Modern Vespa

Edit. Piaggio turned me down on my request for a warrenty fix on bearings at 16,000 mile. I have a unlimited miles warrenty. I am going to request a review. I have already made arrangement to get it fixed. Pay for it myself if I have too.

This is one of those nasty little secrets of extended warranties - on all kinds of vehicles. A whole lot of things can be considered wear items (by the people who don't want to repair them under warranty). For example, I have an extended drive train warranty on my car. I had a dual mass flywheel (dynamic flywheel) fail. The manufacturer and the warranty underwriter consider this a wear item. Imagine my surprise to learn that my flywheel had just "worn out".

And, in fairness, steering bearings do wear out at some point. Have you been greasing yours to extend their life? Have you read the thread on the Gonzo tweak?

Short term fix for "notch"? - It works...

Yes I have grease them, I have the special tool for doing it. I would just as soon fix it and be done with it as I would have too at some point. I could not sell it without telling them they might have to do a expensive repair at any time. I think for some the Gonzo fix is just the right thing to do. I do thank you for your input as I gives me something to think about. If this should be on the MP 3 forum Please move.

A fly wheel wear out. That's nuts too. Did you ask for a review. Sometimes they automatically turn down request on the first try. If you keep up the pressure they might fix it. If not it is a win for them. They have learned most people walk away at the first denial. It pay for them to turn it down.

I never got anywhere with the extended warranty folks. My dealer felt sorry for me and talked the manufacturer's rep into providing the part at 50% off. The dealer than knocked 50% off on labor as well so it reduced the sting. Also showed me, one more time, that extended warranties are largely worthless.

16,000 miles is probably better than average for MP3 steering bearings - a shame they lasted so long, if under 6,000 miles Piaggio have usually accepted the warranty claim (at least they did for me), and now there's a sensible adjustment procedure they should last much longer.

Did you get the pre-load checked when you first got the MP3, or as soon as the issue was raised here on MV?

Nope, my own fault. I was gong to order the tool to do it but kept putting it off. Still have not changed the belt and have 10,000 miles on it, just moved the wifes car so I can do the belt change today. The tool to do it came it a month ago. We are planning on going on vacation in a couple of weeks. I have got to sign off and get with it.

Wifes BV250 (2007) had the same problem at 6000 miles. My 2007 GTS with 36000 miles has never been greased and is fine. I was told that the difference was in the Vespa Factory they put more grease on the bearings at assembly. Paiggio doesnt put nearly as much and thats why they fail

So this greasing of the steering bearings, is this something that the mechanic is expected to automatically do when one sends in the scooter for regular maintenance? I depend on my local authorised dealer for all maintenance and servicing.

No. Not on any maintenance list. When they go out or become a problem they get replaced or serviced..

I got mine done at 35,000 miles on the last month of the 2 year extended warranty with no questions. Think this is a dealer failure not Piaggio. Are you sure the dealer even submitted the claim?

And you have this same post on both the MP3 and the General forum.

No its done at the factory during assembly.

Piaggio has released a tool to grease the steering bearings on MP3 do to lack of proper amount of grease being use during assembly. And it is recommended to grease the bearings occasionally to help prevent them from getting "the notch"

Thanks all for the information about the steering grease not being a maintenance thing.

I would not agree that greasing the steering bearings and checking the pre-load torque is "not a maintenance thing". I would agree, as tomjasz said, that it is not on the regular periodic maintenance list. Most servicing dealers really don't know much about MP3 maintenance issues in my experience. A good dealer with MP3 experience will have the tools for greasing and for bearing adjustment. I'd hope they would just do the greasing and ask you about the pre-load adjustment. My dealer did both to my MP3 (after I requested he do so - he had to order the bearing tools and I gave him one of the grease bolts).

You do realize the tools and such referenced have little to do to with your ride?