Topic: Deleting the Starter

[TheHun]

Well guys, I deleted my starter and just wanted to share some information to you guys about it. When you delete your starter sometimes or most of the time, the cover is never fastened like OEM, rather siliconed on.

Another problem I was having is how am I going to seal up the hole.

Well i started disecting the starter. Boy it was filfthy inside and that is probably another reason it didnt really want to work. It weights about 6lbs or so, so I lost some weight too.

Anyway, start by taking the two long screws that are holding each buttend of the starter together. Mine didnt give so I had to find other means of taking those out. If yours come out...save them.

Now that you have the starter out, take apart everything, only save the two buttends. Reason is the buttend that goes into the casing has an o-ring, plus it fits great (duh). However, it has a hole in it that must be plugged, otherwhise it will leak oil. Save the two thin washers from the starter gear

Go to Lowes and find yourself 5/16 or which ever size bolt you find. Now here is the trick..if you were able to save the two side bolts from earlier when you dissambled your starter you will need a 2"-3" bolt with washers to "plug" the hole, if you could not save it like I didnt, get yourself a 7" 5/16 bolt (round head) with three nuts.( one at the snout with a washer, the other two the buttend side towards the timing chain) This will allow you to adjust the bolt to the same size as the original starter by using the two buttends. Now put some RTV silicon (high temp) to teh buttend that has the o-ring around the snout and on the washer otomake sure everything is sealed. Now if oyu did it correctly, it should feel as tight as the original starter when you put it back in, but without the weight. Make sure you line up th buttends with the holes used to mount the cover.

FYI,  you will have to drill a 5/16 hole in the buttend that doesnt have a hole if you are using the 7" bolt, if you saved the two side bolts from earlier, then you dont need to drill it.

Make sure you take out the cable that is hooke dup to the start...I cut mine, it was just easier plus I'll never have the starter in this bike again.

Believe it or not, since 've done this the bike starts much easier on the kickstart, plus its easier on my electrical system, and another plus is some weight savings

[heffay]

here's another idea...

i'm having trouble w/ the starter hole plug... i can't seem to get it to stay in.  i made the plug and i think it would work well... except that it is tapered and i can pull it out easily.  I'll have to find a non-tapered rubber bushing to see if that will work.  its a simple plug setup... rubber bushing w/ a hole drilled in the center for a screw w/ washer on each end to compress the rubber when tightened w/ a wingnut.
so, if anyone knows where to find a non-tapered rubber bushing... let me know.

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/showproduct.aspx?productid=12799&affiliateid=10050

This is a universal freeze plug replacement, might not be the right size, but they have others and it's definitely the right idea. Funny thing is, I've been trying to figure out how to plug the starter hole on mine, but couldn't come up with anything. As soon as I read your post I knew just what to use.
Any auto parts store should stock these things.

This might be closer in size:
http://www.bestvalueautoparts.com/RenderScriptTemplate.epc?_cmd=epccat_VehicleWHD&yearid=1997%40%401997&makeid=7%40%40AUDI%40%40B&modelid=581%40%40A8&engineid=18312%40%40V8-3697cc+3.7L+F%2FI+Vin+AEW%40%4018312&catid=7%40%40Engine+Parts&subcatid=118%40%40Block+Parts&mode=PA&source=GOOGLEBASE&clientid=BestValueAutoParts&sku=570-006&mfr=DORMAN%20-%20AUTOGRADE&source=GOOGLEBASE&clientid=BestValueAutoParts&year=1997&make=AUDI&model=A8&engine=V8-3697cc%203.7L%20F/I%20Vin%20AEW&cat=Engine%20Parts&subcat=Block%20Parts

[TheHun]

Yup that is a good alternative too..didnt see that

[BlindJoe]

they sell these at Menards too

[camelman]

Kevin at www.ttr400.com can also make a clean billet plug for these bikes.  Just shoot him an e-mail requesting it and he will tell you how to order.

Be careful with the rubber freeze plugs.  Rubber comes in different flavors, and a rubber that can hold up to alcohol (antifreeze) might not hold up to engine oil very well.  The engine oil can degrade the rubber over time, and the plug can start leaking, or even fall out.  The original o-ring at the end of the starter assembly will stand up to the oil fine, so it is okay to reuse.

Camelman

[754]

Hun, way too much work..
 

Bend a piece of metal in a U, to fit the bolt near middle of engine.. drill & tap top to take the bolt to hold cover on. Now you got a nice stash or place to hide your coils.

 Just put a plug in the starter hole, will try to whip some up soon.

[VonYinzer]

Hun, way too much work..
 

Bend a piece of metal in a U, to fit the bolt near middle of engine.. drill & tap top to take the bolt to hold cover on. Now you got a nice stash or place to hide your coils.

 Just put a plug in the starter hole, will try to whip some up soon.

Ive been debating going starterless with my 72 cb500 Four. Any chance of getting some pics of how you guys do it?

[TheHun]

it really is not that much work..maybe 30 min....I have tried to find a plug similar to our tapper covers with an oring and see if I can make that work

[heffay]

it really is not that much work..maybe 30 min....I have tried to find a plug similar to our tapper covers with an oring and see if I can make that work

so a little bit less work than it took to type up your first post, is what your saying?   

[low-side]

     If you're not going to use the starter again, just take the ends off, press a steel freeze plug into the nose, and use the stock screws to keep the right spacing between the ends.  Now you've deleted the motor, plugged the hole, and have your cover held on securely.  If you want further weight savings, pull the alternator cover and remove the small gear and take the starter clutch off the back of the rotor.  I left the larger gear on the crank to keep the oil pressure in check.
     That's how I did it anyway.  Have a good one!

[TheHun]

yup pretty much...explaining took longer

[Jay Allen]

All I did was glue a very thin aluminium plate over the hole. Still there after years of real abuse. The battery now lives where the starter was

[camelman]

Do you have any issues with battery longevity being that close to the engine?

[Jay Allen]

I built a foam rubber bed for it to lie in. I replace the battery yearly anyways so I am not too sure about longevity. Also this is not a street aplication, the battery is a smaller one than stock.

[FREQUENCY 24.7]

i simply stuck a dime in the hole, fit nearly perfectly, and made sure it didnt leak with some high temp rtv. been working for over a year, no leaks!

[ridgeline61]

I deleted my starter a while back and used a bit of silicon to hold that starter cover on, plus the weight of the V regulator which i attached to the top with some double sided sticky foam. Worked great!

Took it off the other day to adjust some wiring and relocate the V regulator and even though it never worked back in school, my 80lb black lab thought it was a chew toy and killed it. Surprised she didn't tear up her mouth...

So my question is, when the new starter cover comes in, is there something easy I can do to rig up a couple bolts with no starter there to hold on the cover securely??

[754]

Single tab from inboard mount hole in cover to a casebolt(under cover).. will hold it on.. Other hole use a 5 mm long bolt and nut.

 should be a pic of that in the Pennzoil 1/4 centery test thread in sohc bikes

[Motoguy23]

Well I just deleted the starter in my CB360T and it took me like 3 seconds.  I completely removed the starter and was left with a big hole. I went to the local hardware store and picked me up a  dustcap for like trailer wheels.  its for 1-25/36 wheel hubs. 

All I had to do was put some hi temp RTV silicon gasket maker around the edge and then give it a good hit with the end of a hammer and it was in place.