GoWesty announced a new gear reduction starter:

http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23526

Stick shift model coming soon, they say.

We use gear reduction starters on light planes for exactly the same
reasons.  They're superior in every way.  I installed one of these on
my last two planes:

http://www.bandc.biz/lycomingstarter12v122ringgearteethstcpma-1.aspx

I'll never go back to the horrible direct-drive starters that are
stock on aircraft engines and still retained by many aircraft owners.

So I've long wanted to put a gear reduction starter on my stick shift
'84 Westy.  Its high-compression GoWesty engine barely turns over,
even with a recently rebuilt starter.  It always starts, but it
sounds terrible and worries me every time.  (It's a strong incentive
to keep the engine well-tuned, so it'll fire reliably while barely
turning over.)

I looked at the adapter offered by Westy Ventures:

http://www.westyventures.com/parts.html

I never took the plunge, because I was intimidated by the task of
finding the right starter to use with the adapter and getting it installed.

I'd be curious to hear what Karl Mullendore has to say about
GoWesty's new starter.

Other options?