Hi All, I am hoping someone may be able to help with some questions please?
I have a few LD's. I am trying to fault diagnose starting problems with one and have a few questions. In summary:
Lambretta 1 - Not working
Condensor Capacitor replaced.
Points replaced, although they seemed OK!
Stator plate status for starting and timing - probably out of alignment as I have never got this one started. I have moved it to various positions and can play with this further once I get a spark.
Ignition coil - Unknown about the state. looks OK, but testing seem impossible for these.
Lighting coil - Unknown about the state. looks OK, but testing seem impossible for these.
Flywheel Magnetic strength - Seems OK as far as I can tell and when compared to a working LD
External HT Coil - Not installed yet
Summary - I am unable to get a spark from the green cable / or electric shock if holding it. My next step is to start replacing the Ignition & Lighting coils with working ones from another LD, which I would like to avoid doing, unless anyone else has any thoughts or ideas on how to test these further or fault diagnose? However, before I do so, the Lambretta I am about to strip it with (is up and running and all is fine!) is displaying the following problems
Lambretta 2 - Working OK. However, I have no spark from green wire or electric shock if I hold the cable?. I'm using a external HT Coil for this one.
This LD Lambretta starts and is fine. It uses an Italian H.T. Coil (Green cable to HT Coil, then HT lead to spark plug). When disconnecting the external HT coil and testing the green (or the lighting / brown) cable coming out of / from the LT terminal (AKA connection block) , I do not get a spark, nor do I get an electric shock if I hold it in my fingers. However, once I attach the green cable to the external H.T. Coil, it starts with no problems. Might it be a case that I'm simply not kicking the kick start leaver hard enough to get a spark / electric shock from the green cable, or am I missing something? Normally I don't have to provide much effort to get a small spark or electric shock, but to get nothing at start it up with a slightly hard kick (Which I am doing when holding the green cable) is a mystery? This one normally starts after one or two kicks.
Condensor / Capacitor Question
Is three any difference between Filso and Marelli condensor capacitor and if so, what is it? I am currently using the correct one. However, I can buy Filso ones online with x2 cables required coming off it. Marelli ones, you need to solder the cables and my soldering needs improvement, so I am wondering if they are interchangeable, or must I use Filso for Filso and Marelli for Marelli and if so - why? Anyone know the difference?
Lastly - Stator Plate Alignment to begin with
Has anyone any tips on Stator plate installs for a new LD build that's in bits, or is it a simple case of installing it and moving it gradually, until it backfires, then starts and then go through setting up the timing process? This is how I rebuild them at the moment (going through a few woodruff keys sometimes), but I'm wondering if there is an easier way?
Any comments, thoughts or advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks for reading.