Modern Vespa

Tricky little suckers aren't they?

Things they don't tell you.
1. You need really skinny spanners, because the two hex faces are so close together.
2. Don't lose the little spacer that sits between the cable and the end of the little bolt. With all my reading, I have never seen any reference to that microscopic piece....and I dropped one last night when I took it off the cable, and had to go back today to try to find it amongst the crud sitting on the floor beneath the engine bay. Luckily I did find it.

Can someone tell me why a stainless cross head bolt will not work in this situation? I need to cut it to length, but can't see a down side

We'll if you are trying to push the screwdriver into the screw the whole pinch bolt may want to move unless you hold it with pliers. If you can find some flat stamped 7 and 8mm that is preferable I think .

I imagined still holding the body with the 8mm spanner, but screwing in the bolt rather than using the 7mm.....

The 7mm can be tightened from the side with a spanner or from the top with socket. You can only get at the crosshead from the top. As long as you room to get a screwdriver on it, it shouldn't be a problem.

Having just taken them off my smallframe clutch and selector cables, I can see how being able to screw them in might be better for my situation.

I'm thinking of pulling the cable tight, applying vice grips behind the pinch bolt. The vice grips should prevent the body from turning enough to allow tightening the bolt with a screw driver.....that's the plan anyway......

Pick up a spare set of 7mm and 8mm wrenches that would be dedicated to adjusting the pinch bolts. Take 'em to the grinder and thin them out so they will be easier to use.

You could use a phillips head bolt but your space is limited if the scoot is not up on some stands.

I take an old outer cable and cut off a segment around 2 inches. I thread this cable piece up the cable and place it against the pinch bolt and use a 4th hand tool to keep it snug. The benefit of this tool will allow you to use both hands to secure the pinch bolt. Use a pair of good wire cutters to snip off the excess cable. I like Park tools for bicycles, excellent quality made product.

Nothing wrong with using vice grips but be careful not to clamp them too tight, this could weaken the cable.

Pinch bolts, we call them solderless nipples, no Lambretta rider would leave home with a couple.

I always ride with both my nipples.......

I like the idea of the piece of cable outer to keep the tensioner away from the action. I must admit, my bike was jacked up while I was working on it, so plenty of room.....I didn't think about the space without raising it. But I guess you can always tip it over.

I might try it anyhow and see how it goes. As a scooter noob, I'm into anything to make it easier.

One thing ill say is that with the motor dropped, I can really see the benefit of a good engine stand. That might be my next project.....

i wouldnt trust a phillips head to get it tight enough


your buying vespa specific tools so buy 6mm 7mm 8mm spanners not the shite you get in a 30$ box set. more like 20$each ones from an auto parts shop or quality tools shop.... even 35$each with a fine tooth ratchet on one end


quality tools are worth it

Amen.... 8)

Get a set of Park Tools flat wrenches/spanners. Most decent bicycle shops will have them. Carry them in your bike with a spare set of cables.

I would agree with this. I don't think you'll ever get it tight enough with a screw driver. If you did, most likely the screw head would strip. I learned awhile ago that Piaggio made everything for good reasons, and it doesn't make much sense to try to do it differently. Even aftermarket parts that are nearly identical, can't compare.

The Phillips head was designed for manufacturing to "cam out". That is it would tighten to only a certain degree before it would slip out of the indentation. If you want to go this way I would suggest a cap screw with a Torx indentation. Just my opinion of course.

Astromags, thanks for the tip on the Park tool wrenches. I have ignition wrenches I have been using up until now, but I'm going to get a set of those to carry along on the scoot. Thumbs up!

Stainless steel is not good to tighten the screw. Just use this ones in visual parts, to look good, but not in parts that you expect mecanical performances.

I've got a set of Craftsman ignition wrenches and love them because I love the 90 degree angle on one side.. great for small frame.. those parks are the doody too though!

So you're saying its not a good idea....just to be clear...

+1 on park tools. i have a great set i started using in 1985 when i got my first freestyle bike. they still look like new...
and they have thin ones that work on a million applications.
they are a bit pricey but worth it.

Like others have said ignition wrenches. The better brands like snap on fit in there nicely. As far as that little spacer that can fall out I've used a bb in a pinch worked just fine. If your hung up on using something like a Phillips you could try and find and Allen head that would fit,that's what lambrettas use and they are after all a superior motor scooter.

I have an 8mm wrench and a 7mm hex driver. The driver is much easier than a wrench and has a T handle to get it nice and snug.

Hello

I have replaced the screws with allen grub screws.

Grumpy

Now there is a good idea.

I was looking up allen head bolts on the web and just came across the grub screws...thought that looked the business

I'm liken' the allen head idea

BTW, the comment further up about stainless not being good....what exactly are the stock pinch bolts made of?

Good idea.

Also FWIW it may be overkill but I put two on, the 2nd right up against the 1st.

Most are made of brass or at least that little disc or ball (hate the ball ones) is made of brass. You want them to deform so they hold tight against the cable. Stainless does deform as well.

Hello Grumpy

That is a great idea! Can you please put it here as well?
Random tricks, share your best little tips & shortcuts (Page 6)

Now that I have reconnected the cables to the selector box and clutch, I appreciate the amount of force you need to apply to the screw, and can see how the Philips head would not do.

I still think there's a better way and will try the grub screw next

Hey fellas, I'm gunna give it a try with grub screws.

What thread pitch and length should I look for? Thanks!

M5 .8

Good lookin' out! Cheers Vader.

When I'm not scootering, I windsurf.
Please tell me my batten tensioner will work in the grub screws
That would be too cool.....

The thing against the allen is the same thing on a torx cap screw - they are down where the dirt is flying and will eventually fill with road crap. Getting the dirt out of a little hole would be a PITA. I just suggested the torx because I prefer it over the allen which strips out easier. So forget what I said about the cap screw. The stock system, I think, will work best. You just have to buy the right tools.

so easy to buy the right tools. so hard when you don't have them

^^^ Are those Ronco tools? Didn't he make the Veg-O-Matic and the Pocket Fisherman ?

repco http://www.repco.com.au/CA2571B70016E7AE/HomePage?ReadForm&1=0-Home~&2=~&3=~

Ahhh.. much better.. I thought you were gonna pull out the Flowbee next!

you're right of course Josh.. good tools, the right tools make the difference!

no worries, i have no idea what your talking about either.

I'll explain in private.. it's not that important.. it's important but not THAT important!

those wrenches still look as thick as mine, but look to be much better quality that's for sure.

I just noticed on the Scooterwest website, their pinch bolts have an 8mm barrel and an 8mm hex head bolt, and the bolt head looks a lot taller than mine, which would make getting the second wrench on it that much easier

I just found out that there was a pin in them, the hard way. I ran new cables and then used the pinch bolts. I had to replace my crank after all and found the cables to be messed up after I removed them.

Can you replace the missing pin with anything or do you have to buy a new pinch bolt?