Ignition help.

[Flashman]

Hi there,I’m new to the forum. I have a ‘78 Strada that is trying it’s best to make me bankrupt!
I only wanted to stop a rattle on the front cylinder that turned out to be the rockers with excessive play. New rockers and shafts fitted but that exhaust nut dose not look good. Well the nuts were ropey so a quick tap and she just span round and around. The nut was held in with silicone! No threads at all. So the were heads removed. Well the rear cylinder head has a stonking great crack between the valves. Ordered a used head but that is cracked also. And at some time the timing belt must have broken. The pistons are a mess. But I now know it’s got the big bore 375 pistons but had 62mm head gaskets fitted . With all that getting sorted I thought I’d replace some split conduit. I started and stoped on the ignition pick up. The wires were all split and the splits taped up. The wires were also only held on with 2-3 strands. So pick up removed and the rotor is split and the plastic split around the soldier joint.
So the first question (many more may follow) is will the NLM pick up kit work with blue 32398112 transducers for the Vespa and will the Rev counter work with them?
Many thanks Stu.

[mbmm350s]

Hi Stu,

Please can you post pictures of the pickup and rotor, there are three main types of pickup and two types of rotor.
Someone may have a spare rotor depending on which type. The rotor should have a special cup washer, they often fall apart if this is missing.
Pickup may be repairable especially if it was working albeit with horrible wiring.

Mark

[Steve Brown]

Hi Stu, as well as echoing Marks comments above I think the answer is yes the NLM pick should match your transducers. It does sound as if you're having a bit of a run of bad luck there!
Some previous owner was obviously not too careful...I hope you have more success soon. I have spare heads for the 350 kicking about but they all probably need either threads or valve guides doing so if you do get stuck or Mdina haven't got what you need shout up on here.

[Flashman]

As asked here are some pic of my pick up.
Many thanks for the offer of heads Steve I’ve got a head from Mdina but this is cracked so I’ve sent back for replacement.
Hmmm can’t upload pics the file size is too big.
The metal shroud has cracked on the rotor but to be honest I think going new my be the best option for reliability.
Just hope I can get a decent head. I’m going to get the exhaust threads redone as a matter of corse anyway.
Stu.

[mbmm350s]

Hi Stu

The metal shroud has cracked on the rotor but to be honest I think going new my be the best option for reliability.

Is you rotor like the one in the attached pic?, this is a second series rotor. The washer is also shown.

The standard pickups are quite reliable if they haven't been messed about with and I think you said the engine was running.
If you can resize the pictures it would help to see whether the pick up is salvageable.

rotor.PNG (365.97 KiB) Viewed 6391 times

If we think the pickup is repairable/reusable then you can have the rotor to try for cost of postage and beer money.

Others can comment on the NLM pickup.

shame about the heads, cracking between valves - might be that larger valves fitted.
Anyway anything purchased on line (not auction though) you have the right to return under consumer contract regulations.

Mark

[Flashman]

Yes that looks like the pick up.
I think I’ve found one on fleabay that looks good and cheep.

[mbmm350s]

Hi Stu,

I am not sure I know what is wrong, if anything serious, with the pickup. If you resolder the wires will it be ok? I can't tell as you say it is split?

For the rotor its important that you have the correct washer as per the picture.
Also there should be large o.d. washers + a spring washer, for the allen screws to spread the load and prevent distortion of the pick up,
dont overtighten!
I didn't understand if you already have the Blue vespa transducers or are thinking of purchasing them.

There is no output for the rev counter on the blue Vespa transducers. However a simple circuit can be made, like this. I have made this one.
http://www.italoclassicbikes.de/downl/fs_downl.htm

or I think it can purchased from Germany others will know where.

Mark

[Flashman]

Hi Mark,
Thanks for your reply, sorry if my post made no sense I’ve been working silly hours.
I don’t have the blue transducers but looking at options.
On looking at the pick up today the crakes I saw don’t look that bad now it’s been cleaned up but the adjusting slots will need dressing up. I have a small bid on a rotor on eBay so I’ll see how this looks if I win it.
Thanks for the link I’ll have a good read up when I get some time.
Many thanks Stu.

[mbmm350s]

Hi Stu,
No worries. I assume then you have the original flat sided black transducers, if you can read the part number then it helps to identify them.

If you can resize a picture of the pickup it would help. If you have access to a computer then windows paint can do it.

The slots for the pickup get damaged because the large o.d washers are missing and the heads of the Allen screws mess up the slots.
The parts books is not clear on this.

The rotor fits with the cutaway part facing the FRONT no 1 pickup, ie towards the rear of the engine when on TDC front cylinder compression stroke
and you should strobe time when swapping to a new rotor. In any case I would not believe any timing marks made by previous owners..

Mark