Modern Vespa

Hello,

I just purchased a P 200 E (1980). I would like to do a full tune up. Can you please tell me what I need (filters, spark plugs, oil etc.)?
Thank you

Any decent non-marine two stroke oil for the engine (can if worms). I get Lucas racing oil from O'Reilly because it's easy to find. Use Sae-30 NON DETERGENT motor oil for the gear box also at O-Reilly -- drain old from screw at the back, underside of motor, fill at screw on top back of motor, until overflowing let the excess run off before refitting the fill screw. Clean air filter with gas or carb cleaner and reuse.

If it hasn't been running recently you might think about cleaning up the carb.

Spark plug is NGK B7ES or B8ES depending on the type of riding you are doing.

That should be it for basics.

New spark plug, new gear oil, clean and rebuild carburettor (you can get a carb gasket set for about $15 and a can of carb cleaner for about $4.) Also, depending on if or how long it was sitting for, I would drain the gas, inspect the tank for rust/crud, and fill up with fresh gas (highest octane available at your local station.) Bonus points if you can get ethanol free gas.

You can find the gasket sets online at places like scooterwest.com, scooterworks.com, scootermercato.com, etc.

Also, this site really helped me out when I was a newb: scooterhelp.com. Lots of step-by-step guides and how-tos with pictures.

When you order stuff, no matter where it is, buy yourself a set of inner cables all around, throttle, clutch, brake, gear shift too. If it's an old bike chances are, they are dry and brittle ready to break. All of that is easy to replace.

thank you.

Gas 92 grade?

Do I fill the oil for the gasoline to the top? (the tank next to the fuel)

What oil grade-brand for the engine?

What oil-brand for the fuel?

Thank you

Yes, you can fill the 2T oil to just about the top. Leave room for the cap.

Any "brand name" oil will work - Shell, AGIP, etc

For gear box oil, I'd suggest you read this and decide for yourself.

92 octane - YES
Fill oil tank to the top - NO put a quart in there and keep an eye on the oil sight glass.
Gear oil - 30w NON detergent /// Two stroke oil for engine - I use lucas semi-synthetic
Do not mix any oil in the fuel if your Auto-lube is working

Ok.

Just so I'm clear,

30W non detergent for the engine and for the fuel mixing (the oil tank by the fuel any oil)?

here is a picture of the oil reservior

1. High octane is good but any grade gasoline will do
2. Everyone seems to have their own theories about lubricants but non-detergent 30w is fine in both the fuel mix and the gear box
3. Fill the oil to just below the cap
4. If it's running fine now it probably doesn't need a new plug but plugs are inexpensive easy to replace. So you might as well do it now while you have the tools out.
5. Have a beer and enjoy yourself.

Thank you

This is the best advice anyone can give when faffing about on these bikes.

Yes that is the opening for the oil tank. I use Lucas because I can get it easy at O'reillys (Astromags turned me on to this- thanks), and because it keeps the smoke down some being semi-synthetic, which in turn will be easier to clean the head/ piston when decoking.

What grade oil for the oil tank?

Any pictures of the containers?

Thanks

See if you can stop by here, he should have oil in stock.

http://www.scootermercato.com/About-Us/Contact-Us_3

Two stroke oil doesn't come in grades like regular motor oil. Like I said any decent two stroke oil will work fine. Just DON'T get the stuff for marine applications.

There are lots of fancy brands and everyone will have there opinions as two what's best. I live in a small town and go through a lot if oil so I use a quality oil that's readily available.

If you like to buy the fancy stuff: (edit: link not working) Google Motul 2T

If there are scooter or cycle shops in your area. Some might those brands.

I like this because it easy to get around here: http://m.oreillyauto.com/mt/www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/detail/LUC0/10110/N2385.oap?ck=Search_N2385_-1_-1&pt=N2385&ppt=C1941

you can see here that the oil that goes on the piston and crank are separated from the oil that goes on the gears

For the autolube oil (oil that goes in the tank that fills under the seat), simply look for a 2 stroke oil that meets the spec API-TC. It will be marked on the bottle.

Do not use API-TCW3, which is formulated for water cooled marine engines.

would either work?

Would either work?

Neither Castrol Edge, nor Pennzoil Platinum 5W-30 4-stroke synthetic engine oils are good for your gearbox oil. Both contain detergents and friction modifiers that are not good for gears or your bike's wet clutch. Find and use non-detergent 30w oil in your gearbox, just as others have repeatedly told you to do.

Find a TC-rated 2-stroke oil for your engine's oil tank. Neither Edge, nor Pennzoil Platinum were intended to be used in 2-stroke engines like your P's.

If you can't understand the instructions you've been given, just sell your bike; You may be among those people in this world who are not up to the tasks necessary to ride shifty Vespas.

Thank you for the heads up. These are for my cars. just wanted to make sure.

The Vespa is here to STAY. If i did not care, I would not be on this forum nor ask expert advice.

P.S. In Italy I had a Vespa 50; a long, long time ago.

In Italy a long long time ago gas stations had special pumps to serve two stroke engines. Remember how we had to specify what percentage of oil we wanted? I bought two stroke mix direct from the pumps for years and never gave a second thought to what I was putting in my Vespa...
"Miscela" means mixture and we took what we were given, notice the two hoses, one for gas and one for oil. These old engines are tough especially if you avoid anything synthetic you will do okay. Engineers have a deeper understanding of this issue but for me non detergent for the gearbox and non marine (TCW) for the engine keeps me honest.

Available at all the autozone stores of metro Atlanta.
http://www.autozone.com/autozone/accessories/AutoZone-Non-detergent-engine-oil-SAE-30-1-qt/_/N-26qq?itemIdentifier=692186_0_0_

If you want to use the gear oil recommended by Piaggio for your gear box, you can find this at all the Cycle Gear shops in the area.

May cost you maybe $10 more/yr, but there are good reasons they call one engine oil and the other gear oil.