Triumph T140 Bonneville Electric Starter Kit Install

[@jayc1116]

Hi, Mine is a T140D which has been left garaged for 15 years + and needs afair bit of work done. Likewise, its my arthiritic knee will probably stop me from kicking it over so I have researched the electric start option. Having not made any decisions yet about the conversions long term reliability at the price , I found your video exceptionally interesting and relevant, having a knowledge of the T140 s, having worked on them some. So thanks Mike for the cool video and one handed filming , I do hope you get the enjoyment of riding this certainly practical classic and that it proves reliable for you. JC- WsM

[@probewizard]

Thanks, mine had only done a couple of miles since 1998, but kept dry fortunately. The worse sufferers were the wheels,so wheel builds are coming next. Yes the long term reliability of the electric start, or whether it has adverse effects on the engine certainly concern me. When I last stripped it there was oil in the chaincase despite it supposedly running dry so I still don't have faith in the oil seal, we shall see.

[@classiccycleconnection9334]

I’m disapointed at the number of kit caused issues. Locally a friend installed this kit on his T120R and had a similar problem with the hole cutter. That’s a shame for the money spent

[@probewizard]

There may be more issues yet! We shall see.

[@DaveWhellersVintage]

Hi mate, very nice video of the Ark Racing electric start conversion. Nice bit of work there, well done it must have been pretty stressful doing a conversion like this that cannot be reversed back easily. Like you I am suffering from the arthritis in my knees and feet and starting my old T140v became almost impossible. So like you I looked around for an electric start kit that would get me back on the road again. I chose to go with the Williams version that fits on the timing side and have to say it did not work well at all. Massive gear wine and lubrication issues so I had to re engineer there design quite a lot, thankfully now its working well after three months work. The difference of having an electric start on the bike is amazing as you will no doubt have found and stopping at the side of the road now for a cuppa is no longer a dread for that restart kick that caused so much pain. My bike fires up first kick every time but the agony was still mind splitting, and was putting me off riding again. Now I have the electric start running its been a breeze and im using the bike more than I ever did now im retired. I did not go with the Shropshire Classics Ark Racing design because I did not like the idea of cutting holes in the casings and the belt conversion. Now yours has been on some time can I ask how well is it performing and are you getting any issues you would like to share. Has the new cover arrived for instance and are you happy with the result of your electric start now.

[@probewizard]

Yeah was very stressful. She starts and runs a treat now tho. Thanks for watching, will do another vid soon.

[@probewizard]

Note that I had to add the relay cos the pathetic handlebar start buttons can't take the solenoid current, but with the relay it starts every time.

[@DaveWhellersVintage]

@@probewizard I used the top black button on the right hand side handlebar switch gear, operating a modern 300 amp solenoid. The std one pulls a lot of current. Red and white wire in the headlight.

[@sidwainhouse]

I have always dreamed of an electric start for my Bonnies but the cost is prohibitive, I'll just have to teach my kids how to start them for when I get too old. I'm definitely not a rivet counter and I have made several improvements to the bikes over the years. Aside from the cracked case issue which is easily resolved by the manufacturer I'm not a fan of the starter motor and solenoid setup. I think a smaller solenoid under the seat would look better which would also leave easy access for the crankcase timing plug. Main thing is you can get out and enjoy your bike without that niggling doubt in the back of your mind that you will struggle to kick her over... 👍👍👍

[@rickconstant6106]

A separate solenoid wouldn't work with this set-up. It's a car type pre-engaged starter which needs the solenoid to throw the pinion out to engage with the ring gear.

[@sidwainhouse]

@@rickconstant6106 I just think they could have come up with a much tidier solution.

[@marko1314]

'a rivet counter' 😅

[@rickconstant6106]

I did consider this conversion for my 1978 T140V, but, aside from the cost, cutting a hole in the crankcase was what put me off. All the upgrades I have done to mine over the years have been reversible, if someone wants to return it to original spec, but there is no way back once you start cutting holes. I decided to get a second bike with electric start instead, and bought a 1980 Suzuki GS550 for half the price of the kit, and I still have the unmolested Bonneville. Having seen your experience here with it, I'm not impressed by the engineering of the kit and I think I made the right decision. I hope you can get yours sorted.

[@probewizard]

Hi Rick, thanks for watching. Yes I agree that cutting the hole seemed very drastic, but I hope I will not ever have to reverse it. For me it was a question of comfortably being able to ride the bike or leaving it to rot in the garage, as I get older starting it from cold often defeats me, or the thought of being stranded somewhere, not able to start it. I hope I end up happy with my choice.

[@TheReverb1]

Well; actually you can weld that part back into the case but you need to dismantle the engine; I think. That cut...not for the faint of heart I must say.

[@probewizard]

@@TheReverb1 I kept the cut out part just in case of that very situation. The repaired case is back from ARK and the motor and case is back on this evening so I should have her running tommoz.

