06 1200c - I had the recurring hestiatation blues with my starter. A common problem. Only annoyance during my pleasurable Sporty experience. On my last start attempt, I could hear starter zinging but no engine movement. Well at least the starter hesitation ended . Late season last ride didn't happen. Out the starter came. It ain't going back in. I couldn't find a definitive answer as to whether oem was 1Kw or 1.4Kw. I found All Bells 1.4Kw for $130. charley says it does the trick for him. That works for me. But I decided to pay 3x that and aim for a (hopeful) one time fix. After removing big side cover, to get starter out, I decided to replace oem stator with Accel (lifetime warrantee). Getting ahead of that, before it becomes an issue. Sidenote: I did not have to remove clutch and fat chain to get to stator. Tight and tricky, but doable with perseverence and patience. Had just a teeny bit of metal fuzzies on the drain plug, so recreational wrenching in clutchland wasn't necessary. Whew !

Doing a "compufire" search in this forum yields only posts regarding igintion modules. So I took the exploratory plunge and bought this beast.

I was wondering if anybody runs this CompuFire starter. I am really hoping they can report that it spins that crank like the plugs were removed.

And yes i have done the cleaning of all contacts too many times to conclude the oem starter is just too damn small for this rig. 4ga wires, umteen bazillion battery checks. Running a CE regulator. You can only do so much. Its an endless loop with no fruit to bear. A kid on bicycle is not going to pull a pickup truck up a hill, no matter how greased his wheels are. But a Peterbuilt will... even on a bad day.

The ratio of 1200cc (uncomfortable oem starter size) to 888cc (with its comfortable starter size) is 1.4. If oem (888) starter is 1.4Kw, and is multiplied by 1.4 ratio; I get get 2Kw for a comfortable 1200 starter size. If oem is 1Kw then my starter comfort ration is 2. I.E. Twice as much crankage as an 883 starter. Either way I am covered.

The obvious drawback is the oem 220cca battery. I may need double that... plus extra to make a decent spark happen. I am thinking that Antigravity 480cca is going be a good fit. I believe Kevin too. And loving those center posts that let you see the negaitive terminal, which has always been hidden from view, and suspect to loosness. Is cable rotating, jambing, twisting, just a tad as I am putting battery back in holder? Who knows? I'm so happy to be done with that hokey set-up.

If anybody has gone down this CompuFire path, this thread is the place to share. Regardless, I will report after I get everything put back together, for the sake of the next guy searching for alternatives to this common problem.

I haven't bought the battery yet, and Earthx 36c appeals to me because they have done cold climate tests, which is one worry to some looking to board the Antigravity (or lithium in general) train. I got a positive response from my question in Amazon feedback from a snowmobile guy running it for 5 years. Downside - $100 more than Antigravity. At this point, another $100 isn't a deal killer. It could be the final peace of mind enhancer. Lithium is not a factor here. Its a must. Besides, They'll be standard issue in five years. That's a different thread, please.

 

So here's the final results: First off - I decided to go with the Ant-Gravity 600cca because after you get out the smaller Anti-gravity range , 440cca (with center posts); the size is the same. These Antigravities are the same size as oem - but 1/2" shorter if placed side by side. I put AG the battery compartment with the posts facing out. I replaced both cables with 2 gauge - Pos was 13.5" , Neg was 18". Measured center to center of holes, 5/16" on engine end , and 1/4" on battery end. 10mm bolts fasten cables to brass fittings on battery. You can really **** on them for a super solid connection. The negative cable follows the same route through battery compartment and runs along top side of battery to negtive post. Positive post is on the bottom front corner. It so cool to be able see both connections on the battery! The attachment is visible, simple, easy, and solid - way better than lame-**** PITA oem setup.

I ran the 30A main fuse upright - in front of battery. The 4 place deutch dyno connector runs besides that. These sit free of any oem plastic clippage. I used a hack saw blade to get rid of of a lot of that. I had previously relocated that vent valve 3" lower than stock position. So now nothing is interfering with side cover tin attachment, Still using zip tie on back cover mount - just because. Tender cables = Lose em ! no need with Li-fe

So the last detail was the metal battery holding strap (bracket). When you put the Antigravity on its side, it is 1/2 shorter than oem. So I took a thin black leather belt and cut three strips for spacers. I glued them together and then to that metal strap with E6000 adhesive and clamped for an hour. Done !

The battery came unboxed at 13.2 volts, so I let it rip. Whoa Nelly! No hesitation, no clunk, its got the mojo this motor has been crying for. Been sitting for week -so it took a few attempts. I just went for a couple seconds on the start button. Going by memory I would say the starter turns a tad slower than oem, but with solid deliberate force.

I let it get settled at idle, and revved it up in garage for about 15 minutes, all the time watching voltage climb. Killed it and got on riding gear. I turn on key and it was 13.4 and then it went up for about minute - that told me lithium cells were doing as should.

Rode to store. Killed it (reading 14.2v). Came out and it roared to life on one flip. Rode back home and killed it (reading 14.2v again). Absolutely 100% satisfied with everything.
Total cost - $445 starter + $330 bat + $77 stator + $19 cables = $871. Smile on my face = PRICELESS. Knowing that when flow chart says check connections - I can look right at that negative terminal and touch it with no bs or doubt about its state.

I think its going to be warm enough to ride again tomorrow. The only thing between me and the road is a - zing- vroom - vroom. Knowing that god aweful klunk, or that - time stands still - hesitation is out of the picture brings me more peace of mind. And that's a good thing to associate with my sporty riding experience.

Well there's the skinny for anyone pondering all the options. I'm thinking and hoping five years. Short annual updates are my intent. A pic or 2 after I'm snowed in for the duration also.

 

Adding a photo to this thread.

Easy Access - visually and physically - To Negative terminal post.

Possible search words that got you here : Antigravity, battery, negative, terminal, cable, Compufire, 600 Amp, battery orientation, LiFe, lithium.

The posts on battery are set back within battery itself. The battery sets back inside compartment 1/2" more than oe. The battery fits snug as oe did - top to bottom. So i don't foresee any issues regarding accidental terminal contact with battery side cover. Plenty of room (1"-ish) to store some other component or your choice onto metal battery strap.

I'm loving it. Cheers