YAMATO flywheel electric starter

[dpracer95]

Been a while since this has been discussed so figured I'd get some updated opinions/ advice. I'm looking in to buying the flywheel electric starter for the yamato motors. Just curious what's everyone's take on them? Are they worth it? Any issues when using them? Sone input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Howie Nichols]

I heard Billy Allen tried them and had trouble with breaking the rope plate bolt.

[DiGia54D]

Its a little over kill for a yamato since they normally start of the 1st pull. Mainly used in Pro or bigger mod classes like 750/850

[Team B&H]

The Pro motors and 4 cylinder Mod motors where you commonly see portable electric starters used have larger nuts on an externally threaded crankshaft while the Yamatos have a much smaller bolt going into a smaller internal thread. The Pro motors have to develop enough clamping force to hold the magnetic rotor or crank trigger in place with no keyway and the stock based motors initially had a much heavier flywheel to clamp on the crankshaft while the Yamato bolt only has to hold the cranking plate on- the heavier flywheel is held on place with a larger, externally threaded nut below. Applications are significantly different.

[benf27]

VRP engines use a key way to hold the rotor in place.

[krazy karl]

Considering the poster's location he will be doing Beach starts and wants to be gone ASAP. Also some of us don't have dedicated crew members and scratching for a roper.

[dpracer95]

Yes thank you Karl. I will be using this starter once maybe twice a year. Only for a lemans start. Which is done at most twice a year.

[bill van steenwyk]

Yes thank you Karl. I will be using this starter once maybe twice a year. Only for a lemans start. Which is done at most twice a year.

You still run the chance of breaking that bolt or stripping the thread of the very small bolt that is used to hold the cranking plate on with all the attendant trouble to get it out. I would suggest before investing in a starter, borrow one from somebody on the beach and try it. There are enough out there these days should be no trouble. Try it several time in a row, preferably if it takes a little time to start the motor because of flooding or whatever, and see what your results are.

Better to know before hand if the race is really important than have a problem at an important race. As Team B&H stated, most Yamatos are very easy to start with a rope, usually with one pull, unless something is drastically wrong which should have been fixed prior to the event.

[krazy karl]

I can see where the OP is going with this. At the Top 'O race on Saturday the first one off the beach who makes the hard right turn and gets in to the breech way first is going to have a major advantage as there aren't very many places to pass for awhile and it gets pretty sloppy quite quickly. An electric starter would be a big plus. Also having an issue somewhere on the course and having an electric starter would be invaluable. Ask me how I know this. Boy, would I love to run this one more time but old age is catching up with me.
kk