I have posted a few times in the thread "What did you do Today" about my trials and tribulations with the starter for the engine.

I built the engine about 10 years ago and after it attacked me and darned near severed my right thumb I put it up in the garage loft space out of the way. I then took a 10 year diversion into Vintage and classic bikes before joining my local ME society which has prompted me to get the engine back into working condition.

The engine required only an oil change, fresh ignition batteries and a new prop to get it ready for a run, however years ago I there out the old car starter that I was using to start it the first time so I had to get a new one.

I bought a 12 volt starter motor from a Ford Cougar off ebay for £30, this is a geared unit and I thought it would have enough torque to turn the engine without problems. However when I connected it to the battery I found the rotation was the wrong direction for the engine and it would have been very difficult to revers the direction as can be seen from the picture below.

I decide that the easiest way to change rotation would be through gears of which I had a pair of 2-1 ratio so I set too and in an evening managed to make the starter motor as shown below.

After a few minor problems at my local ME track I managed to get the engine started and it runs really nicely apart from a fouled plug due to too much oil in the sump.

Here is a picture of the prop nut that is engaged to start the engine.

Here is a picture of the beast. The eagle eyed will spot the damage caused to the finning on the RHS cylinder (On left in Photo)after a block of Tufnol that was being used to raise a fuel tank for another engine fell off the top of the test stand and into the prop while the engine was running. Needless to say the prop broke and I needed a change of underwear.

I meant to add that I didn't, personally get any video of the engine running but next time I run it I will get some footage and post it.