[mutley72]

I like to ride with my headlight on all the time, this seems to drain the battery weakening the ability of the starter. I also prefer the look of the old timing cover.
Is it straightforward removing the starter and swapping the timing cover to make her k/s only ?

 

[GrandPaulZ]

Welcome to the forum!

I believe the Right side crankcase half must be replaced as well.

In other words, TOTAL OVERHAUL is necessary.

 

[choppedtriumph]

Hmmmm...

If mutley72 sold me his starter and cover, would I be able to convert my 1977 t140v 750 kick start only motor into an electric start motor? Thanks

 

[jimmy bush]

Mutely, instead of modifying yours, find some one that wants an electric start that has a decent kick start version and trade. Make two people happy with a lot less headaches. Sometimes the case halves don't match up right when you change them and even if they do match, the case half numbers aren't going to match and that can be a red flag come sale time. ie, why don't the numbers match? did it throw a rod or something? Has this thing been tortured?

 

[KADUTZ]

Well I dont know what the break even charging point is on an Estart with the headlihght on is but on a '78 T140 it was about 2400RPM (earlier bikes it was about 2800RPM). If you are having a problem with your starter due to a weak battery I suggest you downshift and run your RPMs at a higher level in order to acomplish a proper battery charge. Next problem you gonna have is Ignition due to the low battery if you continue in your current manner. If I remember correctly the battery in an Estart was a Yuasa YB14AL2.
Now regarding your dislike of the looks of the Estart cover. It seems to me a silly thing to purchase a bike you dont like the looks of but what do I know? I would love to have a Estart in my collection. Fell in love with the Estart Executive model first time I saw its picture. Rest assured if you continue to use the factory Estart you will get to find out what it takes to change the cover. From what I have heard there was an Estart problem that caused interesting results. Maybe you should sell your bike and purchase a Pre Estart

Jus the K's pinion

 

[mendonjo]

Hey I'll trade ya! I have a bone stock 73 Tiger (even paint) runs perfectly (5 speed 750cc) and always starts first kick. I bought it for my daughter but she can't kick it over. I love the bike but need to trade it for an electric start or a 500 cc (I imagine a 500 cc bike is a lot easier to kick).

Joe

 

[mutley72]

Thanks guys, I just bought this Bonnie as she looked so well sorted (I've owned a D and an E before). I live in the Uk so can't easily swap with someone over the pond. Just before I put in my ebay bid I googled images of ES bikes. The first one I saw had been converted to an E so I thought aha... Anyway going to try putting a halogen pilot bulb in that burns on the pilot setting without the tail light on and will learn to love her timing cover curves

 

[mutley72]

new twist - Bill Cosby at Reg Allen's London's bike shop says removing the starter is not a big deal, a matter of changing case covers and a couple of sprockets/drives (can't recall what he called them, but he showed me in the w/s manual). I also heard that the BIG problem with the starter is if you use it from cold and the timings not right and she 'kicks back' something will break - so I won't be doing that..
meanwhile the look of the is growing on me , as in most every other way she's wonderful

 

[KADUTZ]

now maybe you understand what I was talking about in my previous post about the Estart problem and interesting results. keep the bike as is and take the wife out for dinner she will be happier(therefore you will be happier) and you will be money ahead.

jus my pinion

 

[fried okra]

mendonjo.....I've got an '81 Electric start Bonnie.....works great, but I like the Tigers.....am in VA but get down to east TN often.....lemme know.

fried okra

 

[Johnhowell]

How about changing the battery to cope with your usage? I have changed to an Odyssey battery on my 97 Thunderbird - brilliant. Have not had to worry about charging for the last few years with it. Got it from Carrot Cycles in Lincoln - they deal with classic brit bikes rather than modern Hinckley so should be able to advise better for you. They advertise in the TOMCC Nacelle magazine.

I wish my T140D had electric start ;-) Personally, I would not de-S a T140ES.

Good luck,
John

 

[DAVE M]

I'd have thought that a bigger battery and getting the timing spot on would help tame an ES. I wouldn't change it as it must be easier to just not use the starter if it offends you, but changing the bike (which is quite rare) seems a big step.

I assume that the ES bikes were EI - if not then maybe changing to EI is worth it for the lack of slippage timing wise. The spray clutch was notorious for failure and they were hard to find but I hear that reg Allen has a stock

 

[bacigalupo]

I would think that the ES models are reasonably rare, so worth keeping intact.

Steve

 

[mick2]

i did away with the electric start on my t140es, you will need to change the timing gears as well as the casing. after stripping the timing gears 3 times i decided enough was enough with the electric foot.

 

[restewax]

Well I dont know what the break even charging point is on an Estart with the headlihght on is but on a '78 T140 it was about 2400RPM (earlier bikes it was about 2800RPM). If you are having a problem with your starter due to a weak battery I suggest you downshift and run your RPMs at a higher level in order to acomplish a proper battery charge. Next problem you gonna have is Ignition due to the low battery if you continue in your current manner. If I remember correctly the battery in an Estart was a Yuasa YB14AL2.
Now regarding your dislike of the looks of the Estart cover. It seems to me a silly thing to purchase a bike you dont like the looks of but what do I know? I would love to have a Estart in my collection. Fell in love with the Estart Executive model first time I saw its picture. Rest assured if you continue to use the factory Estart you will get to find out what it takes to change the cover. From what I have heard there was an Estart problem that caused interesting results. Maybe you should sell your bike and purchase a Pre Estart

Jus the K's pinion

I can vouch for the interesting starts or rather non-starts on my TSS. . . which is now a "KS" only.