Rally colors part 2 + some electric diagnostics

This is my struggle. No match. I'm leaning towards the Lacquer Red.

On the next picture, I've added the swatched with tape and no white just right from the spare wheel (the tubeless tire by the way, had to check if the 2,5" rim fitted, which it does), where the white line is. Still no match in broad daylight.

Over to option 2. The guy from VespaPaintCodes.com has emailed me back, and we've struck a deal for some red color codes translated from the Max Meyer codes. Off to the local paint shop.

But: The local paint shop couldn't mix the codes, even if they supply Dupont paint. They've obviously got another Dupont system. Dah. Running out of options here. When explaining my frustration to the paint shop clerk, he showed me a suitcase of red swatches, which they didn't show me the last time I was there. I was possibly saved!

Out of the suitcase I found the closest match in the red - orange flavour, and got a spraycan mixed.

This was a few days ago. Today, the tank lid was taken from the original tank and sandblasted in it's atomic parts, and both the lid and new tank got a fresh primer layer.  

The handlebar covers and some blind plugs received same treatment. As soon as the weather permits it, the parts will be painted. Hopefully tomorrow, as the parts must dry properly before installing them in the Rally again.

ELECTRIC UPDATE.

The electrics on the Rally confuses me. Since it's a battery model, the horn is 6V AC while the rest of the lights are 6V DC.

Up until now, the lights have in some way functioned, but the horn didn't. And there was no way of turning off the lights completely.

Short version: I've not been successful in finding the correct Rally wiring diagram. Several wiring diagrams exist, but not correspond to the one I have for some reason.

I've done some testing with the the wiring above, testing the functions by swapping the cables around.

The result so far: Switching the two cables providing the horn signal gave much better light, but the functions are not quite right yet. I'm not able to turn off the light. The speedo light is only working in one position; the wrong one by the way. The horn still doesn't work, when I've previously got it to work in one position etc.

I've ordered some new light control panels, as I think this unit might have been replaced with a wrong unit.

But: As far as getting the bike approved, this will hopefully only provide a punch which has to be corrected at a later stage. Only a couple of days left now...

Rally colors

It's getting close to registration of the Rally, and I am still struggling to find the right color the scooter was painted in. This is important, as I need to install a new tank which needs to be sprayed in the right color.

Going to the local lacquer shop and looking through all the color maps available did not prove useful, the nearest match to a orange red was either a Suzuki color (which was a hint to brown) and a Kia color (which was too yellow). All other reds lacked the orange flavour.

Searching the net and forums, and asking the scooter community for advice brought me a bit closer:

Scooterhelp provided Max Meyer Vespa Paint codes.

According to this, the Rally has been delivered in the following colors, possible colors bolded by me.

Vespa Rally 200(VSE1T)

• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Metallic Moon White" 2.268.0108
• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Racing Red" 1.298.5806
• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Lacquer Red" 1.298.5895
• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Katmandu Red" 1.298.5875
• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Polaris Grey" 1.268.8200
• Max Meyer Paint Code: "Coral Red" 1.298.5880

OK, I've got four red colors to work out from. First step: Find out how they look.

A buddy in our local club, Roughnecks, tipped me that the Scooter Center catalogue provides color samples in the back. The catalogue proved useful in eliminating Katmandu red, as this is way too maroon.

The 3 colors to go are however more tricky. I tried to compare them to the original lacquer on the bike, but did not get an obvious match on any of them. Three things come to mind: 1) The paint is obviously faded and is not as it was back in 1975 and 2), the reproduction of the colors in the catalogue is not 100% accurate. 3), Doing this at night in the garage under ambient lighting might not be the best idea.

1) I need to find a non-faded part for best comparison.

2) Reproduction. For comparison, I just "happen" to have a spare (most likely 180) Rally headset in a more orange color:

If my reasoning is right, the 180 Rally headset is "Gelb Orange" 1.298.2916, but on comparison it actually looks more like the "Korallen-Rot" 200 Rally color. None of the colors are "close enough" to say it's a match. This troubles me.

3) I obviously should repeat this in broad daylight, and scissor out the samples to see how they blend on a large surface. This is on my todo list. 

Now to the second issue: 

Trouble with the Max Meyer codes is that no lacquer shop can mix these codes.  Entering the Max Meyer to PPG codes. This page translates some (but not all) colors to mixable (hopefully?) PPG code colors.

Just my luck. NONE of the Rally Max Meyer reds are even mentioned, although Rosso Corallo is mentioned, and has been translated to PPG 870.

So now I'm a bit stuck, but not completely. I've emailed this guy on Vespa Paint Codes to see whether he can help. Then I at least have the option of getting multiple colors blended to find the match.

Not a cost efficient way to do it, but at the moment I don't have many options.

I'll do a last check in broad daylight and then wait for an answer from Vespa Paint Codes, to be continued...