Gear drive starter motor

[ted johnson]

This may be stupid, but I know zero about electrics. First, what's a really good gear drive motor for a self-contained starter? Second and stupidest, is there a way to switch this type of motor for opposite rotation so I can flywheel-side nut start one engine, and clutch nut start the other engine? If there's no way, is there a way to put a small (like #25) chain on the starter gear-drive shaft so I can run a chain driven shaft all the way thru the housing on flangettes, then put a socket on each end of the shaft? I don't know what the shafts on the gear drives are like, so don't know about adding sprockets. Don't want to carry two different rotation starters. Thank you all. Ted

[Alan Warn]

I have often wondered if a right angle 1/2" drill motor would work. They spin both ways. They spin about 750 rpm's, which isn't a lot, but probably enough to pop off a good running motor. They also have tons of torque and will hold a socket drive. The downside is that they take a lot of amps and your generator would have to be a pretty good one.

[nils gustafson]

85 Honda Accord.

[Bill Hermsted]

Ted- I think, if my faulty memory serves, that a DC motor will run in reverse when the battery connections are reversed.
Alan- I've run a 1/2 vintage drill motor, the kind that will spin you around in mid air when the drill sticks, off a small 1300 watt generator. These drills are brush motors, as you know, and don't draw anywhere near the current that an induction motor of the same HP does. I'm a little skittish now, though, running any 110 volt power tool outdoors, even a well insulated one on a grounded system, and even on a circuit with ground fault protection. Better to stick with a good 12 volt DC battery rig, to my way of thinking.
bill

[ted johnson]

I'm aware that a brush motor will run in reverse when the polarity is reversed, but some motors have the brushes set so that they "trail" the commutator segments. These motors will wear the brushes quickly when run backwards. I was afraid that the Japanese starter motors would be of this sort.
I found that Coleman makes a starter that has a shaft out each side of the gear housing, so you can start both LH and RH engines. I can get it with 3/8" square drive socket extensions on both ends, so I can use my own impact sockets. I've located a dealer, Cambrian Go Karts in San Jose, who'll order me one. This is thanks to Scott Wigginton who already owns one of these. I appreciate everyone's efforts! Ted

[Bill Hermsted]

Ted - I would never try to insult anyone's intelligence! I stand corrected, not aware of the brush problem- this idea of mine came from the old Mercury direct reversing outboard, better known as the "Dock Buster." I guess Mercury figured you would only be in reverse a short time, before the brushes had time to wear. Neutral? That's when the motor was off!
bill

[VirgLove]

Twist the v- belt... Hee...Hee...Hee... Run em like they ran em...

[ted johnson]

Thanks, Bill. I think the Coleman will solve the problem, and I won't be spending time designing the starter when I should be building karts!
Virge, after the past four seasons of starting with a belt, I'm ready to admit that the "new way" is better in this case! I'm still trying to get the belt burn off my 101 shrouds! Ted

[Tom Luttenbacher]

Ted, The Nippondenso starters are the best, smallest most power for the dollar. All jap cars and most american with jap parts use them these days. I made one for use at TBO. I cannot say about cw/ccw but the unit I found at an auto salvage yard turned proper for starting off the flywheel pully side of Macs/WB's. It just needed some re design to use the pully and eliminate the in and out motion to the starter drive, which I removed so a v pulley could be substituted. I think it can be flipped and held/in your mount to reverse rotation as you mentioned in a previous post about starting off the clutch nut. Here again not sure but there might be lefty/righty rotating starter motors. Tom

[Scott Kneisel]

TED,
I have been using one of those eBay Accord starters all season and it works flawlessly on a garden tractor battery and even when it has been shared between 3 people at some Avon practices this summer. Those Nippon starters are very strong and very efficient. Again like Tom said, I am not sure about reversing the polarity if you want to inline start on the flywheel side, that you will have to try. I am not sure if the built in solenoid that switches the motor will pull in properly with reverse rotation. I have an extra starter that I am going to use for an in line on Chris's Parilla powered Mean Machine. I am ibn Maine right now but when I get home next week, I will power up the starter in reverse and see what it does.
I'll let you know next week.
Scott