Modern Vespa

.. and for the 2nd time? Don't mean to pile on Mack.. but how exactly does this happen?

I'm really sorry to hear it buddy.. you're sure being tested.. hang in there.. maybe there's something fantastic coming up ahead for you..

.. but I don't understand how these screws are getting down into the intake.

^^ Vortex (and I think the Polini venturi?) don't have an airfilter over the carb throat. The air filter screws hold on the bellmouth. filtration comes from the special carb box top or a UNi filter on the bellows intake.

I _do_ think that the increased vibrations of kitted bikes with the Vortex has something to do with this. The screw is rattling in the threads, creating slop, making it easier to unthread and then SUCK down the intake, there goes your rotary pad.

I have always loctited and routinely check mine. But that one time, ouch.

I've always wondered why Al didn't design some kind of screen into the vortex bellmouth.

Today I... Blew up the exhaust on my allstate on the freeway en route to work. Side of the interstate is as Good a place to chain smoke as any I suppose.

shitshitshit mac. Tell you what, I'ma send you a 4 leaf clover and a rabbit's foot to sheild you from further mechanical gremlins. Money back guaranteed! You just need to do your part & look things over once in a while like this.

like I said.. you're definitely going through a rough patch.. hopefully it'll pass and the green pastures will be in view soon.

... but Voodoo's right.. take care of stuff, slow down when building and double-triple check yer stuff.. I'd hate to hear about it after you had a front wheel come off because the nuts were loose! Know what I mean Verne?

Hang in there Mack.

the exhaust seemed plenty solid when i put it on the bike a month ago. If it was cracking, it seems like i would have heard a leak before it fucking exploded.



i was fortunately able to find a tie down strap lying on the side of the highway and tie the remains of the pipe to the floorboard and keep it from rubbing the wheel, then limp it on the shoulder the rest of the way to work. that shit was loud as FUCK.

Also fortunately my busted rally is still parked at work, so i was able to swipe the SIP road off it. I doubt it'll be needing it soon. And hey, I scored a new tie down strap.

That's the spirit.

Damn mac, your new pipe mod there is giving me ideas

Good show & nice to get that SIP Road back on same (the road )

+1. Two breakdowns in a week and mac's happy he found a tie down. I nominate him for the "Mr. Brightside Award".

F**k Mac, nothing like getting kicked when you already down. Only way now is up, as Vader already mentioned. Blue skies ahead and miles of smiles

Well i'm just at that point where it's like, I own vintage vespas and i'm on the lower side of the learning curve, so shit is GOING to happen... A year ago i woulda been shitting myself and crying... today i'm just like, "Meh." At the end of the day i'm still the proud owner of two vintage vespas so FTW...

Went for an epic jaunt this morning with mr.j over to Coronado. Quite the adventure going over the bridge... a little hairy with traffic moving 50+ mph and no shoulders, but the views were great. Good times!

Went to foo fighters at slane castle. Just home. Soaked to the skin all day. Good gig though. Played jail break. Nice to see bands tiping their hats to the local legends

Got the Primavera out for a good long spin through the twisties now that it's back together. It's a hoot through the curves. Looks like Greasy's 3 balls in the selector trick is one for the books, gears are selecting and holding.

I finally got to get the Rally out and stretch its' legs after working out of town all week. I took it up to Charlotte, NC, for the Mods and Rockers Rally, about 20 miles away. The more I rode it, the smoother it got. I ended up on a short section of I77 and brought it up to an indicated 70 (64 GPS) and still had a little throttle to go, but I did not want to push it too hard as the engine just turned over 600 miles on the way up. The flywheel seems a little heavier than my P200, but it sure was a little faster all around than the P was. Man, this scoot is sweet to ride and has the most comfortable factory seat that I've ever sat on. Only a few vespas (mostly modern)and one Lammy at the Rally, but the moped army were well represented, and are a great bunch to hang out with. Good times

stuffed myrally in the back of my scooterboy's 4runner, brought her home. motor pulled, about to crack cases again

i could think of worse things to do w/ my saturday evening.

ooh, and my flyside woodruff is lookin rough

wtf is up w/ that?

Installed a brake light modulator today.

snak on deez nutz

after looking at that zorst mac i really wanna brandy snap

What language are you speaking, please?

What?

Do you not know what a brake light modulator is?

illegal in the uk

If had the flywheel on and off the rally180 three times today while chasing my spark issue. Still no luck.

it must be obvious day

Today I realised that the bloke who built my scooter was a drunken TWAT and forgot to grease the cables inners, I've had to replace every cable over the last few months.

I put a normal jet stack in mine, and JB'd the hole after my little screw up!
I didn't realise Mac has a venturi as well. How's your welding Mac? Perfect time to "adjust" that exhaust!

I don't know what it is but I want it. Reminds me of my army days. Any gucci looking bit of kit is wanted. The company quatermaster would ask do you even know what it is. Course I do, it's a shiny thing

don't know where this talk of vortex and venturi started... its a bone stock 24/24....

thats a crazy looking exhaust lol... i have a tig welder in my garage, but no clue how to use it

Think someone mentioned that the spring hops out of them. And someone must have took it that you had one

Just wondering how your air filter screw could've found its way under the filter and down into the carb... can see it possibly happening with a vortex, but hard to imagine with a stock carb & filter.

Headed into the garage early to sort out a slow returning idle.

Lowered the lump and did a leak test which resulted in no loss of pressure over 15 minutes = good. Hmm, so onto the reeds and found one petal blown, hopefully this will sort it out. I'll replace the rubber intake connector while I'm at it and of course clean out the carb.

I also ordered some Heidenau K50's to try out vs. the K38's that I've been using.

Ya SoCalGuy, fun ride indeed, heck I wanted to keep riding on Interstate 5 afterwards 8).

Good on you sdJohn for sorting out your smallframe gear drift. Are you using a DRT gear selector?

What up home slices? Mac..... You seriously need to do the full maintenance checks before going wot on these long ass lonesome roads to work. Or better yet eat the rabbits foot and put the 4 leaf clover in one of those Portland Kale smoothies.

hey rufio good to seeya on here. and no lonesome roads to work, just a series of 4 lane freeways

Rufio has graced us with his presence. How's life in the motorcycle crowd duder?

Same selector as before (I think it's FA Italia ), stock spring but 3 balls for added spring tension. Case leak was just that gasket, all sorted now. I put the richer needle bushing back in the carb, seems happier. It's back to its old self now, which is good!!!! Bummer on your reeds, hope that sorts out quickly.

Ha, so drifting behind that semi going over the bridge wasn't exciting enough for ya? U r a madman mr.j, but ok, next time we'll hang for a couple more exits.

Today, I refreshed my bgm clutch which had been slipping a bit at times. The corks were hickory smoked and the tabs were beat up.

Lemme tell ya, while I do like the tool which helps you rebuild the clutch in the engine, its a pain to line up everything and fit the top plate. This is where I like the stock setup when you can just plop in the clutch pack and go.

Today I ran over my foot with my scooter! I had it running in the shop off the stand and was holding the grips. I leaned over for...something and twisted the throttle and slipped it into first without the clutch, it hi a box and stalled.

The good news is that it is my left foot...the one with nerve damage from two emergency vascular surgeries. It's only a little black and blue and swollen now but with the blood thinners it should bloom nicely!