MOPED ARMY

Just to eliminate a variable, your clutch cable is fine at both ends and there's no slippage or anything funny going on there? On my Garelli Basic 50 someone had used a fuse block terminal as the knarp and it was hanging up on the frame.

Do mopeds have a brake light any place but the rear ? ;)

Ha . Inquiring minds need to know . LOL

I guess I can't really blame him for supplying a thorough description . ;) (edited)

🤔 what does the cylinder look like?

Pics of Cylinder

I’d get the cylinder honed.

I see two rings . The lower ring is simply stuck in it's landing .

New rings require a cylinder hone .

You are right . I wasn't looking close enough . :(

Its not an NOI nor is it mounted on a Monza frame. Its a step through vertical motor...

His first pics show the cases of an NOI. The pic I just posted looks like a VIP. So the O.P. needs to show us all an overall pic or vin tag to clarify. Most VIP motors were two speeds and this one is a one speed. (edited)

I ordered a piston and ring for a NOI engine. Maybe that’s the problem Im having after assembly. (edited)

U might wanna explain your problem...

By memory garelli is 40mmx2 rings. But digital calipers r necessary for this kinda stuff.

That looks like pretty severe detonation to me. Or something broke off and bashed the shit out of the piston. What does your head look like?

I'd make sure that all the metal crap that came off that piston is out of the case before you put anything back.

The first thing I would do is to be damn sure the starter lever and its cable are not too tight. It could be that the starter clutch is not disengaging when you let off of the lever. The original starter cables were not adjustable and made to a predetermined length to prevent just this from happening. Over the years, some peeps will have replaced the starter cable with anything they could find that would fit. When that happens the cable tension will most likely be set too tight and the starter clutch wont disengage when you let off of the starter lever. I have had a couple such Garelli mopeds with this problem. Its very difficult to adjust the tension on the starter cable using the starter lever (on the handle bars)for "feel". Rather, I use the lever on the top of the motor just under the floor boards to set cable tension by feel. Best way to tell whats going on is to remove clutch cover and inspect the starter clutch cam for excessive wear. Here is a pic of what happens when someone sets the starter cable tension too tight. Its constantly engaged after the motor starts and fries the cam..

I do not recommend that at all ^^^ because thats the way most peeps set it and get it too tight. Please try it my way once and tell me that you cant tell the difference.