Electric Foot for Shovel

[banquo]

Mate in Sweden just bust up his right knee pretty badly, and it's clear he's not going to be able to kick over the Shovel for a long, long time, if ever.
This is the bike here.

Does anyone have any personal experience of this, and what options there may be to overcome it.
He's had a go with left foot kicking, but not with much success.
Options to be considered are changing the bike for something with electric start, finding a good technique for left foot starting, or fitting an electric start to the existing bike.
Anyone know what would be required to fit an electric start? I guess the primaries need changing, to take the starter bush, but does the tranny need to be changed too?
I take it you don't get a left handed (footed?) kick start?
Any tips to make it easier to kick over using the left foot? I'd wondered if these decompression buttons you see on high comp. motors could be used to give the swing an easier ride...
Any experiences would be useful thanx...

[Chiefy]

Okay, here goes.

As far as I know there isn't a left hand kicker conversion, it would be difficult to engineer.

If the heads have been twin plugged then you might be able to dump the new plugs and fit a decompressor, you're on your own here.

Assuming that the primary cases are suitable for Lecky start, which they look to me as if they are, then it's a buying mission out of the parts book for all the bits ie Starter Motor, Solenoid and other various bits and bobs etc. I might be able to copy a page off my Shovel parts CD to send you if require. Then there's all the wiring etc etc. Before you finish buying, check that there is a gear ring on the clutch otherwise the starter won't have anything to engage with.

My major concern would be if there is sufficient space under the oil tank to fit the starter motor. The frame looks totally custom and the oil tank could be stock or not, so the space underneath is anyones guess.

Really we need far more info than just the picture.

[banquo]

Thanx Chiefy: I know SFA about Shovels, but I'm guessing that the clutch basket could be replaced at the same time, to one with a starter ring gear.
Will the outer primary have the starter bushing fitted as standard, or is there one with and one without?
How about the inner primary: does it come with a starter hole as standard?
See what you mean about the oil tank, but if clearance were to be an issue, it would be easier to change the oil tank than change the bike.
Tank looks like a stock horseshoe from a Softail, but who knows....
The decompressor buttons I was thinking of are the ones in the SE book, and you seem to drill and tap a smallish hole in the heads to fit them.

[Roger]

Combine plugs and decomp:




454130
Fits 14mm Evolution models

454131
Adapter for short-reach, Shovelheads

[banquo]

Weird! How does that work Roger?
The plug reach will be too short won't it?
Got a link?

Forget it - google found it... ;-)

[Chiefy]

Originally Posted by Roger

Combine plugs and decomp:




454130
Fits 14mm Evolution models

454131
Adapter for short-reach, Shovelheads

Nice one Roger

Funny, the more you learn, the more there is to know.

[FXSTC Dave]

Hi Banquo.

Saw this in the Classified section.
Ad says its for Shovel/Pan.
Might be of some help

FXSTC Dave.


Categories:SparesNo
PhotoAd Number:7050Date Posted:15/06/2006Contact:Neil Harris
Bexleyheath, Kent DA7 4TP
Telephone:E-Mail:Reply to Ad Web Site:


Description
Tech cycles electric start system for open belt primary's, currently on ebay, cost £1200 selling for around £500 only used for the last 3 months

[banquo]

Cheers Mate,
I'll pass it on!

[kiwidave]

that's a great deal. Tech Cycles are *THE* people for adding proven electric start set-ups to choppers.

As Chiefy notes, the primaries on the bike look like electric start ones anyway (raised top under oil bag for solenoid). Yes, inner primary for electric start does come with starter shaft hole.

It and the solenoid hole could well be like mine - simply blanked off. It shouldnt be too difficult.


More info:
http://www.techcycle.com/about.html

PS: It isnt *that* difficult to start the bike as is but with the left leg. It's worth a try also, but I can understand if he wants to avoid a wheelchair!