Info sought on alleged prototype 250 with electric start

[Ducati Dude]

.
.
Howdy all , newbie here

Has anyone ever heard of this motor before now ?

Read about it ?

Was it made by Ducati or Mototrans or tinkerer in garage or basement ?

Ian on Oz owns it

Any and all info most welcome

Ciao

Ducati Dude

[Jon Pegler]

Mototrans in Spain made two different 350 motors using an electric start mechanism.
This was called the Forza, and was produced from early 1977 until 1983.
There was a very similar 250 produced from 1978 until 1983 called the Strada, but this was never fitted with an electric start.
It would be possible to fit the clutch cover, starter motor and flywheel from an early 350 Forza to a 250 and create an electric start 250.
Unfortunately, the early Forza electric starting mechanism was not a very successful design and it was subsequently changed to a chain drive starter which performed much better.
It would not be so easy to fit the later Forza electric start system to a 250 as it used a different crankshaft.
I've got two Forzas, one of each type of starter arrangement if you need any further information.
I've never heard of a prototype 250 being produced with an electric start.
The very last 250 Stradas made in 1983 were very sporty looking machines but certainly never had an electric start.

Jon

[JimF]

I kind of remembering seeing a black and white photo taken from the left side of narrow case fitted with an electric start.

I know I once saw a B&W photo of a supercharged single taken from the same side. Maybe my mind is confusing the two.

I briefly searched the web but of course could find neither photo.

Jim

[Ducati Dude]

Mototrans in Spain made two different 350 motors using an electric start mechanism.
This was called the Forza, and was produced from early 1977 until 1983.
There was a very similar 250 produced from 1978 until 1983 called the Strada, but this was never fitted with an electric start.
It would be possible to fit the clutch cover, starter motor and flywheel from an early 350 Forza to a 250 and create an electric start 250.
Unfortunately, the early Forza electric starting mechanism was not a very successful design and it was subsequently changed to a chain drive starter which performed much better.
It would not be so easy to fit the later Forza electric start system to a 250 as it used a different crankshaft.
I've got two Forzas, one of each type of starter arrangement if you need any further information.
I've never heard of a prototype 250 being produced with an electric start.
The very last 250 Stradas made in 1983 were very sporty looking machines but certainly never had an electric start.

Jon

Grazie Jon

For this wealth of info

Am I allowed to send you pix of the motor /

Ciao DD

[DewCatTea-Bob]

" Am I allowed to send you pix of the motor / "

____ By all means please post any pix you have of such, right here (in this thread) !

____ Pix of such w-c.casing now added below.


Hopeful-Cheers,
-Bob

[ajleone]

Here is a pic I found - not sure this is what you are looking for:

http://www.philaphoto.com/imageLibrary/ ... 1211&pos=1

Tony

[Jon Pegler]

IMGP0405.JPG

The arrangement of electric starter mechanism shown in these photos was that used by Mototrans on their late 350 Forzas.
This used a chain drive from the starter to the crankshaft.
Fitted to the extended crank, a sprag clutch turned the motor over, disengaging once it had fired.
This was fitted to 350 Forzas from early 1980 to the end of production in early 1983.

[Rick]

Even at the slow speed of the electric starter motor, I'd have to question the decision to use that size/style chain driven by such a small sprocket- looks like you'd want to avoid the 'electric leg' except in an emergency.
Rick

[Jon Pegler]

Surprisingly, the chain driven electric starter works very well.
The starter motor itself has an epicyclic reduction gear inside its casing, allowing the smaller sprocket to turn over quite slowly.
Starting never requires more than a one or two seconds burst before the motor fires.
The earlier Forzas had a gear drive starter that was far less successful.
I always use the kickstart on that one.

Jon

[Rick]

Jon,
I never argue with success. If you have the cover off some day and have a handheld friction style tachometer, I'd like to know how fast the starter is spinning the crank.
Rick