[@TheReverb1]

@@probewizard so you did not needed to dismantle ALL the engine to make the welding? or what repairing are you referring? Thanks

[@probewizard]

@@TheReverb1 I wasn't referring to repairing the cutout, sorry for the confusion. The repair was the new primary chaincase that had been polished too thin and had to be repaired after the starter shaft punched a hole in it. She is all back together now and was running great today.

[@user-ue9xq6ii5y]

I am glad Mike did this video. Without it I would have had a harder time installing the kit based on the provided instructions. Shropshire should compensate Mike in some way.

[@probewizard]

I'm just glad you found the help useful, hope you reused the original thrust washer, mine works OK now, but now I am able to use the bike other issues are emerging. The head gasket seems to be blowing at higher revs on the left pot, so I'll have to have the head off again soon. All part of the fun I suppose 🙂

[@hermannhase6243]

Mike,buying an extra cutter & nearly burning out your drill; wouldn’t it have been easier to let Schropshire Classics do the work ? Then if you do have a problem with anything, atleast you have a warranty on it 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@probewizard]

That would have been way outside my budget unfortunately. the cutter was part of the kit but was delayed because they were making a new batch. Latest update is that is all back up together and seems to start OK now.

[@probewizard]

IMPORTANT INFO, I'd discovered I'd put the clutch together wrong! I should've re-used the original thrust washer, NOT the tab washer I used in this vid. That tab washer should have been for the alternator rotor. That tab washer had completey turned itself into a cone and resulted in the shock absorber coming loose. Fortunately we realised before any damage was done to the clutch

[@probewizard]

Latest update: I had trouble with the pushbutton that operated the solenoid. I just couldn't find a handlebar button that was able to handle the current, the solenoid would sometimes work, but not all the time. I kept the original push button as supplied with the kit and in addition purchased one of these 80A automotive relays, they also sell 40 amp versions which would likely be adequate. www.amazon.co.uk/Ehdis-Truck-Normally-Socket-Automotive/dp/B01KHRPJGA/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=relay&link_code=qs&qid=1695120518&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&th=1 The relay comes with a matching pre-wired socket which is handy. I kitted it out with sturdy old school brass bullet connectors, I had to drill these out to 2.7mm for the larger diameter wires, and soldered them all on for a good connecton. You can see how the wiring goes because the circuit is in the Amazon page for the relay. The pushbutton goes across the small white wire and the large yellow wire and the ignition power wire using a double female bullet, the large red wire goes to the solenoid wire, small yellow wire I connected to ground via the horn spade terminal and a short adapter wire. I concealed the relay above the horn in the “V” of the front frame tubes in front of the tank and secured it there with a cable tie, although it was quite snug in there anyway. No starting issues now. I had fitted a lucas 12A ammeter to my T140 so that I could monitor the battery charging, although it is not original it is a useful thing to have. The solenoid pulls a full scale 12A deflection when activated and those little push buttons with skinny wires just can’t take the juice, but they are OK for the small current needed to flip the relay so I did not have to change the button. I have a 20A fuse in the relay start button circuit which seems adequate. Hope this helps anyone else who has done the conversion.

[@sbarrett4826]

No, don't like all the cutting and for the price I would expect a better design. You makes your own choice but taking drastic measures like that. Why didn't you look at the original triumph electric start design first?

[@probewizard]

The original triumph design was prone to failure, this worked out ok in the end so I am ok with my choice.

[@truethought369]

Why do people these days want a bloody starter? I am 70 now, & found the T140 was very easy to start with only one kick. You are not going to the cause of your problem of bad starting! If you have electronic ignition & your carbs are set up right, then electric starters are not worth the bother. Also: the Kickstarter, tells you how even the compression is, thus pre-waring you of a pending service.

[@probewizard]

Compresssion is great, nothing wrong with the bike, just my blood cancer leaves me with very little energy, now I can use the bike without that issue. Thanks for watching.

[@truethought369]

@@probewizard So sorry to hear that, I wish I knew, because You have a very good reason to fit a starter. My comment was meant to show that I like my Triumphs to be basic, without things like large indicators, factory balance pipes, silencers, factory air filters & of course the electric starters, but everything is relevant. Thank you for your vid, & look up Paul Stemets, about "Micro-dosing", as his mum was cured of terminal cancer!

[@probewizard]

@@truethought369 No worries mate, I get it, and I wouldn't have converted mine if it hadn't been that or give up riding her, it was a big expenditure and risk too. The vid is meant to be a help to those undertaking the same task, showing all the pitfalls etc. Its not the easiest of jobs, next up is rocker spindle O rings, the "to do" list is always growing haha! Good luck and wishing you many more riding years!

[@nzobriens]

My knee swelled up every time I kickstarted my T120, aching for hours, and waking me through the night multiple times. I'm now rebuilding my T160 but miss my beautiful T120 69 Bonneville. We're all different and worn-out knees don't hit everyone.