RARE,minarelli 2 stroke moped HELP

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BARNYBG
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Joined: 13 Jul 2010, 01:14

RARE,minarelli 2 stroke moped HELP

Post by BARNYBG » 13 Jul 2010, 01:36

Hi,I think i have the rare Minarelli moped 2 stroke built approx 1974 ?Its orange,single seat,chrome mudguards,the frame number begins with,if i can see it properly is gm 17lx_ _ _ _ _ x and another number i think is UGM 103 _ _ _ M
Can anyone help ? give me some info,or where i can find info on this moped.How many were made ? Is it very rare ?
I have no spark at plug,no idea how to start it,as it has PEDDLES ?it neeeds rear brake shoes,will i damage the engine/gearbox if i tow it behind a car ?
Thank you in advance an excited new member. :)

350-v-twin
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Post by 350-v-twin » 13 Jul 2010, 17:05

Hi there,

You seem to make the classic mistake: Minarelli has nothing to do with 'Moto Morini', but will try and give you an answer anyway :-))
The UGM number is the Italian homologation number. This means one prototype, built exactely the same was approved by the Italian officials.
Then all other models like that one were allowed on the road, but had to use the homologation number to show they were approved.

You should try Mr. Cesare Resta in Italy, http://www.motomanuali.com/ for documentation on your bike. But send him a picture. He speaks/writes English. There is another good website where you could ask questions about your Minarelli: www.mopedarmy.com

The peddles were quite common in the 70s in Europe. A 50cc moped was considered a "bicycle with supporting engine". So normally if you switch
into gear and keep the clutch pulled you should be able to use the bike as a bicycle. Of course it is heavier and the gearing to use it for cycling is not so good.

Normally you can start the bike when there is a spark on the sparkplug. If the carburettor is clean inside and you have petrol (= gasoline) mixed with two stroke oil in the fueltank (not sure to what ratio this mix should be), use the choke, gear in neutral and just push the peddle forward. There should be a (push?)switch somewhere (on the handle bars??) to switch off the engine.

I don't know how long this bike was not used. If it has been standing for a long time, the petrol might be "off". Make sure to first change the oil in
the engine and put fresh petrol in the tank, but as it is a 2 stroke, oil should be added. Find out the correct mix first. Also, old petrol can block the petrol flow and can block the carburettor inside. It should be cleaned out by a mechanic who knows what he is doing.

If all of that is allright, you could tow it behind a car: switch into 2nd or 3rd gear. At 5 - 9 miles per hour let the clutch come up and the engine should run.

If you have the original brake shoes, you can get new lining done by a specialist.

Hope this helps.

BARNYBG
Posts: 2
Joined: 13 Jul 2010, 01:14

Post by BARNYBG » 14 Jul 2010, 11:44

Thank you 350 v-twin,i thought and seen somewhere that they combined factories ? or was a takeover and earlier was the Minarelli,oops then.
These little 2 strokes were made 1974 to 76,peddle and go,no gears and apparently very rare ?i dont know wether i have wrecked the ato clutch side of it and maybe the coil ? as i towed it behind my car on my 'homemade' bike tow,which grips the front wheel into the towhitch and pulls it on the back wheel,seemed ok until i took over a lorry and had to speed up to 60 mph,was doing approx 30 mph........and i could hear what i thought,the engine running but when i stopped,it wasn't but the engine was very hot !
I checked for spark by putting plug in end of cap and against engine to look for spark but nothing,checked the coil lead and the cap,ok,have taken engine out of frame,when i turn the magneto ? thing,the piston goes up and down in the barrel,so dont know if i've damaged auto clutch or coil and dont know how to test ?

350-v-twin
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Post by 350-v-twin » 16 Jul 2010, 00:13

BARNYBG wrote:Thank you 350 v-twin,i thought and seen somewhere that they combined factories ? or was a takeover and earlier was the Minarelli,oops then.
Vittorio Minarelli and Franco Morini started a factory together back in 1950. It was called "FBM (Fabricca Bolognese Motocicli SrL)". In 1954 Franco Morini stepped out and started his own company.

Moto Morini however was founded by Alphonso, a cousin of Franco much earlier. Their companies were not related in any way, until 1998.
BARNYBG wrote:These little 2 strokes were made 1974 to 76,peddle and go,no gears and apparently very rare ?
OK.
BARNYBG wrote:i dont know wether i have wrecked the ato clutch side of it
Perhaps so. I don't know if you can pull an automatic like that.
BARNYBG wrote:and maybe the coil ? as i towed it behind my car on my 'homemade' bike tow,which grips the front wheel into the towhitch and pulls it on the back wheel,seemed ok until i took over a lorry and had to speed up to 60 mph,was doing approx 30 mph........and i could hear what i thought,the engine running but when i stopped,it wasn't but the engine was very hot !
Don't think you can wreck the coil like that, but I don't know what it will do to the engine.....
BARNYBG wrote:I checked for spark by putting plug in end of cap and against engine to look for spark but nothing,checked the coil lead and the cap,ok,have taken engine out of frame,when i turn the magneto ? thing,the piston goes up and down in the barrel,so dont know if i've damaged auto clutch or coil and dont know how to test ?
I would put on another ht lead/plug/plugcap and try again. If it does not work, also try to replace the coil. Next replace the condensator of the ignition and also the contact breakers.

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