How I Did It

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List of spare parts taken

Some of these spare parts were from my first Mobylette moped, which I disassembled for parts prior to leaving.

Ignition System

• points: 2

• condensor: 2

• coil: 1

• spark plugs: 6-8

Drive train, brakes

• drive belt: 3

• chain links: 3-5 of each type

• master links: 2

• chain adjusters: 2

• cotter pin (for pedals): 2

• grease nipples (for clutch): 2-3 

• clutch plate nut: 1

• pulley catch: 4

• pulley circlip: 2

Wheels

• inner tube: 1

• valve caps: 1

• spokes, front & rear: 1 of each

Engine

• base gasket (base of engine cylinder): 4

• head gasket: 5

• crankcase gasket: 1

• magneto mounting stud and nut: 1

• magneto cover hold-ons: 6-8

• piston rings: 6-8

Carburetor

• carburetor jets: 220: 2; 225: 1; 230: 1

• "8" gasket: 3

• rubber "O" gasket: 1

• bolt for top: 3

• carburetor-to-cylinder flange: 1

• float: 1

• secondary jet: 1

Other

• official parts and repair manual for the moped

• front and rear light bulb: 1 of each

• brake cable: 2

• throttle cable: 2

• various nuts and bolts

• wire

• string

Some spare parts I didn't take that I felt during the trip that I should've taken. Some of these parts I desperately needed, others I just felt it would be good to have along:

• more spare spokes

• decompressor cables: 2

• chain lube (needed)

• more points (needed)

• sprocket set for front (needed)

• complete chain (needed-I had to replace the chain)

• more miscellaneous nuts and bolts

• duct tape

• spare bearings (needed pulley bearing)

• piece of pop can metal (for use as a shim)

From left to right, top to bottom...

Tools: 12" adjustable wrench, grease gun, pocketknife, timing tool, stroke limiter, spark plug remover, tire irons, cam puller, ratchet, flex bar, sockets, pump tubes, vice grips, feeler gauge, 6" adjustable wrench, large screwdriver, small screwdriver.

Spare parts & Miscellaneous items: drive belt, ignition coil, condenser, contact points, more pump tubes, spark plugs, light bulbs, tire repair cement & patches & sandpaper, steel wool, nuts & bolts, small odds & ends (piston rings, grease nipples, etc), cables, inner tube.

List of Tools Taken

I was very fortunate to have the cooperation of the local moped store. They obtained for me some specialized tools designed specifically for the Mobylette moped. Without these tools I would not have been able to meet my goal of being completely self-sufficient on the trip. They provided me with a special timing gauge was essential to set the timing, and a cam puller for the clutch. They also provided me with a stroke limiter (freezes the piston in place), and a detailed repair manual for the bike.

"Long" tools

• long screwdriver

• short screwdriver

• 6" adjustable wrench

• file

• hacksaw blade

• long extension for socket wrench

• pocketknife

• vice grips

• circlip pliers (for removing the belt pulley)

• ratchet handle for socket wrench

"Short" tools

• cam puller for timing

• cam puller for clutch

• timing gauge (special tool from Mobylette to set the ignition timing)

• 9 sockets for socket wrench: 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 19 mm

• short extension for socket wrench

• stroke limiter (made from an old spark plug - to hold the piston in place)

• spark plug gapper

• feeler gauge (to set the points gap)

• center punch

• rat tail file

Other tools

• spark plug wrench

• 12" adjustable wrench (needed to remove exhaust pipe)

• pliers

• tire levers

• air pump for tires (comes with moped)

• spare tubes for air pump: 2

• grease gun

"Soft" tools

• grease cartridges for grease gun: 1-2

• gasket maker

• regular oil

• "SNAP" cleanser

General Notes about the Mobylette moped used, and about riding it

• Please remember that all my comments about the Mobylette moped that I used are for the model that I purchased in 1978. Things may have changed a lot since then.

• Take off the pedals that come with the moped and install ones that can be serviced - ie, taken apart, cleaned, lubed. I was concerned that the pedals were not standing up to the wear. I didn't do this.

• Install a larger grease nipple on the pulley so it can be lubed more easily and more often.

• Lube the pulley regularly. I didn't, and the tiny roller bearings in it disappeared towards the end of the trip. I had to repair this by wrapping a shim from a pop can around the spindle to replace the space that the bearings took up. Unfortunately, the pulley has to be removed to properly grease it. The grease nipple that comes with the bike is tiny: impossible to use a regular grease gun on it.

• The chain will wear out. Arrange to have a spare along or sent to you.

• The engine needed constant fussing over the ignition system (points and spark plugs). The spark plug was constantly bridging with carbon or metal. The points got pitted rapidly. Generally I found the ignition system on this moped wasn't all that great. It required too much maintenance and was too hard to adjust.

• Carbon buildup was a constant issue. The exhaust system and engine cylinder required constant de-carbonising. I had to regularly disassemble these systems and scrape the carbon off/out.

• I only wore the helmet visor in the rain and extreme dust/flying stones situations (ie, busy gravel road. I preferred to be out in the open as much as possible. Without the visor, however, while on gravel roads I shielded my face whenever a vehicle drove by. Sometimes they threw up small rocks from the road. On more remote roads I removed my helmet altogether.

• I would not recommend a Mobylette for a long trip such as this one. I feel that the pulley-switch part of the drive train is a very weak link. It certainly is the part of the bike that caused me the most grief on both of the Mobylettes that I owned. As well, the ignition system and carbon buildup were constant irritants.

• The moped seemed to perform best when the outdoor temperature was about 60 degrees F.

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