Modern Vespa

Hi all!

Sorting through the bike has been fun. I’ve stumbled on a new challenge.


I got it running pretty well. Carb is tuned properly, clutch is working right, shifting is easy peasy, and it was starting first kick daily.

I noticed the key switch wasn’t killing the bike and the kill switch just blows fuses so I leave it be


It was starting without the key so I decided to find out what was going on.


Opened the head set up and noticed the green wire that connects to number 8 was clipped at the connector.

Opened the horn cast j box and noticed the green wire from the kill switch box was soldered to the purple wire from the headset and plugged into the purple female connector. So I took it all apart and crimped on a new connector for the number 8 green. Tied the killswitch green to the double green that goes to the back of the bike and everything looks like the diagram from scooterhelp.

But now I get no spark

Then it got dark so my work day is done

My guesses are

I have a short ground somewhere in the greens

Or

The switch is fricked.


Taking bets

I’m get out with a multimeter tomorrow and find out

But I’d also welcome other theories or possible bugs to look at

Thanks!

Is your green kill-switch wire original? I have to say I've never seen a bike with an original green wire - they are notoriously faulty and need complete replacement; connectors are not the solution.

I think so. It’s awfully crumbly. I just ordered some. I wonder if it took a poop on the PO and they just bypassed it

An update

I replaced the dreaded kill switch wire, rewired the stator, and replaced the cdi box with a new Ducati aftermarket replacement. I have spark!

While I did the rewire work I set up the gas tank with an electrolysis bath. Worked like a charm! Tomorrow I'll have the tank back in and it should start right up!

Another update-
I reconnected all the parts nice and clean. New fuel line, oil line, fuel lever, turned the key and started it first kick. Now to sort out an idle issue but we are in business. It runs great!

nice work!