Modern Vespa

I had a shifty Vespa, pre immobilizer, back in the 70's and have just gotten back into them and have two questions that maybe someone else has posed or figured out. First, has anyone cut a "belt inspection window" on the CVT housing? It would seem relatively easy to make a small oval hole and plug it up with two oval clam halves with a captive bolt on the inside.

Secondly, here in the DC area there are intermittent thefts of scooters just by people jumping on the back of your scooter like they know you and putting a gun in your ribs. Wouldn't a "one shot" start be cool? If you turned off the key it wouldn't start again without the presence of your secret chip. This wouldn't work so well on shifty Vespas if you stall out, but I've never had a CVT Vespa just stop. How far does the immobilizer chip need to be from the keyhole? Does it have to be in proximity while running and starting? I'm thinking about cutting a non chipped key and holding the chipped key nearby and/or touching it to the non chipped key? and seeing if it runs and stays running. I guess I could go get a key cut and try this but don't want to "reinvent the wheel".

I guess I do have a lot of free time on my hands...

well ya could cut a hole, but why?
belts are good for about 9k...

there have been talk of bastardizing a chipped key, locating chip in the headset, so you could use a non chipped key....but that was just a way around buying a new chipped, or having a second chipped key handly...

this was mainly for folks that do not have a red key, and do not want to spend the $$$ for a new key set and transponder

Relative to the belt, I don't think you want to be tapping any holes in the housing. I believe they are cast, and it could weaken it to the point of cracking. I also don't think that a small inspection hole would do you much good as a good looking belt can be way out of spec anyway. Better to remove the cover and mic the belt width to be sure.

Here is a good reason the check your belt regularly: UPDATE: I think I found the problem...

I don't know what the accepted code of conduct for scooter-jacking is but on one of my bikes I have a Talon security system that includes a delayed shut-off if the alarm isn't disabled within a set amount of seconds after starting the engine. The idea is the crook starts your bike, takes off down the road and within a very short time he's dead in the water wondering if he forgot something. In the mean time you're picking 'em up and laying 'em down hauling ass in the opposite direction, hopefully towards one of DC's finest. The only thing is, you'd have to turn the engine off which the crook might not appreciate. I think it would be worth the gamble and in fact you could restart it for him. Mr courteous victim here...

LL75

PS - I recall the alarm cost somewhere under two hundred bucks US. There's a nice article on it at:
http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-alarms/talon/motorcycle-alarm.htm

Spare yourself with a hole in the tranny case. It would only tell you whether that belt is still there, and if the scooter still runs, you have answered that question already.

To check a belt with regards to expected life, you have to remove it completely and look at it closely for cracks in the valley of each scallop.

You may want to consult the workshop manual for more detail on this.