Electric start

[kevlar]

I built a bike a few years ago. It's never been as reliable as I wished it would be. Brand new repop s&s pan ( not p series) , rebuilt 76 ratchet top, bdl belt drive. No inner or outer primary. I am starting to think electric start might solve my problem of getting the bike fired more often. When she starts she runs great. She just doesn't start often or easy. I'm not a great mechanic, so I was wondering in any one has had the same issue and if an electric starter helped out? If so what company provides the best option for my application. I've seen some things out there but they have proven to be difficult to find. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I just wanna ride the shit out of this beautiful bike. Thanks

[Wood]

Well it might, but honestly from what you've described in your build its not without its own set of mechanical challenges and expenses. Will you need a new primary? Will a starter clear oil tank, frame etc.... Do you have enough room for a big enough battery to crank it? Get the idea? A well tuned kick only bike can be as reliable or more so. If you're not mechanically inclined find yourself an old greybeard chopper jockey and ask for help getting your tuning done. After that is dialed in it's been my experience that all bikes have a "process" to get started under different conditions. My pan was turn gas on, 2 twists of the throttle, 1/2 choke, 2 kicks with ign off, bring piston up to top, turn ign on and USUALLY would start with one kick. When bike was warm it normally started with one or 2 kicks.
I'd be lying though if I told you there weren't some occasions when I seriously considered pulling out my pistol and putting that bitch out of its misery!
Wood

[seaking]

I've got an electric primary setup, complete, for 78 shovel 4 speed ratchet top. Pm me if you're interested.

[farmall]

Getting a complete setup will hurt brain much less than buying it piece by piece. You can add a more powerful starter motor and there are various threads on how to wire your system better than stock.

[ScarTissue]

Might just be me, but I would think adressing the underlying issues behind a hard starting bike would be a heck of a lot easier than fiddling around with a starter motor. Even simple ignition timing adjustments can make a huge difference.

[SyndicateChoppers]

send me a pm on here with a number i can text pics to
i just installed a tech cycle starter kit on a customers bike last week
i can send you some good installed pics so you know what it looks like
i have used them a bunch of times and they work great and can be run with an open belt or a thin tin primary instead of the not so desirable oem cast primary that is big and bulky etc

on the same hand though a properly tuned motor and ignition system will start 2-3 kicks 99% of the time
what ignition are you running on the bike ?
i get much better results with points ignitions than electronic ignitions with kick only bikes

[Pendulum]

Might just be me, but I would think adressing the underlying issues behind a hard starting bike would be a heck of a lot easier than fiddling around with a starter motor. Even simple ignition timing adjustments can make a huge difference.

Same thing I was thinking. I've never owned a bike w/ a kicker that I couldn't get started within 3 kicks, even when cold (as long as something wasn't broken).