Modern Vespa

Hey, there,

I'm a happy 2009 Vespa LX 150 owner. It's my first scooter. I recently bought it from a neighbor, who had put only 300 miles on it before deciding to buy a Harley.

I just had my first refueling opportunity. And like a good Vespa owner, I put in a capful of Star-Tron.

Well, while I was pouring in the capful of Star-Tron, the paper cap liner - you know, those little paper disks on the inside of caps - fell right into the gas tank! I watched it sink... so fast!

I tried poking around with a coat hanger and a pair of very long tool-sized tweezers, but nothing.

I tried rocking the scooter a bit to slosh the gas and see if I could raise that little disk, but I couldn't see a thing... I think because the tank is full.

I'm afraid it's going to get sucked into the engine??
Or will block the gas flow and I'll stall suddenly on a major roadway??

Aaarrgh! What should I do?
Any suggestions would be most welcome!

Hopefully,

Lynda

Well it won't get sucked into the engine because you have a fuel filter. I'd be more worried about it falling apart and clogging the filter. How many miles have you put on it since this happen?

Whoops ,No the cap won't go in engine.Run the fuel out,yes ride it low then drain tank.Pull the part at bottom of tank out .Fish the cap out.
Dog gone caps

I filled up yesterday at the gas station down the street, drove home, parked, and then poured the Star-Tron in. So, no miles since the freak happening.

I was too nervous about what could happen to ride it today...

Do you have some one to drain it ?

Put this on vac line and gas will flow out into a gas can.

Re: draining tank...

You know, I wondered about draining the tank or syphoning the gas out...

I don't have anyone around to do it for me... is it easy for this novice gal to do on her own?

Hey, Mudnman,

"Put this on vac line and gas will flow out into a gas can. "

I'm such a novice... I don't know what you mean. Can you please explain for me?

[Thanks in advance for your patience with my obvious ignorance... I'm an enthusiastic learner, though ]

Well I give it a try,
Open seat(thing you ride on )pull that plastic bucket out,set it out of your way.Theres two lines(gas and vacuum)bottom right side of gas tank.
The gas line goes to carb(on top of motor)on left side.Remove line and that goes in a gas can on right side close to the tank.Plyers to squeeze the hose clamp.

The other line from the tank is your vac line ,remove the other end (in front of motor) squeeze that blue thing and put in the line.That will put a vacuum on the valve and let gas flow in the can.

You can stop the flow by removing the blue bulb if you have to.

Now loosen clamp (bottom of gas tank)pull down.Your cap thing should be close!DONT look in the hole you could get gas in eye.try your finger,a wire to fish it out.
In pic the two yellow lines (this is a different bike)the line in front is vac line.

http://www.scootermanuals.us/manuals/Vespa/LX150/LX150Workshop.pdf
Page 83 bottom 2 pic,this is what you'll see on your bike.

You might have to drain on left side,if the hose isn't long enough to put in can get an other bigger hose and put over fuel line for an extension .Make sure its flowing down not sideways n leaking all over.

Just because you asked hahahaha good luck

I've been around the block with vehicles and motors of all types and I've never heard of Star-Tron. I've heard of Star Trek.
.

And I've never added *anything* other than petrol into my tanks - what's so good about this 'star-tron' stuff, and if it's so good, why isn't it recommended by the manufacturer?

I'm a trekkie from childhood ) (TOS and TNG!)

Star tron is a fuel treatment/stabilizer/cleaner/etc.:

http://mystarbrite.com/startron/content/view/12/34/lang,en/

The (two) motorcycle folks I've known, and my mechanic, swear by it...

Of course, I wouldn't have this problem now if it weren't for this...

This for you. Happy Sunday.
edited to allow MV to directly link... jimc

Star tron has been around for a very long time and is a great product.

Don't know how it would work for motors but for combustion type engines its good.

I'd be tempted to not sweat it. Seems to me, there's just as much chance of not having a problem as having a problem. It's possible the little paper disk could be bobbing around for the next 10-20 years...

So would you really roll with it?

Depends on what it's made of? I'd get another seal and put in a jar of gas with a lid on and see what happens.If it stays together don't sweat it.
But I would want the seal for my can

Two years ago I had the same thing happen to me. I messed around with it for a while and had no success getting it out. Since then I've ridden between eight and ten thousand miles. It's either disintegrated or its still there; either way it has not caused me any problems. No misfiring, stumbling, stalling or quitting. I can still run 8000 RPMs without it starving for fuel.

Hey, there,

Arky and Buddy19520, thanks for your calming replies. Maybe my fear of going 50 mph or climbing a hill and having it suddenly stop the gas flow and stall on me amidst lots of traffic or on a steep incline is a fear that isn't likely to occur.

I really appreciate everyone's input and suggestions, Mudnman, old as dirt, Arky, Buddy19520, JimC, VNB, Zombies-NYC...

I think what I'm going to try to do now is ride it around and get it down to a half tank of gas; then I'll be able to see better, I'm thinking, with a flashlight, where it is...?

Someone else also suggested that if it were to clog the gas supply it wouldn't just suddenly die, it would kind of sputter and hesitate, letting me (albeit quickly) pull over... hopefully...

I'll let y'all know what happens.

Thanks again!

This seems like a great forum to be a part of. Glad I found you.

Welcome to MV, good to have you aboard...

This might not be a terrible idea. If you think of doing it, you may as well put gas in the jar to see if it attacks the cap seal. Really, when you think what it's supposed to be sealing, it should not melt or dissolve or whatever.

I say that because you know it's good on 1 side of seal,is it good on other side?

Oooops

This is the shape of your URL tank so I don't think you will be able to shine a torch and fish it out. I would just leave it in there as worst case scenario is it breaks down and blocks the fuel filter, then you can remove it and clean it. Best case it just sits at the bottom of the tank for all eternity

Wow! Thanks for the pic. I see the challenge now quite vividly!

So, wait+see vs. syphoning? Given the pic, it doesn't look like syphoning would even help, does it?

After two days of no-ride worrying and all of the great input here, I think I'm going to ride and see... and ask the Vespa gods to be kind

Whereabouts on cape cod are you one of my favourite places in the U S been there a couple of times.

I removed the gas tank on my 2010 150S to repair a factory created leak at the seam where it goes around the shock.

It is not a simple removal... Both rear turn signals, Tail light also has a screw to hold tank in place, and, the rear shock needs to come out and the rear wheel needs to come off if you cant jack the scooter up high enough to pull out the tank...
I think I would worry about it if the scoot starts running bad and not before hand.

Be careful with some of those additives... I had a Honda 150R Motocross bike that I almost needed to replace the carburetor on because the additive caused so much corrosion on the inside of the carburetor...
Plus, the little cap seal may accidentally drop into your tank

Did you see the drive in movie?

Yes while there we went to the drive in it was great I can remember one of the films was Cop land ( sly Stallone) so 1997

1st time we had a week on cape cod then a week in Maine, second time we drove from New York and stopped in mystic and Rhode Island on the way there and had a long weekend on Nantucket,

All great places. I wonder if the drive in is still there?Now I want lobster hehe

Hey, there,

I'm in Wellfleet, home to the fab, retro, still here drive-in theatre! Double features and mini-golf included

Camped across the street when Amnetey vill horror showed like 33yrs ago

Hi, Hairball,

"I think I would worry about it if the scoot starts running bad and not before hand."

I think that's going to be my plan. I feel a bit too novice to try the syphoning technique.

"Plus, the little cap seal may accidentally drop into your tank "
Very cute