Modern Vespa

The rule is: Fire, Wind, Water = Spark, Compression, and Gas.

I have a 59 VBA and it's not starting anymore. It used to: last year when I got it and would take it around quick pops round my city. It would occassionally die out, I'd give it a few minutes and then it'd start back up. Sometimes it would get fuel starvation at red lights and I'd have to feather the throttle until it bogged back up - continuing to run fine.

Then it stopped starting. This is my first Points Ignition bike I've had to work on, all my other older model Vespas were upgraded to electronic ignition and I figured it was a timing issue since I got a new plug, fresh gas and such. My flywheel has no timing hole in it: does that mean it's Aftermarket. I havent checked the inside but the outside has no Piaggio markings on it, only a "150".

I removed the flywheel, but the "small off-set screw used to change the contact breaker gap" isn't turning at all [quotes via scooterhelp]. I can't seem to adjust it. Not sure if it's just that old, but I'm attaching a photo if anyone can help ID what I'm working with.

I can do some OHMs tests on the stator or send it out to get rewired worst case, but wanted to start small.

I have a leak on the bike, pulling the flywheel showed a puddle on the fly side and I pulled the stator to check the seal: it was fine. But when I put the stator back on and "reinstalled" the flywheel - then kicked it, it gave me a scraping noise. I'm thinking I didn't torque the flywheel down enough and will basically pull it all apart just to try again.

Thoughts/tips/resouces in the meantime are appreciated.

I always suspect the HT coil first. I had an original one on my SS180 that would run fine for 10-15 minutes. Then it would die like you've hit the kill button. Let it sit for a few minutes and it would start fine and do the same thing over again in 10-15 minutes. The coil heats up and the winding inside opens up and no spark. After it cools down, the break in the winding reconnects until it runs for a few.

As for your new rubbing issue, maybe you didn't get the flywheel exactly on the keyway causing the flywheel to wobble a bit. That will also mess with your timing.

Good luck.

The faces on your points are not sitting square to each other...may be old and worn
Worn points alter the gap between which in turns alters the timing ..and can influence starting.

Get Brand new points and condensor...always change both.

I prefer to pull the stator right out for this job and work on it on a nice flat bench....it means i can work on the points screw better which is notorious for getting all chewed up in the slot ..try lots of diff screwdrivers.....and put TWO washers under the points screw ..so the gap does not alter as you screw it down tight........one washer will slide on the other...nice.....other people dont remove the stator and leave hanging at the junction and only remove the three screws holding the stator down..and do the work while its hanging out like entrails

which ever way you choose (if your a noob go for the complete removal method by undoing all the coloured wires at the junction

Make a mark of where the stator currently is before you remove it

One hour job start to finish
Good luck