Roller Starters

[swall]

Has anyone here use a roller starter, such as the one sold by DocZ to start a hand shift/foot clutch bike?

[T. Cotten]

Has anyone here use a roller starter, such as the one sold by DocZ to start a hand shift/foot clutch bike?

Got a link to DocZ, Swall?

Most are inconvenient if you kill it at a stoplight.

....Cotten

[BoschZEV]

Has anyone here use a roller starter, such as the one sold by DocZ to start a hand shift/foot clutch bike?

Coincidentally, I just loaded the weak battery for mine in the car and am about to drive out to get a replacement. Although I'm using it to start a Gold Star I just finished refurbishing, I also used it on my tank-shift 1928 Ariel. I realize you asked about use with a foot clutch but I think I understand the issue you're worried about. Based on my fairly good understanding of my DocZ, and my possibly-incorrect understanding of your issue, I would balance the bike with the same foot I use to operate the switch (which is what I do with hand-shift bikes), put it in gear and spin up the rear wheel with the clutch disengaged (and while holding the front brake), and engage the clutch with my other foot. When (if) it started I'd disengage the clutch.

Off to the store for a new battery...

[JoJo357]

Being a flat track guy who rides a Bultaco Astro 360 I have experienced a 'hard to start' bike many more times than I care to think about. So I decided to do something about that. This roller starter is built to start your motorcycle and save your leg. I build these by hand and my machine tools are manual, not CNC. I make these units two at a time, and following completion I will offer them for sale.
Some details about the starter: Made using 6061 1/4 inch aluminum plate. The rollers I make by hand using DOM structural tubing with 1/4 wall. The starter motor is direct drive to the front roller and a chain drives the rear roller. The starter motor fits a certain brand of tractor and is a high torque starter.

The unit is powered by a 12V automotive battery (NOT INCLUDED) and comes with battery cables, ready to hook up to your battery and run. Includes a foot switch to activate the starter. I also furnish an aluminum ramp to allow you to roll the rear wheel onto the roller unit. All of the material, hardware and plate is brand new material, as is the starter motor. Each unit comes as shown in the picture and shipping is AT YOUR EXPENSE. I ship UPS.
Weight of the unit with ramp is....... 47 lbs. Unit footprint size is... 22.5 in. Wide x 18.5 in. Long x 8.5 in. High

Build time for a single unit runs about one week and I will try to keep 2 in stock at all times. I have designed these units so they can be completely disassembled using 2 box wrenches and 2 Allen wrenches. I feel you will find the workmanship quite good on each unit. I currently have the first two units built and I am waiting for the battery cables to arrive so I can install them and box up to ship. You will not be disappointed if you decide to buy one of these units from me. They work well.
Cost is $799 per unit and you pay for shipping.

If you would like additional information and more pictures and video of the unit in action just email me at wb_perry@yahoo.com Blake Perry Houston, Texas 77025

14-11-01-Starter.jpg >>>Blake Perry Unit. Ad lifted from VFT. 'Vintage Flat Track' Products Page.

17-03-09-DoczSoloStarter.jpg >>>VFT AD. 'Vintage Flat Track' Products Page.

Product Information, Sales and Support
Contact
Art “DocZ” Zimmerman
www.doczintl.biz

*M.A.D.*

[TomL]

I haven't seen a set of rollers since my Bonneville days, those are very nice builds too. Ours were a little less involved and quite a bit bigger but the same end result was gleaned! Again very nice products.

[T. Cotten]

I can understand one at the track, Folks!

But if a street machine is difficult to start, something's wrong.

....Cotten

[BoschZEV]

But if a street machine is difficult to start, something's wrong.

You might change your opinion after kick starting a 500 cc single with 10:1 piston a few times.

Even if a bike has perfect jetting, and the fuel was drained before being put away, they don't always easily start after a few months. In addition, if you forget to have the magneto and choke levers in the right positions it can take a few extra kicks before realizing the problem. Assuming you don't have the ignition fully advanced and the backfire painfully alerts your leg to the problem on the first kick.

Presently I'm working to jet a 36 mm Amal Concentric on just such a 'Competition Model' Gold Star. The NOS carburetor I'm using I started life configured for a big two-stroke so it had a different needle, jet holder, jets, and spray tube. So, while nothing was wrong with the carburetor itself, nothing was right. DocZ rollers are a godsend at times like these.

