starting rollers

[chaz]

cant find a relevent place to post so..
Ive got a Vtwin Laverda 750 to take the place of the A10 , trouble is, Ive found it hard to start on the button, nature of the bike not me, SO
was wondering if anyone had made plans for home made starter rollers .
As the A 7/10 and A50/65 twins and the big B singles need a good kick to start and some of us are getting older, I thought maybe someone has drawn up plans to make a set of rollers like those used in motogp, drag racing where the high comp motors are used.


I will add for clarification, the old Laverda SF750 was a parallel twin that was probably how BSA should have gone , looks and electric start, unfortunately the Zane generation Laverda was basically a race bike, which riding around town and being unable to start without rollers is a bit of a problem...

[EDDIE SIMPSON]

is modern technology rubbish?
my a10 usually starts first kick . a manual magneto is the icing on the cake. my handle bar mag lever is better than any engine management system i know off.
had my right knee replaced 5 years ago and no issues kickstarting.

[chaz]

please dont reply with my .. has no problem.. its not helpful.  one in a million they say!!

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Chaz,

This Forum probably not the best place for Laverda problems but have look on the Laverda forum instead. Look under 'Starter motor modification' posted on Oct 17 2012.  Info. about alternative starters and brush sets.  It looks like a sluggish starter is a common problem on the 750.

Dave.

[chaz]

Dave
I am on the Laverda and Zane forums as well as many more.
I was posting the question as a general question to see if anyone has attempted to make a set.
How many times have we wondered, the best place to dump oil, off load tyres, council restrictions, noise reduction, where to borrow a trailer to pick up/recover , can someone in area ....  go look at a bike for me..

trying to avoid all the pointless writings that go on , on all forum, when someone seeks a straight forward answer. that is not BSA.

[EDDIE SIMPSON]

hi chaz
my reply was based on you sold your bsa s because they are hard to start.
well with moderate compression ratio [ 7 /1 ] i disagree and dont think they are. its even easier with a manual magneto where you can find , with experience,the ideal ignition setting to start the engine whatever the condition[hot or cold ].
the reason i would stay clear of an electric start bike is the lack of kickstart when the battery is flat or defective.
laverda s are lovely looking bikes.
i would start with diagnosis by jumping the battery with your car jump leads.
if battery ok .
then look at the crank rotor bolt or sprag gear by watching the pistons go up and down the bore very fast. no sprag or loose nut = no start.
if the starter says no then brushes or check solenoid to begin with

[chaz]

Eddie,
I sold the A10 because it had only done 3 miles in 11 years. tbh, the motor , although running could do  with a rebuild , usual leaks but I dont have time.
A bad right hip and the bobber low style did nothing for comfort. Nothing to do with kicking them over. I am /was selling my bikes due to not using and downsizing the house. Then when you get offered bikes Yamaha R1 and R6 for £1000 the pair with extra wheels and then the Laverda for £1500.
The Laverda was designed as a race bike , so no room for a bigger battery, primary starting method was rollers at a race track. Its a known problem with them, suggestions include adding a 6v battery and stronger battery leads.
Hence... asking for a roller starter design. A brand new 230cca battery wont start it, maybe a duff relay. another option is to replace the two brush starter back plate for a 4 brush.
Not saying Im going to keep them, the R6 has already gone, but its a chance to earn money as the bike business has finished due to no local work.

Long term, the bikes may or may not stay, likewise, a Corvette or a trans am might appear. There is still a A50 to rebuild!! another saga..

[EDDIE SIMPSON]

hi chaz
my left hip is going or gone and my left leg is a nightmare. i know the issue but determined to carry on riding [while the govt allows]
a friend had a ducati 851 which had a tiny battery and he jumped it from his car battery to start.
it your laverda is 6volt then i would convert to 12 volt first and use my mates method of starting.
i know nothing about starting rollers.

[chaz]

ahh the 851, should never have sold mine. worth £££ now with the original exhausts. always started on the button.
the laverda owners suggest finding a place for a small 6v battery to add to the 12v one fitted.

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi,

Why not carry one of the very small jumpstart power packs?  Not much bigger than a thick paperback book and supposedly very good.  Amazon have a good selection.

Dave.

[chaz]

Dave

there's a thought...

trouble is , bike is at my youngests as he has been working on it and apparently its a pain to get to a lot of things on the bike.
may have to find a place to add a jump point

[DAVE BRADY]

Hi Chaz,

If you are really clever you could have it so that once started the bike will recharge the booster like it does the battery.

Dave.

[ducati2242]

I have a lithium starter pack i take with me when i travel on my Ducati 999R . You get one go at starting it on the normal battery and if it fails to fire the lithium is needed . This thing eats batteries , always has , but the lithium starts it every time . Cant recharge lithium from the bike though  must be disconnected immediately after starting .

 I made my own starter rollers with two land rover starter motors but don't have any dimensions . only used it on my new build square four .

[Richard Mills]

Chaz,
OK starting with rollers from home, but what if you stall it or stop for a coffee and don't happen to be at the top of a steep hill? Can you start it without rollers when engine hot?

[chaz]

Ducati..
never had starting troubles on the 851 or the 750ss, maybe the higher comp is the problem, although all 3 are vee twins so the crank pushes against itself to help, but the Laverda is a 750 parallel twin so the crank fights against itself , typical of parallel twins.
now Ive got another picture, I will look into making one. Always useful for those bikes that need the timing done and are hard starters. Been thinking about it for a while...

Richard, Im not worried about on the streets as its the starting the problem, previous owner hasnt used it for 4 years, getting fuel through the carbs after stripping brings the battery down on any non kick start bikes. I dont know yet what the problem is, until its starting then I know if it runs.