Topic: permanent removal of electric starting system?... is it a bad idea?

[jason41987]

well... seems the electrical starting system is pretty old, windings look really old as well, and i dont think the solenoid for it works... also, i found out this bike hasnt been started in over 12 years, after cleaning the carbs and putting new spark plug caps on, it started on just the third kick...

so with kickstarting that easy from a cold start (i dont think it can be much colder of a start of sitting 12+ years) ive found myself debating if i even need the electrical starting system or not?... ive been thinking of just omitting it when i redo the wiring for the bike and just run it on a kickstarter...

does anyone do this?.. the starting motor is a lot larger than i thought it would be too for a motorcycle.. havent weighed it though, but seems id shave a fair bit of weight off the bike too if i removed this, and went with a much smaller lithium battery to act as a power buffer between the electrical system and the alternator and shave another fair bit of weight when alls said and done

heres another question... the compartment where the starting motor sits, which has an access panel on top of the transmission, without the starting motor there would it be possible to use this area as storage without risking damage to the engine or damage to anything stored there?

so anyone do anything like that?.. keep in mind this is a cafe project, i dont plan on rebuilding it to factory original, i find kickstarting fun, and one of my goals is to lighten the bike up more if i can, without sacraficing on-road performance...

one other semi-related question i have is for those who have increase compression.. i was wondering what new compression ratio youre running now in the engine, and how much more difficult you find it to kickstart?.. because with modern fuel getting more and more ethanol added to it, it seems there would be an efficiency benefit from higher compression.. and i know more compression means tougher kickstarts.. so i was curious if anyone has any experience relating to it?

bike is a '76 CB550F

[aperry]

Dunno what bike you have, but I'm pretty sure a lot of people do this (including myself).  I broke my starter motor, so I just cut the battery cable of the starter, removed the solenoid, and removed the "start safety unit".  Pretty darn easy.  If you remove the starter motor, I think some people recommend using a "freeze plug" to plug up the hole where the starter gear is.  Mine is a 750, not sure how this applies to other models.

I have since bought another starter and at some point I might add it back in, but kick start is kinda fun so I don't know.  I do like your idea of using the starter compartment for storage.  I've been looking for a spot for my tools.  That might be perfect.

[jason41987]

exactly what i was thinking of storing there as well... a basic tool kit and other various supplies you would need for a variety of road-side repairs... maybe get some thumb-screws to hold the cover on so you wont need a tool just to get to your tools

[cb650PK]

Electric starter is nice thing to have. It makes compression test much easier, if you stall at traffic light, you will be happy to have it, if your foot gets run over by steam roller and you want to start your bike you will be happy to have it, if you stall your bike at railroad crossing you will be happy to have it, if you stall your bike at railroad crossing wit your foot run over by steam roller you will be really happy to have it. You get the idea.

[jason41987]

if you stall for whatever reason, the engines already warmed up and wuold make it that much easier to restart.. and i like kickstarting... i jsut wonder how much more difficult higher compression pistons would make it?

[dave500]

i used xl125 domed pistons in a 500 once,wasnt any harder to kick,its only a 125cc under compression at any time,if it were a 500 single youd be struggling harder.

[singedebile]

i used xl125 domed pistons in a 500 once,wasnt any harder to kick,its only a 125cc under compression at any time,if it were a 500 single youd be struggling harder.

like the 74 XLCH my friend just picked up... no electric start,

[dave500]

has he got like a frankenstein bolt through his ankle?

[Duke McDukiedook]

Three posts in and you still have not mentioned what model and year of bike you have, this will help us help you immensely.

[jason41987]

dukie, its at the end of my initial post, didnt you see it?

[wvshooter]

When I was 18, back in the sixties, I had a friend who owned a '67 Triumph Bonneville. He could start his bike without too much trouble. Another friend with a Harley Sportster was a different story.  My girlfriend's father had a big Harley which I rode occasionally. It was a bear to start.

I would say forget the electric starter. You don't need it and every time you lay into that baby you can pretend you're riding with James Dean.

[Bro J Simpson]

The starter on my 550 didn't work when i bought it. It's all disconnected but still in its place. I kick start my bike in all kinds of weather, after killing it at stoplights and all kinds of good stuff. I don't think you'll miss it.

[matt mattison]

I don't think higher compression will have any benefit in conjunction with the ethanol laced fuels. Generally when compression is increased, you will need to run a higher octane fuel to prevent detonation. It all depends on how high you raise the compression ratio really. You could end up needing to use race fuel, which runs about $9 a gallon. It all depends own your engine modifications.

[ekpent]

One of the major highlights and selling points of the Honda brand was the abiility while all the other wankers were kicking and huffing away on there machines was to push a button and make it come to life. I like being able to still just tap my button and keep the tradition alive. Think this will end up being like an oil thread---to kick or not ?      If your a bonifide racer than a different story. Any good mechanic can keep their electric start alive and use that kicker for a back up,bet a few guys wish they still made those. 

[jason41987]

dsauget. if your starter doesnt work, its disconnected, and you have no intention of using it, why not shed some weight by removing it, and reducing the battery down to little more than a laptop battery... would save a decent chunk of weight, and as posted before your compartment where the starter was could be used as a new storage space

[jamesb]

electric start is nice. i did away with mine.then i was in a bad accident and had to put it back on.i will never be able to kick start again.

[754]

 To answer the question..No.. unless you cant kick it over

[jason41987]

yeah.. im doing it then.. im taking the starter out and the solenoid.. when i build a new wiring harness from scratch ill leave the connectors in, just in case something happens and i need to go back to it... but for now im going to remove it and run it on a kicker only

[dave500]

if your going to be tampering with carbs etc id be inclined to leave the electric leg on,,your going to be doing a whole lot of kicking man!maybe once its sorted?

[Dimitri13]

If you plan on getting rearsets be prepared to modify the kick lever.

[aperry]

By the way, it just occurred to me while thinking about this that (I think) the starter cover on a 750 screws into the starter itself.  Not sure about the 550.  I suppose if I decide to store tools down there I'll need some kind of adapter to make this work. 

[ekpent]

By the way, it just occurred to me while thinking about this that (I think) the starter cover on a 750 screws into the starter itself.  Not sure about the 550.  I suppose if I decide to store tools down there I'll need some kind of adapter to make this work. 

Then you will need tools to get to your tools. Probably need a hole plug also.

[aperry]

By the way, it just occurred to me while thinking about this that (I think) the starter cover on a 750 screws into the starter itself.  Not sure about the 550.  I suppose if I decide to store tools down there I'll need some kind of adapter to make this work. 

Then you will need tools to get to your tools. Probably need a hole plug also.

No offense, but earlier in this thread I mentioned a freeze plug for the hole, and the OP mentioned thumbscrews to avoid needing "tools to get to your tools". 

[jason41987]

i agree with what dave said.. i bench tested the starting motor today and it actually works, so problem might be with some of the connections, im going to wire the motor up and use that while im working with the fuel system and electrics, then i can take it out when im done

[DJ_AX]

imho
an e-start is AS cool as a kick start...
Having both... is even cooler then just the sum of the coolness of the two.
...mostly for all the reasons already mentioned

[ekpent]

i agree with what dave said.. i bench tested the starting motor today and it actually works, so problem might be with some of the connections, im going to wire the motor up and use that while im working with the fuel system and electrics, then i can take it out when im done

Your kickstart has already broke on your bike hasn't it. Get that figured out yet ?