1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

1st of all Im definitely not a moped expert so excuse my knowledge of my parts but, I purchased a 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio. Dude had it bored out ( I have original parts ) I’ve had it for a month. It would start right up and do 45 easy then one day I felt like it may have been acting up but maybe not. On my way to work It popped and It lost all power all at once almost so bad that I lost balance, then it slowly sputtered to a stop. I was able to start it after but only enough to get myself somewhere. Then after that I let it set while I went to work and after I went and got it and drove it home it died. The dude originally had welded the pipe right above the exhaust outlet where you mount it on the back frame. And it had came loose. I purchased a new exhaust. Now It sounds like it wants to but won’t and dies, pulling throttle doesn’t help. It has ran on the new exhaust, I also don’t have rear brakes I did but they quit, it’s not the brake cable tho. Oh and the manual petcock was leaking but I ordered a new one. Please help. Sorry if this is a little hard to understand.

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Did you change the spark plug? It may be a fouled plug.

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

hopefully the pop was your condenser?

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Would I be able to visually see the blown condenser? If I took it apart. I sadly only ordered a new external hv coil and spark wire and cap

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

It had a brand new spark plug in the lil saddle bag and I tried throwing that in and still same result. I would really appreciate the help. So things on list to get, condenser and new plugs?

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

more description of the pop sound

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Maybe a broken magneto key?

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

I guess it sounded like a muffled backfire kinda but I wasn’t really focused on that because of it losing all power and makin me wobble

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

How do I check on the mag key?

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

> Lucas Collins Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> How do I check on the mag key?

You have to remove the engine from the frame and pull the magneto with a special puller. Have you checked compression yet?

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

So how do I check for compression? I don’t have a center-stand I have a kick stand.

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

> Lucas Collins Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> So how do I check for compression? I don’t have a center-stand I have a

> kick stand.

You need a compression test. Most auto parts store carry them. Get one with the shortest hose possibly to get a more accurate reading. Something like this will work.

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/compression-tester/oem-compression-tester-gauge-set/424906_0_0

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Will do 1st thing. Now what would be a good compression test? Also say it’s bad compression, what’s next? Thanks so much I really appreciate the help

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

> Lucas Collins Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Will do 1st thing. Now what would be a good compression test? Also say

> it’s bad compression, what’s next? Thanks so much I really appreciate

> the help

Anything under 90psi it bad. With that being said you SHOULD have 120psi or better. If not it could be head gasket, rings or decompression valve. Worst case you burnt a hole in the piston.

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Great. Now how would I tell what type of gaskets to buy this guy had it bored out and not sure what cc exactly

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

> Lucas Collins Wrote:

> -------------------------------------------------------

> Great. Now how would I tell what type of gaskets to buy this guy had it

> bored out and not sure what cc exactly

He probably has a kit on it which has a bigger than stock piston. If compression is low pull the head off and measure the Piston. It's most likely 43mm. If so pull the engine and look at the base of the cylinder on the side of the transfers and there should be a name stamped on there saying which kit it is.

Re: 1977 Vespa Ciao Piaggio Won’t start

Alright thanks very much. I’ll be back on here if further instruction is needed thanks a lot Simmons’s

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