Yep, that's right a miracle befalls us from Russell Peterson, a machinist who lives on a mountain on a distant planet. Hell, I don't know, but he worked his ass off on this contraption for years and now they're on the road and we have a working model right here in Wilmington, California, the third world country between San Pedro and Long Beach, California. It's all true. Local longtime rider, Mike Torres rode up to the high-security Bikernet Interplanetary Headquarters on his wife's 1956 FLE, old cop bobber and demonstrated the Russell Starting system he recently installed.
It worked flawlessly several times. We've followed the development of this intricate invention since the beginning, but this was the first street operational unit available for testing. Mike cut a deal with Russ with the promise that Mike would document the installation and deliver the findings, documents and images by hand to the Bikernet Headquarters. That's no easy task for several reasons. I'd go into them, but I begin to sweat and reach for a whiskey bottle every time I think of the environment we live in. Scary shit.
I asked Russ to send me all the particulars, specs and of course, the price, so let's get started. Here are words directly from Russ' lab in the mountains, built with local pine trees:
The following press release is in some magazines. I will have a few more units ready to ship by Oct. 5. State your application so that I may advise.
HOW MANY CUBIC INCHES? HIGH COMPRESSION?
FRAME AND OIL TANK ARRANGEMENT.
EXHAUST SYSTEM.
HAND OR FOOT CLUTCH?
MAINSHAFT LENGTH–SHORT, MID 65-69, OR LONG?
PRIMARY BELT OR CHAIN?
This new style was successfully introduced in Lacrosse Wisconsin at the S&S 50th party, THE HORSE magazine bike show Saturday June 28th at the race track, and that evening at Rudy's Drive-In at the Knucklehead Company MC antique bike show.
The starter performed flawlessly starting two Panheads many times. $895 plus shipping includes the starter motor. FITS RIGID OR SWINGARM FRAMES!
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS:CROSS TRANS REAR EXHAUST PIPES DO NOT CLEAR THIS UNIT!!! SHOTGUN DUALS HAVE WORKED.
IT DOES NOT FIT THE LATE MODEL FLAT TOP FOUR SPEED TRANNY.
DOES NOT WORK WITH THE ODD '59 ERA 14 TOOTH KICK GEAR.
IT PREFERS A BELT PRIMARY AS THE TRANS IS TYPICALLY FORWARD ON THE PLATE. WITH A CHAIN PRIMARY AND THE TRANS PULLED WAY BACK THE STARTER MOTOR MAY INTERFERE WITH YOUR REAR FENDER OR OIL TANK.
You need an electric start oil tank, battery, and a master cylinder and line for the hydraulic clutch (foot or hand). AS OF 10-1-08 I HAVE A KNUCK RIDER WHO HAS CONVERTED A ROCKER PEDAL TO HYDRAULIC, A PAN MAN WHO HOOKED THE MOUSETRAP ROD TO A HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER AND I JUST TESTED A NEW H-D STYLE 11/16 LEFT-HAND–WORKS WELL FOR $60 EBAY BUY IT NOW; AND LASTLY DON USED A $20 HONDA PART, LINE INCLUDED!
A VARIETY OF CUSTOM LEFT-HAND MASTER CYLINDERS ARE AVAILABLE.
I HAVE RIDDEN MY PAN WITH A FOOT HYDRAULIC CLUTCH FOR 20 YEARS WITH NO PROBLEMS.
I still have much to learn about available oil tanks that clear.
WARRANTY: CONSIDER THIS–One could purchase the starter and install for a test WITHOUT investing in the oil tank or master cylinder until you see how well it works,……………. and if for GOOD reason you are not happy, I can be convinced to buy it back if undamaged.
A NEW Way to Start OLD Iron
By Russ Peterson
Good old necessity. A few years back, I found myself in the shop one winter night pondering my latest technical challenge—a stroked pan chopper and a close brother unable to kick-start it.
A machinist/mechanic by trade always asks, “What if?” Many sessions at the lathe and mill later produced the first RIGHT SIDE ELECTRIC STARTER. The refined product replaces the kicker cover on ratchet-top FOUR SPEEDS in RIGID or SWINGARM frames.
