electric start gt250?

[Gil Gallad]

another idea i mooted in my over imaginitive brain was to build a proper [as in ramair] gt250 with electric start. i've still got a spare starter dynamo off my 1965 t10 and that was where the idea came from. surely nobody has done this before? fed up with thinking up projects, only to find somebody has already done it. biggest problem with this will be the end of the crank will need altering and trying to find somewhere to hang that big heavy stator. oh yes, then there's the engine/magneto cover 
cheers, gil.

[quocle603]

This would be awesome. You check sundial? They might have someone that may have. Forum is pretty dead but would not hurt to check

[Gil Gallad]

hi mate, yes i've tried sundial, i'm a member and you can sometimes find me on there. plus the forum in frosty england i use regularly, 2strokeforum.com. i've been mooting this idea for many years. i mean, if a 1965 250 can have an electric start, why not a 1973? didn't they fit the electric leg to the later 250 x7? or was it the 200 x5? never liked either, but hey ho, that's another story  ;D
cheers, gil.

[teazer]

In the words of the bard, why TF would anyone want to hang a great weight on the end of the crank trying to snap it like an early Yamaha twin with the clutch on the crank?

Any 2 stroke twin should start easily on the kickstarter and should not need an electric foot.  I get that it would be cool but not a modification I would want to try.

[quocle603]

The RD200 had electric start.

You can try to be innovative, I stumbled upon this on youtube.

[Gil Gallad]

i always try to be innovative mate, which is why i asked if anybody else had tried it 
teazer, you are assuming we  are all able bodied - not so, and an electric leg would be very useful  ;D
anyway, thanks to all who replied.
cheers, gil.

[motodreams]

The RD200 had electric start.

You can try to be innovative, I stumbled upon this on youtube.

It also had a massive generator on the end which was un-neccessary weight and strain added for the e-start.  Big pita when trying to add performance to one of them.

[pdxjim]

I'd be looking toward a modern 2T dirtbike starter setup.

150-300cc 2T KTM, Beta, GasGas, Husky (etc) all come with electric start now.

It's a basic, compact system that works very well, and tucks in tight so doesn't put alot of strain way out on the end of the crank.

[Old Brit]

In the words of the bard, why TF would anyone want to hang a great weight on the end of the crank trying to snap it like an early Yamaha twin with the clutch on the crank?

Any 2 stroke twin should start easily on the kickstarter and should not need an electric foot.  I get that it would be cool but not a modification I would want to try.

Have to admit I did think the same thing but each to their own 

[Gil Gallad]

thanks for the answers and comments, but as i said earlier don't assume everybody is able bodied - there are some of us still riding, but have some disability, such as totally knackered knees. an electric starter would be heaven [for me]  ;D
cheers, gil.

[m in sc]

WELL, YOU COULD PUT IT ON THE BACK OF THE MOTOR AND DRIVE A MODDED KICKSTART shaft. just remove the spring and disable the kicker, or keept he kicker on but use a clutchign bearing on the modified shaft.. worst case you could push start it. that way shown is beyond hokey though.

[mavguy]

Glad you brought this up.i've always wanted to convert my RD to an electric  start.Apart from this external chain setup I seem to vaguely recall some bikes having electric start via induction or some such mechanism???

[m in sc]

some early yamahas used the generator to spin the motor over. dt125, at1 i believe, rd200 electric. also the suzuki  GT185 had the same setup similar to the yamahas. they used additional alternator brushes to turn the generator into an electric motor.

(see video for a 125 i did)

the gt550 and 750 Suzukis had conventional electric starters in the cases, below the motor.

[85RZwade]

I remember being pretty chuffed after grafting an FZ swingarm into my RZ, an operation that required both a hacksaw AND a file. This discussion of adding an electric starter in a permanent, sanitary fashion makes me think I should sit in the corner and shut the hell up! Hat's off to you, gentlemen. I can't wait to see how you accomplish this.
Wade