Estart - Wet stator conversion

[Keg]

After picking up my EC300E 2011, I could see that dust would get in the bottom drain hole of the stator and stick in the starter grease - just like the KTM's do.

So I washed the grease out of the starter gears, sealed up the drain hole with devcon and added 100mm of oil. Then fitted a brass tube in the MX stator grommet and breather hose.

During the first ride up the road I discovered that the hole in the bottom of the engine case is not just for holding the cases in the factory when they machine them. It is also a stator side drain hole. So I blocked that up too.

The GasGas SM14 starter runs great and out performs the SM16 KTM/Berg starter that my riding mate had today.

I will post pics when I am back at work.

[Neil E.]

This is a very interesting mod. Venting the 6mm hole in the case to the airbox would stop dirt from getting in. Your setup is even better. No rust on the flywheel is another benefit. I like the idea that there will be some lube for the starter gears; however pulling the starter/bendix apart and greasing occasionally is not that difficult.

Are you sure it will work with NO venting? I would expect that the trapped air would want to expand (temperature change). Could this affect the crank seal?

[stainlesscycle]

the brass tube at stator wire grommet works as vent i assume. it should work well, it's how ducati has done it for years, and you know how reliable their electrics are!

[GMP]

My concern would be how the oil might affect the insulation coating on the windings. Likely it would be fine but it was not designed as a wet ignition. WD40 has been known to attack the winding insulation.

[Keg]

Several ktm dealers have been doing this on their estart bikes for a year or two now. They have been using atf but I used gear oil. A lot of bikes run wet stators with no problem to the winding coating. WD40 is nothing like gear oil. Gear oil doesn't hurt clutch plate material it won't effect stator coatings.

[Keg]

Here is a pic of the outer stator case drain hole sealed with devcon. Remember to seal the hole under the motor also.

And the other pic is the breather inserted in the MX wiring grommet. It is a bit of brass bundy-tube from a model airplane shop and a breather hose (carb breather hose) that is routed up to near the top of the left radiator and back over the right one, hanging back down.

[Brian]

Anyone else do this mod?

Keg, run into any issues long term?

[Neil E.]

His main concern was dirt getting into the grease put on the starter system. I plugged the cover vent slot and vented the threaded case hole. This keeps dirt out of the starter system.

I wonder if the added oil made the estart work any better.

[GMP]

I epoxy that cover vent slot before lapping the cover flat as well. Also plug the lower hole in the case. If not the ignitions wind up a rusted wreck in no time.

[Ole farmer]

This looks to be a win win conversion. How is it holding up??? Any oil getting into the starter motor?? Thanks