Precision Engineering companies?

Any precision engineers out there?

Background - I have an ancient (1982) Honda FT500 for which I cannot locate a new alternator rotor drive ring. The FT has a very weak starter motor which has stripped the inner half of all the drive teeth.
Question - Does anyone know an engineering company they could recommend that is capable of:
1 - cutting off the drive ring and reversing it?
2 - producing a new drive ring and fitting it to the alternator rotor?
3 - turning me a new rotor complete with drive ring?

I know it will cost, but this ugly old bike has definitely worked its charms on me and I really am loathed to scrap it.

'Course another option is finding an XL500 engine (i.e. no starter motor!!)

Thanks in advance

Leigh

The ring gear might be fine, they are designed to have a bevel so the starter gear meshes easily. The actator mechanism is probably worne out (dos not throw the sarter gear in far enough). This is the same as the problem I had on my old CB250 RSD from the days of old. Lots of people blamed the ring gear or starter teeth but missed the obvious. I 'cured' my CB by replaceing the actuator bits.

Take out the old actuator assembly and you'll be able to see if it's toast. You might be able to fabricate a new one or get another one made.

Just a thought, a stuffed Honda XL500 engine might help to convert the bottom end to a kick start. You'd probably need the whole crankcase full of stuff though to get not only the kick but the take up gear... just a thought. Maybe some XBR500 bits might help the starter also although I'm unsure how much was shared with the FT/XL.

A shame really as the FT was a real hoot when pointed at hills.

Good luck!

Hmmmh, that maybe true of the drive gear, but it looks fairly substantial "bevel" to me!!
I have overhauled the actuator assembly and it seems to move freely enough.

I need to get the engine cover off and get a photo for your opinion. Having said that I can't seem to get the "postimage" facility to work could be a firewall thingy!

Are you going down the Roo tomorrow?

I might have some free time over the weekend to give it a gander. Let me know and I'll pop over.

Work means I'll not make the Roo on a Thursday for a long while. I've been searching for my old CB manual but after two house moves it's turned invisible.

The initial options are:

- New (donor) bottom end from XL500 and convert to kick (that wll hurt if it kicks back)
- As above but use the XBR 500 workings and keep electric start, might be easier, IIRC this had a kick as well.
- shim out the starter gear so its closer to the ring gear
- modify/replace/fabricate new actuator. Possibly the simplest maybe.

Don't give up on the FT, it really is a cracking bike as I'm sure you already know.

Google turned up - http://www.bsdmotorcycledevelopments...gineering.html

Cheers cmit, exactly what I was looking for!
What phrase did you put into google?

motorcycle engineering company

Originally Posted by cmit37

motorcycle engineering company

Nearly had it, I used "motorbike precision engineers