1980 T140 Es Starter Query

Gotta say I have never heard that about oil pressure before. I've done a basic search for t140es starter and there seemed to be big problems with the sprag breaking, sometimes with disastrous consequences, in fact if you read the articles you will see that many of those bikes got converted back to kick start only. Sounds like a tall tale to me, anyone else know different ?

 

The oil pressure tale sounds a bit bizarre. Not had a T140 but had one of the last T160's in the late 70's which had an electric start as well as a kickstart. It was always slow to turn over but worked, for a while anyway. When it stopped working all it took was a stripdown of the starter motor and a good clean to get it going again.

 

Good to see someone else thinks it weird about the oil pressure. Maybe he said that so you didn't try the leccy starter from cold?

 

The oil pressure only applies through the delivery to the crankshaft to the big ends. Although this takes place within the timing side of the engine it doesn't actually pressurise the oil in the timing chest. The oil pressure is contained within the pipework through the prssure sensor and PRV into the crank.
There is also pressure in the return line to feed the rockers.
The timing chest is fed oil by splashing from the crankcase so the engine oil pressure makes no difference to the starter. Lack of oil pressure will kill the engine before it breaks anything else.
The basic design of the starter to operate on the timing pinions was the issue IMO. The starter gears were not of the best quality and it wasn't whether they were going to fail but when.
Better materials made the starters better so ones that are still around seem to be ok.
Any mistimed engines made matters worse as any engine kickback couldn't be absorbed by the timing gears.
There are starters available for the T140 but they, quite rightly, drive the clutch side of the engine.
Shropshire classics do them at a measly £2.5k but they are supposedly bullet proof.