Modern Vespa

I'm thinking of replacing the front end bolts with the new grease fitting style. Does anyone have a source other than a Piaggio dealer which is 100 miles from me.

They do have them on Amazon for about $37 each, which seems outrageous, but maybe not: https://www.amazon.com/OEM-Screw-With-Grease-Fitting/dp/B00A3WY394

I have 1 bolt/grease fitting and use it for both forks. Not that big a deal to change out a bolt temporarily. Paid something like $8 for mine. Use it as needed (not often) on both my MP3s.

no reason what so ever to buy 4 grease bolts and leave them in.

once the initial grease is installed the next time you would even consider adding any more is at the next oil change and then you will only need 2 maybe 3 pumps from the grease gun.

Buy one as a special tool use it when needed and store it in your tool box.
It only take a couple minutes to do a grease service.

Just buy "One"...
This is not meant to be a replacement bolt to leave in the bike.
It is considered a "Tool" to use.
Once you see how it works, you will probably say...
Hell I could have squirted grease in that hole without this bolt.
I have seen some Grease Gun Ends on Amazon, that are made of Rubber and you could shove it in the hole, hold it and Pump...

I do mine in the Winter when I have more "Down Time".
Then every Winter, I give it a few shots in the holes to sort of top it off.
They do leak in the summer when its hot.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Dang... $37 for one bolt...
I only paid $9 for mine, back when the Service Letter came out from Piaggio possible in 2010? Inflation I guess? Check around, or post on For Sale a WTB and maybe has an extra one they will sell you.

Keith

Dang.

By the way, I have been wondering why they used a full-length bolt for the grease fitting. It would have been a lot easier to drill, and frankly faster to install/dismount, if they used a bolt with just 4-5 threads.

Thanks for all replies. I thought that the grease bolts were made to leave on the bike. I'll order just one and use that system.

Piaggio did not design the grease bolt or even the concept. they stole it from a member here on Modern vespa.

As already mentioned you don't need a bolt with a grease nipple. Just take out the ordinary bolt and pump grease into the hole using any kind of flexible or rubber spout that you have to hand. No significant pressure is needed because there are no proper seals on the bearings and the grease will run through and ooze out all too easily.

All replies/tips appreciated but 2 days ago I ordered the $37 grease fitting bolt on Amazon. It must be gold plated!

There's a photo shown using a grease gun and the plastic tip from a tube of silicon caulking..Cut the tip a little, stick it in the hole, and stick the grease gun into the tip.

Yes, undoubtedly a much more frugal and smarter way to go. However, I love this little MP3 250 so much I don't mind getting ripped off!

Wow, that's a great Idea...

Why not just buy one of these for $5?
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/48527378
or this for $7
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/09119926?fromRR=Y

Would a 3d printed solution work?

It would work just fine!

Sure, just make sure you don't break it off inside the scooter.

They're back to filling orders at Piaggio. I'll ask what they cost and see how easy it would be to get a couple in the next order.

Yes, that was my fear. I suppose some sort of reverse threaded extracter could be used to back the broken bit back out of the hole.

I have two different versions in stl file format that I'm willing to share, just don't come after me if it breaks. One is designed for 5mm Zerk fittings, and the other for 6mm Zerk fittings.

Let me know if you're internested, and I'll reply via PM.

Another Great Idea as long as it does not Break...

I think this would be the safer solution...
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/09119926?fromRR=Y


Keith,
Marietta, GA

It's too late to get them in this order, but I should have them in a couple of weeks for right around 18-19 each, depending on how the Euro does.

Today, I completed the greasing of the front end of my 08 Piaggio MP3 250. Like others have said, not a bad job just a little time consuming, maybe an hour. The $37 zert bolt worked well. Let me say it again, I love this little MP3 250. In fact, just made an offer on a 09 MP3 400 with less than 1000 miles. No such thing as too many scooters!

We got them in and up on the site. It's part 020943Y. $18.

https://scooterpartsco.com/recambi-scooter/pontedera/piaggio-mp3-bolt-with-grease-fitting-020943y

Man, that's a bargain. I paid $37 from Amazon!

Just picked one up. I surely didn't want to pay $37 for one off of Amazon. Thanks Moto!

A completely unnecessary tool.

The tube on my grease gun fire in the hole left when you take out the bolt and fills the tubes nicely.

I'd save the money and put it towards my next belt, pads or other consumables.

Use a 3/8 cordless impact and they go in and out fast

Of course, it's only after a few years and several uses, that I ask myself, why did you bother to screw it all the way in in the first place?

Exactly so. I've posted this more than once and its not as if you can't see the grease oozing out top and bottom. I guess some people feel reassured if they spend some money.

I was wondering all along why you were trying so hard to avoid getting one from Piaggio. Plenty of on-line sources for Piaggio parts in the US. Scooter Partsco, AF1, and Scooterwest all come to mind.

You buy "One" and use it on each bolt as a tool.
The bolts as a replacement is a bad idea.
The strength of the bolts are not the same with the hole in them.
I grease mine once a year in the winter, and its fine until next winter.
Pump it Full... It takes about 20 pumps with a conventional grease gun if I remember correctly until you see some seeping out. Once you do that, its only a few pumps every year to top it off. You will lose some due to the heat depending on where you Ride/Live.

What you will learn as other have, Piaggio does not exactly put a lot of grease in the front end. Probably why so many notch problems.
My MP3/500 2016 ABS had very little in it. My MP3/250's had none in them; but that is about the time the tool came out.


Keith,
Marietta, GA

I agree, you could use a rubber nipple on your grease gun.
But some of us just love to spend money on Tools... jajaja

Keith,
Marietta, GA

[quote="old as dirt"] Piaggio did not design the grease bolt or even the concept. they stole it from a member here on Modern vespa.[/quote That's right old aus dirt. I think there also too expensive. It would be easier to make one yourself. I think I'll make my own .

[quote="Hillbilly Fred"] OAD didn't design / make the first grease bolts, it was a guy it Ca. Can't remember is user name.
His name was Mike and his neighbor was a machinist.

[quote="WEB-Tech"] this is correct, I bought 4 from him.

[quote="WEB-Tech"] I didn`t say OAD designed them. I just agreed that they were stolen from another member or am I missing something here?

[quote="Hillbilly Fred"] i see your quotes are missing from the beginning of my quote

[quote="old as dirt"] To tell the truth OAD. Ihave no idea how it happened, but my first Quote kinda got mixed in with Your Quote instead of being placed as an individuell Quote. Strange

Hi..first post on here.I bought fuoco 500 few months ago and would like to grease the bearings.where would I get the grease bolt from in uk?

nearest piaggio dealer.