Hitchcocks Forum

Having removed the starter from my Electra X I am constantly irritated by the superfluous lump on the primary chaincase.
A famous quote about carbuncles comes to mind.
Are there any options available to eliminate this? I cannot seem to find a compatible inner chaincase I could fit.
Any ideas anyone?
Wonder if our host's are contemplating production of a plain one, hint, hint.

My 612 started life as a 500 electric start, that was ditched once the sprag failed one too many times!!

If memory serves (it was a long time ago) all I did was sourced a non electric start inner and outer case and the job was done - someone else might come along and verify what I have said.

Did you notice an improvement in the handling when you removed the starter? - pretty sure I did, something with ditching the low down weight of the starter, or perhaps the smaller lighter battery !!

Eric,

careful grinding away of the surplus alloy casting from your existing inner chaincase followed by some really neatly finished alloy welding is also an option.

But for outright replacement, the chaincase you need is from an Indian home market kickstart 350 Electra from about 2003 onwards, when the factory swapped from CDI to TCI ignition.

The kickstart versions were made in two versions, one for the right foot shift model with the 4 speed gearbox, and one very rare type for the 5 speed left foot shift gearbox (think hens' teeth or rocking horse manure). If your Electra-X has already been converted to right foot shift that will make things a little easier as the cases are in SLIGHTLY better supply (I actually bought my last one from Hitchcocks', it was one of their unlisted stock).

If you can only get the 4 speed inner case, you can probably get a decent machine shop to put a hole for the gear change shaft in the right place, using your E/S inner case as a guide.

Part nos. 502028/A for the 4 speed, 502029/A for the five speed with the hole for the gear shifter.

This is the right foot shift inner case.



However, if this is going on an E/S crankcase half you will have to drill and tap three holes to mount it, as the countersunk M8 screws which hold the Electra-X inner electric start chaincase in position are in a different position to the kickstart chaincase's fixing studs.

So here's what has to be done:

E/S crankcase half



K/S inner primary cover, the chain tensioner stud hole lines up but the mounting holes don't.



Line the chaincase up on the chain tensioner stud, use a 10mm drill to mark the new hole centres.



Drill out for new M8 studs, 6.8mm is the tapping size.



8mm tap time.



All being well everything lines up OK.



If you're careful you can do this with the engine still in the frame, I have done this twice.

Finshed result on my old Electra-X



I hope this helps.

A.

Thanks for the comprehensive info chaps. It does look as if my options are limited as I have left gearchange and no desire to change it as I also ride two Hondas and don't trust myself to mix it.
Will probably have to end up with H's blanking plug. Still not entirely given up on the idea of a working starter though. I could put up with the lump on the chaincase if it served a purpose.

Andy, re. handling. Well actually the starter motor is still in place just to fill the hole at the moment. (Only removed the spag clutch.) However it is doubtful if I would notice any change in handling anyway as I am a sedate rider.

One idea would be to give any replacement electric start an easier time. You can bin the so-called valve lifter and modify the cylinder head to retro-fit the old Bullet decompressor valve. I have done this successfully, and a number of other Electra-X owners have done the same.

A.

Adrian, I think I have discussed this before. Once I fitted a proper lever I find my Electra de-compressor works as well as any old Brit bike I have known. Certainly as well as my Velocettes that used a similar set-up. I cannot see how obtaining de-compression by another, more complcated, method would make any difference at all.

Now I realise that fitting a plain chaincase is not really an option I am coming round to a more realistic view that re-instating the starter may be more desirable. I am at an age when hip pain is becoming a problem and although I have no difficulting starting it at the moment that may dictate how long I am able to ride the Enfield that I love.

The shock absorber from Mr. H looks an excellent innovation but cost is prohibitive for a pensioner so I am looking into making my own. I did think about fitting a shear pin to the motor pinion so in the even of a backfire it would only be necessary to slip the motor out to renew a pin but I suspect I will find the pinion is cut directly onto the shaft so that is probably a "non-starter"