Modern Vespa

Ok, I am posting this thread of my VBB resurrection.
VBB was purchased here in Indiana via e-bay from a "project collector" that obtained the bike un-running in the early 1980's, where it sat in his shed till April 2013.

I obtained it with all parts except Piaggio Emblem, a chrome trim piece on the engine housing, and the cylinder shroud tin.

Piston is stuck, lots of crusty bits, and dents. Tires are a Michelin on the front and a "Made in USA" on the back... so with 8000 miles and change on the odometer I would guess those miles were pilled on fast from about 1963 to 1971... I found a marina registration tag of some sort on it dated 1971, from Ohio.

Photo below of its condition.
As of this posting I finally got the flywheel nut off/circlip. The piston is still stuck, but now that i have the nut off I will replace it with a new one and not be afraid to turn it hard. Vicks Vapo Rub, and PB blaster applied to piston.

I had a few people remark that the "patina" is nice, I am in the throws of a sympathetic restoration to user condition, or a 80% restoration with fresh paint. Daughter and I think a pistachio green or lemon yellow... I also like the "international orange" used on Porsche and Volvos back in the 70's.


Photos before I started restoration.

Patina is nice, but it's your scoot, so do whatever you want to it. That looks like a real nice project. Good Luck

nice scoot bro.
iam wait next picture bro...

Nice project bro

June 6... several applications of Liquid Wrench / PB plaster and things are still stuck.

After soaking for a while, I would put into neutral, pull the head, and get it turning with a mallet and drift on the piston. You are replacing the piston anyway, and your crank undoubtedly will need a rebuild anyway.

Except I think the piston is stuck at the bottom of the stroke.

I let the PB blaster soak and soak, and I turned my attention to my Audi that needed clutch slave and master replaced. Anyway I am back, I did shake loose a lock washer that was rusted and crusted under the flywheel nut. I tried heat and ice, more blaster and left the puller on it for 4 hours. Wow it is stuck. My next move may be turning it on its side, so any blaster stuff can pool and let gravity work on the flywheel shaft. Anyway that is where things stand.

Been waiting on parts from a vendor , but what does it matter.....

Piston is still jammed.

Did remove the engine from frame.

Ready to do something with the body/frame. If I sand and polish, but leave a lot of OG paint what do I coat it with to keep it from re-rusting? I know its been discussed. I'll look around.

Ok... ball back on me.
I guess I should get this running before worries over paint.

In the end, I will leave it crusty... or paint in Spectraflame-antifreeze green.
or.

Anyone know the thread size/pitch on the flywheel side of the crank?

Here is the worst rust... I guess not so bad...

thats gonna be a easy patch mate

good luck with the projet and cheer

nice scoot bro...original paint

"Manned up" and took my engine over to a friend who has an impact wrench... Flywheel is off! Key was damaged, but not sheared, might have been part of the reason for it being so stubborn.

Took to cleaning up engine case, a lot of muddy dirt/dust on the body side of the case. Check out the inset photo of dirt left behind from brushing.

Flywheel and stator now wrapped in newspaper in the growing collection of parts in zip-locks and newspaper.

Piston is still stuck... went after it with impact wrench too... I stood the engine up and trying the old trick of Automatic Transmission Fluid I heated the cylinder and fluid and am letting it set. That stuff can free-up rings and seal in any stuck engine.

Details of OEM wire-ring wraps at junction box, and that other wires is a detail of OEM hook-up on this VBB headlamp. Head-lamp is hanging 180° orientation as it is when in place.

Next step opening the case.

Got my garage in order from a LONG winter.
Worked on the VBB engine unit yesterday.
That damn piston is still stuck.
I took the brake drum off and brake components.
The brake shoes look almost new, so that's another part I won't need to buy.
I'm going to heat up a half cup of Automatic Trans Oil to about 300 degrees and pour it on-top of the stuck piston. When I was messing with Mazda rotary engines ATF could free up stuck seals. I hate to mess up the cylinder and piston, as they look totally re-usable too. Aside from seals, and definitely a new clutch, I think my parts outlay is going to be minimal in this rebuild.

