Modern Vespa

I'm not a smallframe guy, but I have a friend with a BlueBadge and she installed a 12V Vespatronic flywheel, ignition, etc on it last winter. I haven't seen it.

She swears that now it is harder (almost impossible) to kick start (she's wee). I explained finding the sweet spot between a compression and exhaust stroke to help start it but she says that the only thing changed was the new flywheel (and other bits) and before she could kick it, now she can't.

I can't imagine stronger magnets on a new flywheel would cause it to be that much more difficult.

Advice?

Grasping at straws, but I had a PK flywheel on an older v-range smallie and found that it rubbed the case, had to grind down a few spots on the case. BUT, I suspect if that were the case with v-tronic it would be a known issue.

Or rubbing on a aftermarket cylinder fin?

The lighter flywheel could make it a bit harder, maybe. You don't have the momentum of the old one so as the compression builds you feel it more.

Taller gearing in the primary would lower the effort (I think that's right)

One quick thought to check for friction, have her pull the spark plug, and try kicking it. She should be able to move the lever with her hand. If not, there's probably something rubbing that new flywheel.

Mike

+1.. Exactly..

And pulling the clutch lever would also be a way to tell stuff.. Different 'stuff' from plug..

And show her this too:

I had a lot of rubbing when I went from a standard Primi flywheel to a pk one. Had to do some grinding in the case to stop the rubbing. Just sharpied everywhere turned the engine over pulled the flywheel and checked for rubbing. The older cases have some raised areas inside.

Plum you may have guessed but this is that smallie that was at your shop two Augusts or so ago.

I figured...

Whoever put the tronic on should check it and say.. It had a kit on right?

Is she going to 'race' it?

Can she get the bike started? When she does how does it run? Whats the chance the woodruff key is missing or sheared?