Smedspeed enlarged oil reservoir conversion

[terribletabo1]

I stumbled across this, does anyone have experience with this?
Smedspeed Tuning in collaboration with Guilford Motorsport Fabrications enlarged oil reservoir conversion

STARTER MOTOR CONVERSION KIT


Smedspeed Tuning in collaboration with Guilford Motorsport Fabrications brings you the enlarged oil reservoir conversion. From a wholly original idea, making good use of the defunct starter motor on your latest creation, the starter motor ends are removed and a new 6082 billet aluminium body machined to suit the existing Hitachi starter ends.

Starter motor conversion

These are professionally TIG welded together and an additional drain plug added C/W Dowty bonded sealing washer.
The Smedspeed converted starter motor body adds an additional 400cc to the oil volume; this is additional to the 350cc from removal of the internal starter gears. The XS650 engine is renowned to run hot - adding the cumulative totals of the two options increases the oil capacity to 3.35 litres, an increase over standard of 30%, oil temperature is significantly reduced.

starter motor conversion

Our conversion doesn't alter the crankcases in any way, and thus the conversion can be removed and the starter gears may be re-installed if required at any time point.

The kit is on an exchange basis, all I require is your starter ends to modify.

[grizld1]

When you see a "wholly original idea" from a hole in the wall operation offered for an engine that performance experts have been tweaking for over 40 years, it pays to be a little wary. Smedspeed is trying to sell their gizmo on the assumption that increased oil capacity will yield lower operating temperatures. But in the absence of increased cooling area, the effects are more likely to be limited to slower warm up and more expensive oil changes.

[rockhead]

This isn't a new idea. I have seen pics of a cast aluminium version that bolted on instead of the starter motor, nice cooling fins on it. From memory it was a made by a french company. Can't find a picture again anywhere.

[rockhead]

And here's the link finally. Slightly different in appearance and execution
thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/category/m-engine/motor-oil/
i0.wp.com/i1100.photobucket.com/albums/g411/xscafe/oil/_wsb_504x432_XS003a-1.jpg

[madmax]

The problem I can see with this is there'll be a "dead spot" below the level of where the starter shaft ran through the end cap, unless there's a horizontal plate welded internally at this level then a certain volume of oil will never move and unless you remove the starter casing at each oil change would never be drainable?

Max

[smedspeed]

Feb 3, 2016 9:09:32 GMT -5 grizld1 said:

When you see a "wholly original idea" from a hole in the wall operation offered for an engine that performance experts have been tweaking for over 40 years, it pays to be a little wary. Smedspeed is trying to sell their gizmo on the assumption that increased oil capacity will yield lower operating temperatures. But in the absence of increased cooling area, the effects are more likely to be limited to slower warm up and more expensive oil changes.

Hi Grizld

Re: Electric starter oil conversion. I have never seen it my/Guilford motorsport idea appear anywhere else, if you doubt it is an original idea, please find me just one picture, or a mention, or a newspaper or magazine cutting showing someone else has done this before. IF NOT please have the decency to accept the fact that someone has an original idea.

The oil capacity with my modified electric start conversion is increased to 3 litres, the same as the XS1 and early NON electric start variants. Cooling is increased due to the increase in surface area of the electric start body, and end caps. The modified starter body is in the air flow and air flows all around it.

The conversion has an air bleed, and a drain point. the boss where the starter attaches to the engine has been bored to the maximum size the casting will allow, to ensure as much oil movement in and out of the body as possible. I have tested these conversions, they drop the oil temperature as much as 10C ( around 18F to you in the USA) in back to back testing, on the same day

FYI ....Mike Guilford was the workshop manager at WASP, the same firm that Tony Hall ( Halco) started work in at the age of 18, so I should think he knows a fair bit about XS650 as well, it was his and my idea, mainly his, which is why he is credited with it on my website

have a nice day

Howard   

[willjamesbarber]

I had it done by Smedspeed a year ago and it has worked fine and has a drain bolt on the unit too. I havent checked temp readings before and after though. But, Ive spoke to the guy numerous times for advice and from those conversations i've gathered that he wouldnt recommend something if it didnt work. Top quality workmanship and quick turnaround too.