Modern Vespa

I have acquired from my sister a 1977 Rally 200 (VSE1T) that has been sitting for 10 to 12 years. I’m new to scooters and have been slowly learning the machine and readying it for an attempted start prior to seeing whether it needs a more ambitious rebuild. It is in remarkable condition, seemingly all original and not much damage, rust or wear. I have a question about the electrical system. The model has electronic start, US sealed beam headlight and turn signals. It has a Femsatronic ignition and a Ducati 4 pole (yellow, yellow, pink, purple) regulator and wiring harness is all original. All the bulbs are 6 volt. The only visible modification is a dead 12 volt battery which I will need to replace. It doesn’t appear that the flywheel has ever been removed and based on the lack of other modifications, I don’t think the coils or the stator have been changed. I’m wondering what the12 volt battery was doing in a 6 volt system and whether I should replace it with a 6 volt or a 12 volt.

Thanks for any comments

I’d say rewire the stator first, clean all your contacts and grounds as best you can and give the 6 volt system a try. It’s pretty anemic compared to a similar 12V system but that’s part of the charm. If you have a 6V battery tender, charge up the battery from time to time as the regulator/rectifier isn’t the strongest. If you find the rectifier portion isn’t working, BGM sells a replacement that i’ve had success with.

Thanks MJRally,

Wondering how it was running before with 12V bty, but everything else 6v?

Hey WD - welcome to MV! Right on, a Rally. I cannot help you with your question but if you havent seen this vid, it would be worth watching. BTW we love pictures here and it would be great to see what you've got.

I believe I have heard that the last of the Rally's came like this with a 6v/12v system. Battery powered lights and (horn?) I think.

Mark at Scooter Speed was working on a silver 77 that had this system, if I remember correctly.

Can you take a picture of the horn and post it here? Also check the rear tail light wattage.

Can you share your VIN, I think that might help. Good luck and nice score! Pictures please. I'm a Rally Nut.

Thanks for the reply. Don't think the scooter came with a combo 12v/6v system. The tail light is 6 volt as is the headlight. The dead battery was a 12v from autozone and the battery mounting area had the edges bent to accommodate the physically larger battery.

Serial # is VSEIT 0037008 (on both front ID plate and stamped on rear fender.
Engine has SEIY??(hard to read) and the umber *0037222*

I'm wondering why a 12V battery inserted in place of a 6v one in a 6v system wouldn't have burned out the bulbs?

Oh man, looks like that'll clean up nicely! Very nice! I still can't help you with your question. Just admiring another Rally coming back to life...