Carb is cleaned up and ready for rebuilding have kit in hand.

Cheers.

take your time and enjoy the project Brother V, without you even realize the vbb will be back on the road and a big smile when you ride the bike around the block

Looking good man!

Gick Speed got my cases apart earlier late last year. Here is what was holding everything together. Really wasn't expecting to need anything more the a hone-job new piston rings and bearings. Oh well. I'd like to source some used parts (sans bearings). But I'll save my project pennies.

you could save your pennies and still enjoy your restoration progress, keep spirit..mate

tips for your rusty-crankshaft, soak it into coke water (i.e. Cocacol*) for about 24 hours to fade rust

Hahahh. My cases and stuff had a visitor to the work bench. A bird thought it was a good place to start a nest. I've been too busy raising my kids and running my business.

Anyhoo. I got flamed and name called over in another thread for I guess sticking my 50 year old nose where it didn't belong. My father really is/was a retired machinist along with a bunch of guys I used to sit and listen to as they drank coffee and played Euchre, while they trouble shot various mechanical maladies tormenting other people outside their full time jobs of industrial machinists, dealing in mechanical, hydraulic, electrical, and steam systems.

I also did learned a lot from a mechanic that did restorations on Jaguar, Lamborghini, and Ferrari engines along with real exotics like Panhard! (wow what a funny little car in so many ways)

I also learned a lot from an old crank who ran the Hudson service shop before he retired, and also did overhauls on Pratt and Whitney aero engines during the "big one".

It's from these people that I deal with my mechanical fun that has ranged from MG's to Mazada RX power, Koehler/John Deere, Johnson outboards, and now to this Vespa. (and many other projects.)

Anyway I saw this and thought it was funny and true, and there is no need to call names and 'yell' at people who are just offering tangental insight on a situation.

Gotta dust off the cases. I've had the parts sitting around and cleaned so long I have to clean them up again.

My daughter is out of HS now and I have some time and gumption.

Been watching Robot's videos from Scooters West and ready to screw this thing together.

Decided to get my crank's runout checked. Went into a independent Harley shop and the guy welcomed me, checked it and said... "use it". The gauges needle was bouncing a bit, but he said that's about as good as you could get it was in worse shape.

Just posting to keep myself honest. I hope to post a photo of the screwed together cases soon, and perhaps ask a question or two about jetting!

I think I have a 165cc piston... got to pull out the receipts. hahaha

I got sidetracked ... kids in college, fixing 4 wheel cars, golfing with my daughter, being lazy.. OH I got a Dachshund !!!


The rose-silver "bodge" on Bring-a-trailer got me thinking about finishing my bike. I don't think I'm going to ride it much. I'm suffering from extreme tennis elbow, and I broke my foot,.. I like my body.. motorscoottering may not be a good idea.

Watching and re-watching "Robot's" videos.

I just noted I'm missing some o-rings, lock tab do dads, and the Cush gear bearing seems notchy, so I'll order that too.

I've been slow, I had to have Gick in Indy separate the cases, the piston and crank were toast. I screwed around and found a decent crank/rod/piston/jug used. I wanted to keep the cost down, I wanted to at least break even when I'm done tinkering. My neighborhood has a 1/2 mile loop with no traffic, so I figure I could go out and putter now and then without needing a motorcycle endorsement. Funny that it's slower than a 50cc modern scooter that doesn't need a licens.

Here are some photos, that most of you don't need to see.

My bike has 6000 miles on it and I think these photos of the gear set verify that milage as right.??

gear

Mess of parts...

I'm glad this isn't my first mechanical rodeo, and I can read exploded diagrams.

I need a bunch of small items, o-rings etc from clutch side of case.

Scooter Mercado's site is pretty slick.

Cheers

Have you finished the rebuild yet?

Thanks for the nudge. I was just watching "Robot's" video on re-assembly. I need to just get out the hot plate and get it done. I am ready to finish, and want to sell for funds for a Lotus Europa.

Hahahha