Modern Vespa

So this may just be an exercise in satisfying curiosity but in my thread about rebuilding the top end I asked for info from other 500 riders:

Build Date:
Mileage:
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N:
Cracked piston Y/N:

If you want to play please copy and paste the above info (in red) and add your answers. Here is what I have so far:

Shanghai Dan
Build Date: 06/08
Mileage: 18,000 when engine died; 21,500 now
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: YES
Cracked piston Y/N: YES

stickyfrog
Build Date: 04/08
Mileage: 27,000 when engine died
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: YES
Cracked piston Y/N: YES

emtkopan
Build Date: 06/08
Mileage: 6,700 mi when it died
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: Unknown
Cracked piston Y/N: YES

TN_Sooner
Build Date: 10/08
Mileage: 27,000 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: No history of oil loss or blow back to speak of.
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

OAD
Build Date: 01/08 last digits of vin 215
Mileage: 37,000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

BubbaJon
Build Date: 07/08
Mileage: 35,000 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: YES
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

LM15
Build date: 06/08
Mileage: 37,137
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

luthorhuss
Build date: 06/08
Mileage: 22,000
Increased oil blow into air box over time : YES
Cracked piston: YES

CubsKing99
Build Date: 07/08
Mileage: 41,000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

Did I get everyone and is it correct?

So 04/08 - 06/08 is suspect so far but not all since LM15's is fine.

Added:

HoneyBadger
Build date 5/2008
Mileage. 37000
Increased 710 = normal, but loose sponge inserted in crankcase to Air box hose.
No cracked piston---- knock on wood

Madison Sully
Build date 04/08
Mileage ~11,700
Oil blowby, no.
Cracked piston, no

WEB-Tech
Build Date: 03/08
Mileage: 52,000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: No
Cracked piston Y/N: No

Diver3284
Build Date: Early 2007
Mileage: 6400 kilometers.
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

bigbadger
Build Date: 3/2008
Mileage: 10,200 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: not yet
Cracked piston Y/N: not yet

Olestra
Build Date: 03/09
Mileage: 27,359mi
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: N although it's always blown more than I'm entirely comfortable with-- about 1/3 quart between oil changes
Cracked piston Y/N: N

Fobio
Build Date: 12/07
Mileage: 17,800 km
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO [I no longer have an air box and the recirculation tube is vent-to-air with a small filter.]
Cracked piston Y/N: N

mvtroiano
Build Date: 07/08
Mileage:9,000 or there about
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: Yup about 70 cc's in a 40 mile round trip to and from work
Cracked piston Y/N:YES covered under after market warranty

BravoTwoFour
Build Date: 10/08
Mileage: 9000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: I use an open K&N filter and it gets a bit oily with freeway riding, but I never seem to have to top off oil in crankcase
Cracked piston Y/N: No

Disco Dave
Build Date:2007
Mileage:33000 M
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: y a little
Cracked piston Y/N: N

Wick
Build Date: 10/2008
Mileage: 5,000 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: No
Cracked piston Y/N: No

bigbadger
Build Date: 3/2008
Mileage: 14,500 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time: Yes
Cracked piston: Yes

Cajun Stump
Build Date:11/12
Mileage:15,496
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N:Yes
Cracked piston Y/N:Yes

Build date 5/2008
Mileage. 37000
Increased 710 = normal, but loose sponge inserted in crankcase to Air box hose.
No cracked piston---- knock on wood

Build date 04/08
Mileage ~11,700
Oil blowby, no.
Cracked piston, no.

Added note; my miles are primarily highway. Median MPH is probably about 70 mph. Also I have ridden perhaps 1500-2000 miles 2-up with my wife, mostly on highways (though perhaps in the 60mph range).

Knock on aluminum. Thanks you two. Added above.

Build date: early 2007? [purchase in melbourne Australia in July 2007.]
Mileage : Approx 6400 kilometers. [It spent 5 years in the shed while i was posted in the bush]

Nil problems except a stator that failed at about 6000k's.

Usage has been urban commuting, low speed stop/ start, very little use above 60 mph.

Build Date: 03/08
Mileage: 52,000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: No
Cracked piston Y/N: No

Thanks. Added both.

