Hi All. Firstly Im a new member, so great to be on board!!! So I bought a moto Guzzi La dola GT (early 1960’s), as a non runner, Ive finally got a spark but its very weak (orange). Ive cleaned the points and checked the plug and lead so am thinking it could be the condensor. My issue is I cant find any for sale, any suggestions? or is there one from a different bike that would fit it? Any help would be greatly appreciated
Sorry by I can’t help you with this. However, I’m sure that someone will be along shortly who can.
Welcome to the club anyway 
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I’m not familiar with the Lodola, I have a few 125 Stornello’s. Do you know if it has a self generating ignition system like the Stornello uses or does it use the battery to run the ignition? From looking at the wiring diagram, I think it is the latter. I assume the battery is well charged.
Any condensor will do. It can be mounted somewhere close to the HT coil and connected to the wire to the coil. Another possibility is that the coil could be failing, but try a new condensor first.
If you need any documents, wiring diagrams, manuals etc then you will find Italian versions on line here
I do have a pdf electronic copy of an English translation of the user Maintenance manual translated into English if you would like a copy.
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A Lodola runs the ignition from the battery - check you have 6v at the ignition coil input and the points (when open) - if not, check all the connections from the headlight to the coil and onwards to the points (i think its the grey wire that feeds the coil) and make sure the battery fully charged.
As Don said you can fit almost any condensor - the standard one is by the points. I think my Lodola has a T3 condensor in it at the moment. But you could fit one to the terminal on the coil that feeds the points. I’d put a new spark plug in it too, just to be sure. A B7ES I think
If you have a multimeter you can check the resistance of the ignition coil - primary should be about 1.5 to 2 ohms, secondary something from 6K to 10K ohms
If a Lodola is cold you need to tickle the carb until it floods for a few seconds and apply the choke fully or they wont start. As soon as it catches the choke can be reduced.
Once its running right you will fall in love with it
Russell
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Hi Don, thank you so much, yes Id love a copy if you don’t mind! Will get a condensor ordered today and try it!
Hi Russell, That’s really helpful thank you. The battery is brand new (I put a new one on to check). I’ll get a condensor and plug ordered today and will check the ignition coil and connections. Ill come back next week… hopefully with some good news 
My experience is that modern condensers are rubbish. I look for NOS ones on eBay. Any kind will do, although you may need to swap the connector or mount it elsewhere. It just needs to be in parallel with the points.
Ian
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Hi guys. Hostile waiting for my condenser to arrive but after giving the card a good clean out, she started up and runs great, but wont tock over. The main jet was crazy blocked up and needed a good clean with a paperclip, and when she started she spewed out brown smoke for a while so guessing she hasn’t run for a number of years. Couldn’t find the idle jet (yeah I know that sounds really stupid), recon that’ll sort the tick over issue, does anyone know where it is???
It looks like the carb is a UB22. Take a look at the Eurocarb website for an expoded diagram and hopefully they will have some spare parts for you.
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As I remember it - the pilot jet is located next to the atomiser tube that holds the main jet. You will almost certainly need to remove the carb from the bike to see it. Its a long time ago that mine went the the ultrasonic bath, but I’m pretty sure this is correct.
- Remove the carb and float bowl from the engine
- Detach the float bowl assembly from the carb body, exposing the main jet
- The pilot jet should now be visible from below, alongside the main jet/atomiser tube
- You may have to remove the main jet and atomiser tube to get to it
If you own an ultrasonic cleaner - strip the body and jets and give it all a good blast.
Russell