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General Category => Maintenance => Topic started by: fjman on September 04, 2012, 05:03:32 AM

Title: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: fjman on September 04, 2012, 05:03:32 AM
I understand that the original 84 starter from the fj1100 spins slowly when it is hot.Already tried rebuilding it but i'm not satisfied. I was thinking of converting a car starter to use in the bike. I know that I could just buy the xjr starter as to not have any problems but i'm doing this as a project. Has this been done before? If so, could someone help me out  :good2: any help would be appreciated  :drinks:
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: FJmonkey on September 04, 2012, 08:41:31 AM
Try upgrading the starter you have with Randy's 4 brush kit.

http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=StarterRBKit (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=StarterRBKit)
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: racerrad8 on September 04, 2012, 10:19:00 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on September 04, 2012, 08:41:31 AM
Try upgrading the starter you have with Randy's 4 brush kit.

http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=StarterRBKit (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=StarterRBKit)


You cannot convert a two brush starter two a four brush as the brush plate matches the field magnets.

Randy - RPM
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: 1tinindian on September 04, 2012, 10:21:08 AM
Red Power Ranger = FAIL!
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: FJmonkey on September 04, 2012, 10:25:51 AM
Quote from: 1tinindian on September 04, 2012, 10:21:08 AM
Red Power Ranger = FAIL!
Yea, I fell down on that one.  :shok:
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: 1tinindian on September 04, 2012, 10:28:35 AM
Quote from: FJmonkey on September 04, 2012, 10:25:51 AM
Quote from: 1tinindian on September 04, 2012, 10:21:08 AM
Red Power Ranger = FAIL!
Yea, I fell down on that one.  :shok:

No worries, mate.
Happens to the best of us!

I just had to give you a little shot there!

Cheers!
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: FJmonkey on September 04, 2012, 10:33:55 AM
Quote from: 1tinindian on September 04, 2012, 10:28:35 AM
No worries, mate.
Happens to the best of us!

I just had to give you a little shot there!

Cheers!
It's all good, if you play, you have to pay.
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: Dads_FJ on September 04, 2012, 12:23:23 PM
Quote from: fjman on September 04, 2012, 05:03:32 AM
I understand that the original 84 starter from the fj1100 spins slowly when it is hot.Already tried rebuilding it but i'm not satisfied. I was thinking of converting a car starter to use in the bike. I know that I could just buy the xjr starter as to not have any problems but i'm doing this as a project. Has this been done before? If so, could someone help me out  :good2: any help would be appreciated  :drinks:

I have no issues with my '84 starting cold or hot.  Are you sure there isn't some other issue?  Have you measured to see if there's a voltage drop accross the starter relay while turning it over?
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: andyb on September 04, 2012, 12:56:19 PM
The only time I've seen car starters used on bikes that I can think of is when they're outboard.  Only done at the racetrack, and involves a starting cart.

You'll have to be able to find a pretty tiny starter from a car, and honestly the only cars that I can think of with starters  small enough would be ones that make quite a bit less power (thus less compression, easier to start, etc) than the fJ.

Instead, if you wanted to be only slightly screwy, you could mount a secondary battery and have a 24v starting system.  It's a bit tricky to wire, but is fairly common for racebikes that have to fit "street" guidelines with ridiculous motors (1640cc hayabusas with 15:1 pistons, for example, under rules that say "must be self-starting").
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: Thmsdoyle on September 04, 2012, 03:40:31 PM
Quote from: fjman on September 04, 2012, 05:03:32 AM
I understand that the original 84 starter from the fj1100 spins slowly when it is hot.Already tried rebuilding it but i'm not satisfied. I was thinking of converting a car starter to use in the bike. I know that I could just buy the xjr starter as to not have any problems but i'm doing this as a project. Has this been done before? If so, could someone help me out  :good2: any help would be appreciated  :drinks:

My project 84 Fj had 4 starters on it within 1 year, the guy I bought it off of just replaced it for the fourth time just prior of my acquisition of the bike. I checked out all my wiring which was ok, still cleaned all my connections. I replaced with Randy's four brush starter, has started with no for the last 3 months / 3000 miles. Starts fine cold or hot, actually it does turn over faster and starts quicker than the other starter. I would highly recommend Randy's before trying a conversion. Just my 2 cents worth.
Title: Re: Car Starter Conversion
Post by: oldktmdude on September 04, 2012, 05:13:08 PM
   Save yourself alot of time and headaches and fit a four brush starter. I fitted one to my'85 about 2 years ago and have not had a problem since.   Regards, Pete.