Modern Vespa

Had my first long trip on my ET4 today due to enforced parking changes at work. She handled well. However, as it it was the first major ride I noticed that at traffic lights it pulled away a bit clunky. This was every time, but the ride was smooth after that. The other thing was it is idling very high. I've found link to idle adjusting here, so will apply that tomorrow.

Any ideas why it might be a bit clunky?

Savobien

Dust has accumulated in the clutch bell. Take off the round chrome cover on transmission case and blow out with compressed air. Avoid slow take offs, it causes clutch to slip. Quick take offs and high speed riding will minimize this.

FAQ: Shudder, graunching noise on take-off? Sealion?

Thanks for the reply. I'll take a look at that later.

As this is an ET4 there is no chrome cap on the transmission cover... The whole cover has to come off. Nothing too difficult, but you will have to loosen the air filter to gain access to some of the screws...

Once they are ALL out you may need to tap it gently (preferably with a rubber hammer) to vibrate the locating tubes loose before it will come off. Best not to use a screwdriver in the joint!

Inside, you will see the clutch and the belt pulleys. No need to disassemble anything if it all looks OK, but do eyeball the belt carefully (though you can't really see any problems with it in situ)

I would also be feeling the inner surfaces of the pulleys to see how smooth they are - but make sure your fingers are clean and grease/oil free first!

Bob3D

The pre leaders don't have the chrome cap but the later leaders do, Id still take the cover off and inspect it, when was the belt and rollers last changed?

Note, the chrome cap may be a different colour

Thanks for the information. I was thinking that the ET4 was a leader engine and had the chrome cap. Good advice to take the transmission cover off to clean up the clutch mechanism and inspect the cvt. While in there, you could blow out all the dust and/or remove the clutch to score the "shoes" and bell. Nevertheless, the graunching is indicative of dust build up in the clutch bell. Humid conditions tend to accentuate these symptoms.

Actually, you could be right.

All my ET4s are pre-leader, but those made post-2000 do have the leader engine. So, if all of those have the chrome cap, it will be there...

Why on earth didn't they change the model number with the engine change!

Bob3D

Not to confuse the situation, but my '03 ET4 has a factory clutch cover that says Piaggio and is not the chrome Vespa one that some people are referencing...