Ignitions for Vespa and Lambretta - at SIP Scootershop
Ignitions for Vespa and Lambretta - at SIP Scootershop
What good is the most beautifully restored scooter or the best tuned Engine if the Vespa or Lambretta doesn't start or the right spark doesn't ignite? Every internal combustion engine needs a compressed, ignitable mixture that can be made to explode at the right time. The Electronic Unit / Ignition Coil provides the electrical impulse, the Spark Plug provides the spark and the Pickup provides the right timing. The Flywheel/Polewheel generates additional electrical current, which finds grateful consumers in the form of Lights, Indicators or Horn. If a component is defective, it costs nerves and you explode instead of the mixture.
What Ignitions are available for my Vespa or Lambretta?
There are three different Ignitions for Vespa:
Interrupter ignition
In this variant, also known as "mechanical ignition" or "contact ignition", current flows through the Ignition Coil due to the induction of the magnets in the rotating Flywheel. The current flow is interrupted by the Contact Breaker. The magnetic field changes. High voltage is generated in the secondary winding of the coil, which causes a spark in the Spark Plug. A Condenser is connected in parallel to the Contact Breaker to dampen the spark.
Condenser and Contact Breaker are therefore subject to greater wear, should always be replaced at the same time and should also be carried as spare parts on longer trips. Interrupter ignitions are installed on all older Vespas, i.e. on all classic Smallframe Vespas 50-125/PV except ET3, all Wideframes and Largeframes except the Rally 200 Femsatronic and the first PX models. Every Vespa with a breaker ignition can be converted to an electronic Ignition with 12 V. In addition to the Flywheel and the Stator Plate, this also requires the appropriate Voltage Regulator, the Electronic Unit, 12 V Bulbs, the appropriate Brake and Light Switch and a conversion wiring harness.
Electronic ignition with fixed ignition timing
Here the Pickup takes over the Contact Breaker of the current flow. This switching takes place by means of a weak current that is generated in this small coil by induction. The electric ignition therefore works without contact and is very low-wear. The ignition timing can only be changed by turning the Stator Plate. The E-ignition was first installed on the Rally 200 Femsatronic and can also be found on Primavera ET3/PK/PX/T5/Cosa models.
Electronic Ignition with variable ignition timing
Development does not stop at Vespas either. Every engine speed has its own optimum ignition timing. A fixed ignition timing is therefore only ever a compromise. With the new ignitions with variable ignition timing, a computer changes the ignition timing depending on the engine speed and thus always creates optimum conditions. The result is more power, higher revs and lower consumption.
All models back to the V30 can be retrofitted with this ignition. A perfect update for any old Vespa, regardless of whether it is only used for Sunday rides, the North Cape Tour or racing.