Date: Wed, 15 Jul 1998 00:07:37 -0700
From: Jim Bush
Samuel C. Justice requested info on the Norton
starter modifications etc....
The setup for a 4 coil/4 brush starter is quite simple.
You need...
If the 4 coil/4 brush housing is from a Harley, it will run the
wrong way, so the brushes have to be moved to the next brush holder in
a clockwise rotation. The wires on the brushes are long enough. Hold the
brushes in the holder using plastic wire ties from freezer bags.
Everything else goes together from the Norton starter in the usual fashion. There is one thing to check and that is the end play on the armature - if is too tight then take a little material off from the end cap bush with a dremel or if too loose, add a few shims.
Don't try and add the 2 missing field coils to the Norton field coil housing, it is a lost cause - the wiring requires electric spot welding to the housing or together. I pick up used Harley starters for $15 to $25 at swap meets just to get the donor parts and the wiring is all done except for the brush rotation trick (mentioned above).
The other modification I do is replace the drive bush & seal with a sealed ball bearing (6203 I think). This requires the mounting plate to be machined in a lathe and the armature skimmed down slightly to 17mm. It makes the starter run real smooth. I posted this on Brit-Iron last year and can resend details if you are going to attempt it.
Jim Bush, President BMOC
75 MKIII "Big Red"