advice please for dead scooter

[mickey c]

Hi guys
Any pointers or suggestions from the sages on here would help me narrow down my search for the cause and cure.
Not sure if connected or not but I was taking my Sunday scoot for MOT earlier. It started fine (thankfully as usual) but weirdly drove backwards. Stopped and started again and it drove me to work fine. Left at lunch for MOT and it died. No spark at all. Its 12 volt DC conversion and only done 500 miles with all new BGM stator and flywheel, wassell etc. All lights etc. still working so I’m sure the earths etc. are ok but there is not even a flicker on the plug or HT lead when cap removed. I’ve taken the green off to discount the ignition. On previous forum someone helpfully posted the readings different wires on my stator should give, does anyone know these please. Anyone have any other ideas if it’s the not stator? If the stator readings are ok, I guess CDI is next option but to die after 500 miles is not very good.
Stumped and sweaty, I hate pushing scooters!

[grandpa]

Hi Mickey c
Something wrong with your timing , probably retarded. Some early bubble cars and 3 wheelers with no reverse gear had a mechanism to retard( I think) the ignition by moving the position of stator so that engine would run in reverse Loose bolts on stator perhaps?
Grandpa

[mickey c]

Thanks Grandpa
i did have a bubblecar that could do 65 mph backwards by flicking a switch, not that i ever did! another regretted sale on my part!
as for the lack of spark, that's my confusion as i dont think the backwards runnign was coincidence but i cant hear any rattle or scrape if the flywheel had come loose and if timing was just 'out' i thought it would at least spark just not run or run rough. the fact it went from riding well to dying (somewhat terminally) without any misfire is what is confusing me.
just to top the day off the recovery fella rode 1200cc bandits and was very disparaging about my poor dead scooter. at leats she's home now!

[Scooterlam]

Sounds like stator, could have moved or could have been the death throws of a dying pick up.
the reoccurring stator problems would be a good subject for an oily rag article by knowledge.

[coaster]

It does sound like a stator issue but to check, healthy readings should be in the region of:

Green to Earth (LT coil) 450-520 ohms (BGM towards the upper limit)
Red to earth (Pickup) 95-115 ohms (BGM towards the upper limit)
White to earth should be zero ohms or close to it.

[mickey c]

thanks Coaster
that's exactly the info i was after, time to get the multi meter out and have a play.
the other project will again have to wait!

[HxPaul]

Hi guys
Any pointers or suggestions from the sages on here would help me narrow down my search for the cause and cure.
Not sure if connected or not but I was taking my Sunday scoot for MOT earlier. It started fine (thankfully as usual) but weirdly drove backwards. Stopped and started again and it drove me to work fine. Left at lunch for MOT and it died. No spark at all. Its 12 volt DC conversion and only done 500 miles with all new BGM stator and flywheel, wassell etc. All lights etc. still working so I’m sure the earths etc. are ok but there is not even a flicker on the plug or HT lead when cap removed. I’ve taken the green off to discount the ignition. On previous forum someone helpfully posted the readings different wires on my stator should give, does anyone know these please. Anyone have any other ideas if it’s the not stator? If the stator readings are ok, I guess CDI is next option but to die after 500 miles is not very good.
Stumped and sweaty, I hate pushing scooters!

The driving backwards is the strange part.You say it started fine,was that with the kickstart ? If it was the engine can only turn in the forward direction,unless as you kicked it when the piston reached the firing point,before it had chance to spark the compression forced the engine into a reverse rotation.

[mickey c]

Hi guys
Taken me until now to recover from a weekend away and be able to get into the garage so bit of an update and couple of further questions please.
Fgot the multimeter out and got the following results:
White to earth = 3 - pretty good
Red to earth = 113 - also fine
Green to earth = nothing, not even a flicker, checked both greens to be sure
So if my understanding from previous advise is right, my pick up is fecked!
If right so far and if I possessed any electrical ability I could solder a new pick up on.
I've got no chance of that so just checking that I need a new stator?
If so, can anyone recommend ready made DC stators that have pick ups that last more than 500 miles?
As ever, all help really appreciated.
Mike

[Estonrifle81]

It's the LT Coil which has failed. Not the Pick Up Coil.
Regarding the 'driving backwards'. Your ignition timing must have been too advanced. probably set around 23 degrees +.
I've seen this happen before.
If the Scooter has "ran OK for 500 miles", then it suggests the Stator Plate securing screws have become loose and the Stator Plate has slipped round anti clockwise.
The LT Coil may have failed due to contact with the Flywheel. Evidence of this should be easy enough to see. Or, it may be just a failure of the LT Coil.
Sadly, this is becoming a common occurence on some Stator Plates.

[mickey c]

thank you Mr Rfile
glad i checked my thought processes as it looks like my thinking was clsoe but no cigar - electrics still remain some kind of dark art to me!
i'll get the flywheel off over the weekend and have a look but i suspect a new stator is in order to get it back on the road, i'll try to fix this one (well find a man who can) at some point as I wanted to covert another scooter to DC.
thanks again for replying and the help.

[Estonrifle81]

Ask your friend to fit a new LT Coil. Very easy to do with a Soldering iron.
Coil will cost around £10 for an Indian one or £18 for an uprated one.