Modern Vespa

Hi all

One of the next jobs on my list now that I've done the clock battery is to remove the centre stand to give it a good clean up and grease.

Any tips on this? Is it just the one long bolt through it from what u could see?

Spring or springs?

I recently built a trampoline for the garden so I think the tool for fitting the springs on that may come in handy...

Any help would be great

The bolt passes through a sleeve that goes through the cases. There are two o-rings that seal the grease between the case and the sleeve.

Ideally you want the stand to be bolted tight to the sleeve and for the sleeve to pivot in the case. From the factory they didn't lube them well and often the bolt is pivoting in the sleeve.

Get new o-rings if you can. take it all apart, put it back together with way too much waterproof grease, wipe off the excess that oozes out.

Photograph the spring arrangement...it is impossible to get them on securely if it is not correctly set up. Also, make sure your scooter is firmly situated/ anchored when you are re-installing springs- it will require a significant pulling force. Dan

Ok... Thanks for the tips so far, I think I'll get a new bolt etc too given that it may need some persuasion to come out!

I'm kind of stuck on securing the bike while I work on it though

Canyon dancers, long straps, and tent stakes. Though that means you are working in the dirt....

You could lean it against a wall with the front wheel pinned between sacks of fertilizer or similar.

There's a trick that involves a Phillips head screw driver.

I've tried the Philips screwdriver trick - if it slips it's bloody (literally) dodgy.

Not having a bespoke spring puller, I use a large (19mm, pretty much its only use) ring spanner ('wrench') with a beefy cable-tie through the ring. This can be used with excellent leverage, and bugger-all can slip.

Here's an exploded view of the centre stand assembly.

http://www.easyparts.nl/showdrawing/10510/93616/222A/0-4019-1-m425-m1557-m1559-m10510-s10521-d93616/Stand_s.html

Thanks for the replies

Still need to think of the best way to secure the bike while I do it

this is on my to do list.
Im sure I read somewhere that you load the springs with washers (or 2p pieces) while its on the stand and remove keeping the spring pre loaded.

I'm using sand bags to stabelise the scoot.

On using washers or coppers.

How should I re-fit centre-stand springs?

Got down and had a closer look earlier, it seems the exhaust would be in the way of fully removing the long bolt ?? I can see the two springs so I understand how that's set up.

On the subject of cleaning the actual stand up, what can I use to make it look a lot nicer? Mines pretty rough in terms of its colour

Cheers all

-----------------
New paint? Sandblast and powder coat? Rattle can?

Or buy a new one for 32.42 euro.

Does the exhaust have to come off to get the bolt out?

Cheers

You definitely need a technique to reinstall the springs because having done it on my GTS its blooming hard work. For refurbing the stand, I clean off the main rust with a wire brush cup in a drill, then give a coat or two of spray black Hammerite smooth. It's not perfect but it'll last a year or so. I also tried the VHT spray black epoxy paint on my exhaust bracket, which seemed to go on well, but not had it on long enough to know how it fairs longer term.

Thanks, I hope to use a spring puller I have to do the springs, will the bolt come out with the exhaust on?

Not sure as I've not owned an LX, but judging from the photos above, it doesn't look like the bolt will extract fully with the exhaust in place...

I feared that

For now I've loosened the nut a tad and gave it a good squirt with wd40 and on the springs. Left overnight and now it seems to be retracting fine.

I'll probably remove it when I next have the exhaust off

It is clear to me that you are investinng a lot of thought and time in your endevour. I would clean the spring with a wire brush and engine cleaner before re-painting them. Do the same to the stand before repainting it. The internal components that have been mentioned may be replaced for a reasonable price. The likelyhood of your finding that these are all rusted out is very high. You may be better off replacing them. Not sure if they have cage bearings or not. Use liberal amounts of grease.

The springs and O rings are cheap enough, also the bolt and nut are too.

I was thinking of Shot blasting the stand before painting it

My tip for the repaint...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VHT-SP650-GLOSS-BLACK-EPOXY-ALL-WEATHER-PAINT-/111351562716?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19ed1201dc

The pin for my centre stand has siezed up and i cannot get it out.

Any tips for removing it?

Ive managed to take the nut off, but the head of the pin snapped off after a struggle trying to remove it.

Maybe theres another part i can remove that holds the pin? As a last resort.

Thanks!

Like all lessons in life. Lube, pressure and angle of approach.

Realistically, though, you're going to need heat, lube, a big long punch and a BFH

good luck.

-g

I get the heat, lube, and BF, but what's the H?

Reminds me of when I was a bicycle mechanic (full time, that is).
We had what we called a Huffy Adjustment Tool. It was a large hammer.
Fun times...

Ooh, interested now. I have a couple of those inherited from my dad. I'm guessing they'd seen their share of whaling. I've left the 16 pound maul home on the farm for my own protection.

Best friend had a penchant for collecting the "BF" category of tools... big ass adjustable wrench and screwdriver you'd need two hands for come to mind.

Sorry for the digression. Carry on!

Greetings:

H stands for the last word in your post before Fun Times.
As in ... Big... Freakin' (sorry G, keeping this PG) HAMMER!

When I took mine of to have it powder coated, getting the springs off was fairly easy, getting the bloody things back on was a right pain! I tried fitting washers between the springs to ease off the spring, but I didn't manage to put enough on, and it made the job harder to remove the spring, but it came away in the end.

I bought one of these through ebay



but even using this was a bit of a struggle, I had to give myself enough room to pull the hook and stretch the springs enough to put over the small "bar" .. but boy, was it a pain!!

Graham

I found this video to be useful to getting the spring back on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uV2302RejyI

oh, and here's the pro tip: besides removing the exhaust, tie off the front and put the rear wheel up on a block of wood so you can put the centerstand up. the springs go on much easier that way. and don't be stingy with the lube. slather everything up real good.

-g