & staying at the 122&75 Super8 hotel for a few weeks. I found some nice roads out your way - Oxford Rd, Elk Creek rd, brown's run rd (the south segment off howe), greenbush, rocky rd/hinkle rd etc. Hoping to find some more twisty roads if I bring my GS back with me when I come back in a few weeks, & may hit you up for some cruising or suggested routes!

you named a couple roads i could hit with a rock...or you if you road by
hinkle/elk creek/rocky/oxford/browns run ect..
the mag deal is...
the mag will only run the engine but has a huge spark(mallory..i forget the amps).
top fuel/funny cars run 2 of these...they are belt driven off the right side of the crank.
the 2 guys i installed these for had crap or ummm bobbers with chopped harnesses and bad points.
they had been from shop to shop and spending money and getting nothing.
i told them the facts about using a mag and a price(rather large for installed)...and they went for it.
1 or 2 kicks and off they went...no lights or anything but they knew that going in but there bikes never ran better.
i told them to run a few simple wires for break light and head/tail light and to trickle charge there battery when it got low.
i removed there alt. rotor/starter and every single bit of electronics that was thrash anyways.
anyways there it is..
yes you are close to me..the 122/75 is at the opposite end of where i'm at...i am west on 122(20-25 minutes away from the highway).
i can get to 3 or 4 different county's in just a few minutes out here.

[Nessism]

i never said to remove the starter clutch..it can stay unless he want's the little benefit of removing it...(the rotor would be noticeable)not the S/C.
hell the idler gear and pin can stay if he doesn't go to deep with the plug.
he just wanted to plug a hole...i told him how

Aarg, meant that I did not explain well, not that YOU didn't explain well.

OP seems to be gone already from this thread, so just us idiots continuing to banter here.

My question: is it possible to remove the starter clutch assembly from the crank end, yet retain the rotor for the charging system? The idea is to remove as much weight from the bike as possible. Removing rotating weight will reduce the flywheel effect and allow the engine to rev easier.

[TheDuke]

I'm still here lurking. But some of this mechanical talk discussion is over my head. I'd like to save weight, that was the genesis of the idea to remove the starter. I hadn't considered the starter clutch/charging mechanism nor am I entirely sure how those are connected to the starter motor. I just figured I'd yank out the starter, plug it, and tuck the wires away.

What is the starter clutch and rotor? Are they relatively easy to find once I start disassembling this beast and should I go ahead and remove the clutch as well? Is there a how-to on this anywhere? I couldn't find anything.

[Steve]

Just how much weight do you plan on losing?

And for what purpose?

I ask because the bike, with a full tank of fuel, is almost 550 pounds. Removing a starter and installing a smaller battery might save you ... what? 10 pounds?

If you are going racing, yes, every pound matters, bur for street use, it does not matter all that much.

If all you are doing is to project a macho image on the kick starter, it seems like a lot of effort for minimal gain. If that is all you are trying to do, just kick it and ignore the button.

And that does not even take into account the 'fun' you will have with the charging system. I have not heard any long-term reports about using Lithium batteries, but I do know that Lithium batteries require a different charging algorithm than what most vehicles can provide. Yeah, it probably works for a while, but what about long-term?

Good luck with your project.

.

[jeffasaurus2]

Just my 2¢ on the lithium batteries.

I've had my Shorai for nearly a year now and it's still holding up just fine. Granted, that's only -one- year but its showing no signs of deterioration. Still holds 13.5 or better and seems to have zero issues with my charging system. This is around 5500 miles on the battery.

It's only died once, and that was because my stator gave up, after an upgraded stator and R/R its doing better than ever.