LCGB Forums

Just fitted one as an alternative to the internal pick up. I've had several BGM pick up failures so was after a back up.
I run an Agusto 7000 with static timing at 24 btdc which regards it to about 17 btdc at 8000rpm on an RT195.
With the Tambs pickup it won't rev cleanly with the Agusto in the line.

With the Tambs pickup directly into the Readspeed Lukas cdi it runs ok.

So I've ended up with my standard pick up and Agusto as a back up, and running the Tambs pickup as my primary direct into the cdi, but I've set this statically at 17 btdc.

Anyone else had an issue with the Tambs pickup and a retard box?

External pick-up works fine with an M-Tec.

But tried the external pick up with DC CDI and coil and no joy with the M-Tec (must be AC only)

My Readspeed CDI is running as a DC set up.
Perhaps it's an issue with retard boxes and external pick ups with DC set ups, I'll ask Anthony. It would be a surprise as his CDI's are DC.

Paul_from_Thornbury wrote:Perhaps it's an issue with retard boxes and external pick ups with DC set ups, I'll ask Anthony. It would be a surprise as his CDI's are DC.

He has already stated that his external pickup won't work with external advance retard units. I had the same trouble as you but with an Mtech, would start but not rev.

Yes he's confirmed it doesn't work with an Agusto.
Funny how the fitting instructions supplied state timing should be set dependant on whether you use a retard box or not?
It works with a Krytronic apparently.

For info, I also couldn't get the external pickup working on a kheper CDI. As above, it would start ok but wouldn't rev past around 5,500rpm.

Confused, one comment works with Mtech, another comment that it doesn’t. Any more info with an Mtech as I was thinking of using with my external pick-up.

Why when the pick up is replicated externally using the same circuit will it not work with an Augusto?

CHRIS in MARGATE wrote:Why when the pick up is replicated externally using the same circuit will it not work with an Augusto?

The trigger works slightly differently to the internal pickup apparently.

Still haven't fitted mine. When I eventually do, it will be my back up static timing whilst I run from the internal pick up on my Augusto.
Still can't see why though.

The external pick is after all a back up, therefore surely if you use an agusto / mtech / other use it with the internal pickup and if that goes, switch to the back up external which you have set static to get you home?

When I fitted mine I was told it would work with an M-Tech, however it would not rev cleanly.
The plan was for this to act as a back rather than the main ignition so I was not too fussed.

I believe there was a small amount of retard built into them, circa 3 degrees? Though I couldn't see much evidence of that when strobing...

However, like I say it's a back up and gives piece of mind for your ignition system.

NorthernJordan wrote:When I fitted mine I was told it would work with an M-Tech, however it would not rev cleanly.
The plan was for this to act as a back rather than the main ignition so I was not too fussed.

I believe there was a small amount of retard built into them, circa 3 degrees? Though I couldn't see much evidence of that when strobing...

However, like I say it's a back up and gives piece of mind for your ignition system.

He offered them with or without retard, thought it was nearer 6 degrees though. MIne is are both static and pretty steady, I'm also using his high power CDI's.

External pick-ups only available without retard now, too much variability with different CDI's apparently.
I've now set mine up with internal stator pick up through Agusto and Anthony Tambs CDI/Coil pack.
The external pick up on as a spare with 17 deg fixed timing.
Also got my Lukas CDI sat there as a spare.
All set for Euro in Spain with just a few wires to switch, all ignition spares bolted in, tested and ready to use.

I thrive on electrics and cannot for the life of me see how it affects the Agusto but I shan't lose sleep.
Got the new stator from Anthony and that will fire my Agusto with a "missile control" change over to external as back up set at about 17 -18.

I've got an Anthony Tambs external pick-up on one scooter.If I run the external pick-up off the lighting coils with my lukas CDI,it runs great,but I cant turn it off with the igntion switch,whereas if I use the internal pick-up on the stator plate it will.I have no idea why.

HxPaul wrote:I've got an Anthony Tambs external pick-up on one scooter.If I run the external pick-up off the lighting coils with my lukas CDI,it runs great,but I cant turn it off with the igntion switch,whereas if I use the internal pick-up on the stator plate it will.I have no idea why.

If you used the ignition switch on the DC setup it would most likely blow a fuse as it works by shorting the coil to earth. You will need a switch in there somewhere to disconnect the feed. Did it not come with a wiring diagrame

Sorry i forgot to add,its an AC system.Both the external pick-up and the Lukas CDI came with instructions and I followed them to the letter.As I say,the ignition wont turn off the external pick-up but it turns off the pick-up on the stator plate.

On my DC supplied CDi ignition I have connected the green ignition wire to the red pick-up wire to kill the ignition. I'd love to find a version of the lambretta ignition switch that switched battery and not earth on the ignition. Needs to be done I think.

I have two CDI's fitted, I've mounted a spare for Euro rally.

With the Readspeed Lukas CDI it has the yellow supply, Red pick up and the green for the kill/ignition switch.
The Tambs CDI only has a red pick up and a yellow supply, he states the red pick up wire should also be connected to the green wire in the harness to kill the engine, I haven't tried it yet.

As my scooter is primarily AC, with a BGM Rectifier/Regulator trickle charging a battery, and the battery supplies the SIP speedo and the CDI's. I've put an isolator switch between the battery and the CDI's as they mustn't be permanently powered when engine is off. I've been using that switch to kill the engine with the Tambs CDI.

I'm running off the stator pick up currently, I haven't tried the suggestion above that the external pick up connected to the Lukas CDI wont be killed by the ignition switch. I can always use the battery isolator if it doesn't.