Utilizing a late style XL starter motor and via gear and chain reduction, torque is applied to a stem gear meshed with the OEM 16- tooth kick starter gear. The starter motor 9-tooth gear is always engaged for quiet operation and longevity. The RSES drive train is disengaged at the OEM starter clutch via proprietary parts. A PATENT IS PENDING.
An electric-start oil tank and battery are required. A foot or hand clutch master cylinder is required to operate an enclosed slave cylinder against the included heavy wafer style throw-out bearing kit. The introductory price of $895 also includes the starter motor.
Designed from need –not from greed.
Russ Peterson
E-mail Russ at cnc56pan@hotmail.com
Installation:
On his wife's Panhead–sorta. Ya see, he needed an excuse to build a bobber, but I better leave that topic alone or he'll get busted, kicked out of his comfortable Long Beach seaside home, and force to live in this neighborhood. Makes me shudder to ponder it.
This project took Mike one weekend.
“Most of the time was spent modifying the rear exhaust pipe to clear the corner of the tank,” Mike said. “Stock pipes would clear, no problem. Don't mention my wife, will ya.”
As mentioned above, Mike had to replace the stock oil bag for one that fit, at least a 310 cranking amp Softail battery.
So with the new/old swapmeet oil bag in place, Mike started turning wrenches. He removed his kicker cover and replaced his kicker gear with the standard, Russell-approved 16-tooth job. He replaced the stock throw-out bearing and clutch pushrod with a new, weaker, funky, fifty-cent piece, chunk of cheap shit throw-out bearing. I'm not too keen on the new model bearings, but they work fine if you're careful with adjustment.
Of course, he had to buy a new set of battery cables and Keith Terry makes the most flexible cables. The starter unit comes assembled, so you get a feel for the installation as you disassemble it. One of the rear inner primary transmission case yokes had to be ground slightly for the starter. So basically, Mike then replaced the kicker cover with the Russell cover and starter, installed the drive chain and installed the cover, and it was a done deal.
Not so fast. This unit replaced the manually operated clutch cable with a hydraulic clutch operated system. This could be easily remedied with any aftermarket hydraulic clutch handle, but Mike chose a tough route. He modified the already severely daunting mouse trap clutch assist system. I remember trying to adjust one of these in the late '70s after smoking Thai stick. It took days.
Mike found an old Softail rear master cylinder, mounted it, changed the brackets, aligned the piston, adjusted the cable mounting guide, made a cable to fit, adjusted the cable, bent a hard line for the old school look and bled the system. It's amazing.
He adjusted the number of springs on the clutch plate to alter the tension at the lever for his wife. Do you hear that, Mrs. Torrez? He had to notch his rear pipe, and that took all day Saturday to make it fit and clear the tank. Then he adjusted the clutch throw-out pushrod to ensure that the clutch is fully disengaged when the lever is fully extended, and the puppy was ready to fire.
I forgot to mention that the kit comes with a starter button lead and Mike didn't use a starter relay. Mike also wired a neutral light switch to be safety conscious for his wife. Am I covering my ass or what?
Keep in mind that Mike drained the transmission oil before this operation took place. Afterwards, the oil was returned, and since the old kicker cover hollow was no longer a part of the oil capacity, less oil was needed to fill the trans. Mike used a small chunk of rod as a dipstick and felt that ¼-inch on the bottom of the stick was sufficient.
If you have a question about this installation or terror on the streets of Wilmington, longshoremen wars, terrorist truck drivers or sheet metal for your air conditioning system, drop Mike Torres a note at Stumpworks@Verizon.net.
Or if you want to reach the man on a small Tahitian Island at the bottom of the Pacific, we have no number, but he does receive e-mails on his Blackberry.
“If you need info my cell phone is 402-640-0865,” corrected Russ. “If I do not answer please leave a message and I will get back within an hour.” Seems there's a cell phone on a nearby island and it's only a one-hour kayak ride away.
Russ Peterson
E-mail Russ at cnc56pan@hotmail.com
