Modern Vespa

For starters...how do you remove the left cowl cover? I don't see a latch to hold the cover on, as the right (engine) cowl cover has...

Any Vespa or Lambretta I've ever owned, always used a latch for each cowl cover. I'm sure there is a simple answer but at this point, I'm clueless on how to remove the left cowling

Thanking you in advance!

The left cowl does not remove, it is fixed.

Well, technically it does remove, but with a bunch of work....

-g

~~~that explains it! I was wanting to service the battery, and I see where Scooterwest sells a kit to upgrade the electrics, make them more reliable, I thought if the cover was off, it would make that installation (kit) easier, from an access POV, and to service the 6 volt battery as well



I had a Bajaj Chetak 7 + years ago...the left cowl was removable on it ~~~~are there any instructions online that could walk me through it, or is it only a matter of finding fasteners on the back side of the fender and unbolt it?


Thanking you in advance!

undo the nuts

I don't know what upgrade you are talking about but there should be (7) 7mm nuts with small fender washers holding the cowl on. It is a bit of a pain to get off but it does make it easier to work on. '74s have a goofy electrical system.

Can only speak about my 65 version but inside the cowl theres simply 4 nuts that need removing. Theyre all visible looking through the glovebox lid

Kevin

Vespa cowls that are a glovebox are bolted to the frame wit ha half dozen or so small bolts.

i.e. sprint, super, GL, VBB, etc.

Vespa cowls that cover a spare are removable, the same as engine side cowls.

i.e. rally, P, SS, GS 160,

Thanks for all the tips on locating the nuts that hold the left cowl on mates...your help is much appreciated. My first and I think (IIRC) only Vespa was the 64' All State I bought used (obviously) in 1979 when we were living in Royal Oak MI just outside Detroit. I've had a slew of motor scooters since then but I'm just not familiar with Vespas

@ Tierney-

the upgrade to the 6 volt Vespa electrical system I spoke of that ScooterWest offers is shown as an install in this u-tube video link-

Aight!, here's my next question...that pertains to the 74' Sprint I recently purchased. Take a look at this photo-



Notice the screw sticking out from under the headset? Okay, when I first saw it I thought it might be to adjust the head light, but when I pushed the screw, the speedometer moved upwards with the movement of the screw

It seems to me this screw holds the speedometer in place? And should be fully tightened? There looks to be three washers between the head of the screw and the bottom of the headset, and one of the washers is a wavy washer. Commonsense tells me that his screw should be fully seated and snug tight, but I thought I would bring it to your collective attention and see what you have to say about it

Thanking all in advance!

My rally has a similar set-up and the screw should sit tight. Once you take off the headlight you should see what the issue is that is stopping this and be able to rectify quickly enough.

~~~~I'm thinking the screw backed out on it's own?, or-

maybe the PO was assembling it, and the bell rang?

Would it not be a good idea to just run the screw back in?

I just came from the garage where it's parked, the screw easily threads in clockwise using my thumb and index finger. I can feel that the threads are engaging yet there is no resistance, none keeping it from going in

I came across this backed out screw while doing a walk around. I took possession of this scooter this past Monday afternoon. this is the 74' Sprint offered for sale in Modern Vespa's for sale/wanted forum. I've ridden it maybe 20 miles so far

Not sure on the internal working of your scoot, but in the rally there is a small nut etc that it screws in to on the speedo fitting. Sounds like that is very loose. Take off the headlight and you'll see it all.

The screw should sit tight. There is a threaded end that is screws into, unless it's stripped and someone attached a nut to the end. Pop the headlight off and take a look.

AlanMac is right. Once you take the chrome ring off the headlight, and take the headlight out, you'll see what's going on. That bolt screws into the bottom of the speedo and holds it in place. Enjoy, you're going to have a lot of fun with the scoot.

It screws into a bracket that is bolted in place on the back of the speedo. Just take off the headlight and you will see it.

Looked easy enough getting the headlight ring off right?



After all, it's just a couple of small slot head screws to remove right? :D

While unscrewing each one, I heard something in the headset drop inside... a nut perhaps, but the ring and head light wouldn't come out



I then discover that the small screw on each side screws into a larger screw that his holding the headlight in the headset



I used the pick tool to hold the larger screw so I could turn out the small screw :)

The long screw is the one that holds the speedometer in to the headset, and the reason why I removed the headset. Anyways, that screw is slightly bent so I would imagine every revolution it makes while you screw it in, it jumps out of the threaded hole :(

Who has the best spares in stock here in the U.S., if you know, that would have that screw?


Best,

your taking the piss right? this thread makes me want to smash up everything

You found the tapped hole in the steel arm on the speedo? If the threads in it are OK, just straighten the screw maybe? Done.

some seagull drop a turd on your Honda Josh??!!

I read that, then tried to be semi-helpful while just ignoring ol' Josh, lest I start adding too much fuel. Hopefully we all have thick enough skins by now. Or soon will have.

Probably a bit hard to see the funny, but with a generous/weird sense of humor, I think it's in there somewhere.

And we all know Josh pulls no punches...

Shakin, I don't know where Reddick is in FL and I lived there most of my life. . But the closest place for you to buy parts(if you do not have a local scooter shop) would http://www.scootermercato.com/. The owner David is a solid guy and will treat you right.

~~~I've been in the field before and had a jack ass bray at me. I never felt the need to answer him

~~~the screw is bent in the threading near the end where it threads into the bracket. I've straightened fence nails and re-used them but for this application, I'm going to try to replace with new

~~~I'm in north central Fla., between Gainesville and Ocala ~~~~no scooter shops here nor are there any local scooterists I could bounce ideas off hence why I came here for some *friendly* help with this scooter. For the few that are having trouble with the intent of my post, I made it clear I haven't owned or ridden a vintage Vespa in 35 years, and had a few questions. I'd like for others to keep the replies to my questions on point and if that's too difficult, please re-read the posting guidelines here-

Not-So-Modern Posting Guidelines

the main speedo mounting screw is an M5

Jake, Yeah, I know that area, probably the greenest area of Florida, Just lots of rain and thunderstorms, but lovely never the less. I wasn't trying to school you any, it's just that if you had a local scooter shop, it's good to take care of the local guys first. I live near Charlotte, NC now and is big is the city is, there is two scooter shops and they are both geared towards Chinese scoots. The Vespa shop in town is all about the newer models. The owner is nice, but he knows where his profits are. So I do all my purchases through Scooter Mercato. Best prices, fast shipping and about as local as I'm going to get. And like I said before, Dave is a good guy, treats his customers right.