I'm looking at an '83 shovelhead that has a kickstart-only setup. I want to keep the kickstart, but would like to add electric start. I'm trying to get a general understanding of what's going to be entailed and an estimate of the cost. Let me know if you need additional information to help me out.

Thanks for the help!

 

Depends on if the starter was just removed, or if it was built with kick-start only components. Does the primary have a block-off plate where the solenoid goes?

 

Inner and outer primary that has provsions for the starter motor and the solenoid, clutch shell that has the provision for the ring gear to engage the starter motor, the starter shaft & motor, starter relay, solenoid, push button, and some additional wiring.

Really cannot tell you the cost, but definitely not expensive if you do the work your self. Swap meets are a great source for parts, but take someone with you that knows about Shovels so you do not end up with mismatched parts.

Also get a parts manual as well as a shop manual so you know exactly what you are looking at. Lots of folks build using J&P products or V-Twin. Both are fairly cheap sources for aftermarket parts.

 

Thanks for the couple of comments. I don't have the bike in my possession. With your comments, it sounds like I'll have to take someone with me that knows about shovels when I go to look at it. Assuming it was built as a kickstart only, if I do the work myself, are we talking about less than $250 in parts if I do the work myself? Thanks again for the info.

 

Thinking if you do the work yourself it will be double the price you posted if you can find the parts at a local swap meet. But it all depends on what was done to take it to a kick-only set up. The farther down it was taken to the basic kick-only, the more it will cost to get it back to kick and e-start.

But definitely take someone with you that is familiar with Shovels.

 

No Kick only option in '83 maybe it is a '73?
Probably all the necessary stuff is there and someone lowerd the bike till the chain ate the Starter housing...now it is missing!!!

 

Not many shovels left that hadn't been apart several times...no telling what it was put back together with...year is irrelevant... half a dozen kick only primary's on ebay right now...and they are asking big bucks for them...to me the electric start primary would be worth more money

 

on a shovel - it's all bolt and go - yeah - you'll spend 300 or so on parts - and have to deal with the electrical system - but the entire process is easy - I always direct button my HD starters - this saves a lot of hassles - those kick only primaries are popular with the skinny jeans generation that think they are beatniks from the "streets of sanfrancisco" in the 60's - they pay double for anything that fits the hipster dufus lifestyle of the Greasy Kulture - Lt Mike Stone over and OUT!

 

I'm still Betting most of the "Stuff" is still in there.....

No Big Deal to open the primary and Look!!!!

 

That's all well and good when they're still young. When their knees start giving out, it won't seem like such a great idea.