My bike is 41k miles, not 22k.

Got it. Fixed.

Wow... So many, and I know a few that are not on MV.
I will reach out to them when I see them.

Keith

Build Date: 3/2008
Mileage: 10,200 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: not yet
Cracked piston Y/N: not yet

Thanks bigbadger. Added.

got a customer with a cracked piston build may 2008 12.000k miles or so

Build Date: 03/09
Mileage: 27,359mi
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: N although it's always blown more than I'm entirely comfortable with-- about 1/3 quart between oil changes
Cracked piston Y/N: N

I wonder, is it significantly cheaper and easier to replace the piston before it cracks. If so, is there a known good replacement? Although riders like WEB-TECH give me some hope.

Fobio
Build Date: 12/07
Mileage: 17,800 km
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO [I no longer have an air box and the recirculation tube is vent-to-air with a small filter.]
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

With a larger oil filter, I fill MAX with 2L of oil. At last oil change, I collected back about 1.7L.

Build Date: 07/08
Mileage:9,000 or there about
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: Yup about 70 cc's in a 40 mile round trip to and from work
Cracked piston Y/N:YES covered under after market warranty

I am at 24,000 now and no problems since the rebuild


There is a 07/08 stamped on the ID plate of my scoot. Is the number in the top right the build date?

Thanks added. Yes mvtroiano in the top right of the leg shield plate.

BravoTwoFour
Build Date: 10/08
Mileage: 9000
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: I use an open K&N filter and it gets a bit oily with freeway riding, but I never seem to have to top off oil in crankcase
Cracked piston Y/N: No



. . . .

Thanks. Updated.

Is this something I should be worried about, and if so, is there any preventative maintenance that can be done to help?

Most likely the factory got a bad set of pistons. Piaggio still won't admit it, but gathering data may say something else.

Build Date:2007
Mileage:33000 M
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: y a little
Cracked piston Y/N: N

but snapping belts early 250 m shortest time

checked crank alignment true, suspect rear needs replacing belt flutters around 112 k - 118 k

Well what is your info? See my first post. And no, if the suspicion of a bad run of pistons bears out...it will fail.

Build Date: 10/2008
Mileage: 5,000 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: No
Cracked piston Y/N: No

Thanks a lot Wick. Added.

bigbadger
Build Date: 3/2008
Mileage: 14,500 miles
Increased oil blow into air box over time: Yes
Cracked piston: Yes

Mileage now ~23,000.
No problems....

Added your update post bigbadger. Seems like most happen with build dates between March and July of 2008. Not that there is a lot to be done about it but interesting.

Build Date:06/08
fix date: 11/12
Mileage:15,496
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N:Yes
Cracked piston Y/N:Yes

Oh and outlier. Thanks for the info Cajun Stump. Added above.

my mp3 500 is on the road since 2015 with the new shaped model.

I do a highway trip once a week using it at about 120-130 KMH for most of the uphill part of it. other than that im mostly in town.

I encountered massive lose of oil during 10 k treatment. air filter full of oil

Mechaninc said i ride it too hard. i think its false.

I wanted to know form your expirience please what is the best strategy to move forward??

thank you!

Over 28,000 miles now, and just returned from almost 1,600 miles in 4 days with today just a smidge under 500 miles at a constant 75 mph (120 kph) pretty much the entire time. No problems here....

Sorry, the rebuild date was 11/12
Build Date is 06/08

No problem with the Oil or piston since rebuild 11/12 --
now 7-13-16 at 61,732 miles

Sorry for the delay...

Update on Abs model

Build date : 11/2014
Mileage : 3102
Increased oil blow into air box : Yes
Cracked piston : Yes

rebuild date : 12/2015
actual mileage : 7450 and no problem....

Hope it lasts !

DID ANYONE CONTACT PIAGGIO? Did they issue anything from their side?

They know the problem for a long time.......

How long does a rebuild take?

8hours

Build Date: 01/08
Mileage: 22,200.
Increased oil blow into air box over time Y/N: NO
Cracked piston Y/N: NO

In fairness to both Piaggio and ourselves an additional question should also be asked.
"Was the air intake ever modified and if so how?"