The Lightest Starter for Rotax 2-Strokes

[Armilite]

Well, I can tell you that the M5 can't be made much cheaper! I have to make a profit, otherwise there would be no point in producing them. I'd like to see you make one as you describe; believe me others have tried. If I could make it for $100 I would, believe me. The main pulley is manufactured on a $400k machine, it wouldn't be possible on a hobby lathe as the tolerances to accept the sprag etc. are critical. The M5 is a far more sophisticated unit than the GPL design and also lighter and far more compact. The lack of a recoil start facility has never been a problem, and on the one or two occasions someone has had a flat battery, they have actually been able to hand swing the prop (!).

You could do something IF you had the skills, but many people don't and so they have to buy. There are a few hundred of these units (the original M4 and now the M5) all over the world, with happy owners who thought the price was worth it.

=========================

Nobody is saying you shouldn't make a Profit. There is profit and then there is being Greedy! Use to be a part that cost $1 to make was wholesale for $2 and then retailed for $3. Today that $1 Part wholesales for $10, and then retails for $20. You can buy a FAG Crank Bearing Retail for $8.50, Rotax wants $85 for the same Bearing. You can buy a 2 Stroke Rod Retail for $18.50, Hotrods wants $125. A Billet 2 Stroke Bicycle Head is $80, Rotaxs 277 Head $389.

You don't need a 400K machine to make any of these parts. Christ man you can buy good used CNC machines for $1,500 to $5000. I have seen a nice 5 Axis CNC Mill go for $8000. A 5 Axis 5' x 20' Gantry CNC Router go for $7000. I recently traded a Snowmobile I had $950 in that I used for 10 years and a Homemade Trailer I had $400 in that I also used for the last 10 years, so $1,350 total, that I traded them both for a 9" x 20" CNC Lathe. 0.001" was Industry Standard for over a 100 Years and still good for 99% of the parts made, now they want to push this ISO9000 0.00005" Bull **** to cut out the little guys and foreigners! IF you look real hard you can source most Parts Off the Shelf today, like Starters, Nuts & Bolts & Washers, Springs, even some Pulleys. You can even Buy Pulley Raw Stock that already has the COG Style or Micro V already Machined. This Steel Pulley off eBay for $12.95. Another for $8.50. So why would I waste my Time making one if I didn't have to! Large Pulley for $40 NOS off ebay. I also got a 12" x 37" Lathe, I wouldn't really call it a Hobby Lathe even though that is what I use it for.

 

[bebedriver]

That's fine, keep your hair on I know my product, and plenty of peeps have been happy to pay the price for a product that's lasted for 20 years plus without need of repair (I just did repair a 24 year old unit for a guy in Spain!) Of course you could make your own with time, effort and some of those second hand machines, but as I said, not everyone has the time or inclination or skill.

Your perception of profit is based on a zero input. FWIW I still haven't recouped my initial investment in time/cash/development for the M5 version.

 

[Mig29fuk]

If its that easy and can be done so inexpensively Armilite then why are you not in the market selling!
With the margins being claimed you know of, you could make a killing by halving those margins and manufacture to sell.
You've got the kit? So howabout stepping up and backing up your claims!

 

[pchelandenny]

Bebedriver: In looking over the finished M5 product and, based on 35 years of product development, sourcing and costing, the price you are asking for your electric starter assembly is very reasonable (probably on the low end) and you certainly don't need to waste your time trying to justify it either! I like to challenge myself and (try to) make stuff that I think I can be produced either better or cheaper. However, when I step out into my shop, I am not surrounded by a plethora of 5 axis CNC milling machines, routers, lathes, water jet cutters, 3D printers or TIG/MIG welders. Nor do I have the skill that goes along with running those machines. There are a few of us out there that are happy to pay the price for a tested, sturdy product!

After years and years of working up financial costing reports, I think weekend warriors sometimes forget about the time/value of their labor, shipping costs, overhead, insurance, business taxes, license fees, and on and on. Somehow, all those things need to be captured in the cost of goods.

 

[Armilite]

If its that easy and can be done so inexpensively Armilite then why are you not in the market selling!
With the margins being claimed you know of, you could make a killing by halving those margins and manufacture to sell.
You've got the kit? So howabout stepping up and backing up your claims!

========================

Why Dude, is because I'm Retired, I don't need the Money, I get about $8000 a Month on my Pension and I got about $440,000+ in the 401k I haven't had to touch in the last 4+ Years I have been Retired. I make parts for myself and a few friends when I have time.

Anybody Smarter than a 10th grader can learn to draw a Part into 3D CAD/CAM Software which is very cheap today. Some are even FREE! Anybody can Buy a Good used $1000-$5000 CNC Mill/Lathe and learn How to use them. The CNC Machine would Pay for itself in the first 1-3 Jobs. There are literally 1000's of parts anyone can make at their Home or their Shop and Market them to the 8 Billion People on this Planet! There are literally 1000's of Free 3D Models you download off the internet www.grabcad.com is a good one. If you learn to Source your Raw materials you can also Save a lot of Money. Example: Some 6061 Slabs 2.5" Thick a few years ago on Craigslist was for $750, enough to make 28 Billet 582UL/670 Heads. A Billet 670 Race Head Retail is $400 x 28 = $11,200, and a Rotax 582UL Head $820 x 28 = $22,960. Time to make 28 heads. 28 x 1.25hrs = 35hrs/8hr Work Day = 4.4 Days for a $750 Investment! That's on an Old 1st generation CNC equipment. 2nd Gen CNC would be about 45min per Head. 3rd gen about 25min per Head. 1st Gen will do everything you can dream up.

Some 6061 Plate, 2 inch Thick, on FB 11-1-21 today!

 

[Bilmon]

Электрический стартер Rotax закрепился на 277UL Free Air. Я также видел GPL, адаптированную к 277UL Free Air. AirScrew производит крышку заготовки для замены литой крышки Rotax. Есть также крышки для веревочных заготовок. Эти стартеры Billet 582 продавались на eBay. С GPL вы можете сохранить свой Rope Start, если хотите.
[/ЦИТИРОВАТЬ]
кплю крышку электростартера Rotax 503 или аналог

 

[Martti Mattila]

Electric part in that M 5 starter looks familiar I mean it is the same as Chinese Valeo copy starter that I use when making electric starter to my motors. I choose aluminium nose piece that goes to my installation and swap electric part (the black one) from another starter to achieve correct rotation.
Here I put one mix to my Volkswagen Alu piece is from BMW r 100 motocycle and power part is for Citroen 2 cv. both from Ebay.
My pension is 2200E./Month and no computter programming skills but the support to starter is made from angle Iron with welding drilling grinding, thats what I know.

 

[jbiplane]

Now weighing just 2.83kg
I use 1274 grammes starters of yamaha overboards + 265 grammes dental crown rings + some adapters to start my 30...60hp 2strokes.
It cost me to buy and CNC mill below 200USD, but I dont want spend time and efforts trying to sell it as a kit to individuals.

 

[Bille Floyd]

...
It cost me to buy and CNC mill below 200USD, but I dont want spend time and efforts trying to sell it as a kit to individuals.

I completely understand your logic ; Don't feel Bad , because
i would not either !! Some people are complete No-Joy's ;
and could care less , about anyone , but themselves (.)

Bille