I got my rollers ~4 years ago as a result of bumping into an acquaintance at an annual motorcycle show. His leg was in a walking cast and when I asked him what happened he told me he was kick starting a bike and his leg snapped. Although his diabetes contributed to that, personally I'd like to ride motorcycles as long as possible and rollers minimize the assault on my aging knee and hip so I consider them an important element in achieving that goal. Yes, of course, they don't help when I'm away from home. But parking on hills helps where that's possible, and every kick I don't have to make is one more kick I will be able to when there isn't a choice.

[T. Cotten]

Sorry BoschZEV!

I was looking at it from this side of the Atlantic;
British bikes were never my problem.

Always ride in a circle, and never shut her off?

...Cotten

[BoschZEV]

Always ride in a circle, and never shut her off?

Your suggestion reminded me of something so, at the risk of going off topic...

Several years ago I rode a Ducati to a city ~500 miles away to give a talk. The Ducati's ignition switch has three positions: 'on' and 'off', but just a tiny bit further the position is 'parking light that drains the battery overnight'. The next morning it was dead, but it's nearly impossible to get to the battery for a jump start. When I took a taxi from my hotel to the institution for my talk we passed a house on the property with a BSA 441 parked in front. That told me the person in the house had plenty of tools. Anyway, I got my host to track him down and the next morning they met me at the hotel and with very long forceps was able to reach the '+' terminal and we got the bike started. I then rode the bike for maybe 10 miles (in a circle) to charge the battery but by then the fuel was low so I couldn't go any further. I pulled into a station and sat with the engine running for 30 sec. pondering my fate. The ignition key is needed to open the tank so there was no possibility to leave the engine running. But, if the battery wasn't sufficiently charged I wouldn't be able to start it because it has fuel injection, not a carburetor, so push-starting wasn't an option. Luckily, it started.

As a result of that experience I added a short length of cable to the battery that can be reached with jumper cables should I ever leave the parking light on again.

[T. Cotten]

I thought it was a track reference, BoschZEV...

Trying to charge a dead battery with a generator can be tragic. (Sportster Disease).

....Cotten
PS: My desktop's battery is dead, and if I shut it off, it boots up to the year 4198.

[Steve Slocombe]

Here's the one I bought on doctor's orders about five years ago. The vendor company name is on top, and I remember it as a little under $1000. It is two 12volt starter motors connected to friction rollers, battery connectors, a folding ramp and a switch in a steel frame.IMG_2022 (2).jpg It uses the same battery as my van, so I switch them over every few months. I have started many freshly rebuilt VLs on these rollers, usually with two of us - one on the bike and one on the starter button next to the fire extinguisher. Clutch in, select second or third gear, fuel on with full choke, clutch out and a quick whizz to prime, then half choke, ignition on and away we go. Occasionally I have started bikes single handed with the starter button in my lap, in which case I leave the sidestand down. Also used it on the KJ after full rebuild, cranking the motor over quite a long time to establish oil pressure. And occasionally at shows, when bikes for judging sometimes need help getting started.

[TechNoir]

The Ducati's ignition switch has three positions: 'on' and 'off', but just a tiny bit further the position is 'parking light that drains the battery overnight'.

I have done this too. I was lucky because it was near the top of a reasonably long hill. However since then I have made it a habit of looking at the lights as I walk away from the bike just to make sure they are off.

i fancy some rollers too. My XR400 (yes yes I know its not an old bike) can take a long time to start after a winters hibernation.

John

[Dablaze]

I once had a Yammy TT500 single, second hardest kick start bike I ever had. Strangely, all converted to street with Sportster bodywork, actually wasn’t bad looking if you squinted enough. Never considered rollers, just gave it to the wife, lol.

Hardest kick only was my ‘62 xlch Shovster...nasty bike.

Craig

[swall]

Thanks for the replies, guys. I have a 52 Chief that I am ready to fire up for the first time since rebuild. I will try kick starting first, and see how that goes.

[tfburke3]

Some may no approve but I kick start while standing on the side rather than straddling the frame.This way I can use either leg and for me get a better kick with a more direct down stroke taking full advantage of my body wieght.Less knee stress and no additional stress on kick stand.

Tom