Modern Vespa

Hi guys really like the ingenuity and resourceful qualities of ordinary man/or woman
and the making of all manner of diy tools with just bits and bots hanging around the workshop/garage

where i can, i try to make tools stands contraptions etc ,I welded up a simple wheel changing stand ,but the general consensus on the forum, the selector box is an inappropriate place to rest the weight ,so i made the shock mount version pictured on the forum ,the kick under but i almost pushed the bike off the stand............ probably more my physical limitations than the design,as i can't lift the bike

I wanted small and adjustable ,not a thing of beauty as i only had stick on hand ,but small enough to be upright in the glove box , the coarse v thread means it's easy to just hand twist up and down

I,m not implying this one is an example of ingenious ,but i posted it because i would like to see your homemade tools,stands ,this is not a beauty pageant lol just functional or innovative or just a complete disaster.... a good example is my overbuilt cumbersome clutch arm tool ,that has been replaced with the simple, cable tie idea on the forum lol

george

Sarah builds these as well as Vintage red Matthew.

Hi mate i,m not sure if i,m using the search thing properly,lots of posts say "search" but i type in what i think are the keywords,and either get 1000s or not found is there something i,m not doing properly ?
george

When doing a search, you have to be fairly specific - using as few search words as possible and directing it towards the forum you want to search in (Modern, NSM, etc...) Otherwise you will get a page full of answers that will not do you any good. Meanwhile, the tool you made looks great - good job. I used to keep one in the front box on my P200 wrapped in a rag. Only had to use it once.

Hi cheers,i found a picture of the gear selecter one ,i made one but found another post saying not a good idea to rest the bike weight ,there's a drawing with measurement that i made for the hook and post ,kick version but nothing on "adjustable stands" some good bottle jack ideas but, i have a little one but its still too heavy,found a great pressed push scissor clip to lock one but couldn't find any more info on it

the internet is just too big for my old brain,i could just about cope with the motorcycle
section in the library lol
george

I googled "engine stand modernvespa.com"' clicked on the first hit, which is a thread on this forum. In the second post, Sara mentions this link:
my enginestand and jack

if ya dont want that rattling round in ya toolbox they do this one ........ might get one as i now have a centre stand

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VESPA-PX-125-E-REAR-ENGINE-STAND-/290958436028

i dont weld so i dont make tools other than grinding spanners to get in tight spots...... if i could weld you wouldnt recognise my scoot as a vespa

You may not make tools, but you build some great looking scoots. mine look like rubbish in comparison.

cheerz ..... they're only t5s just a p with better lump..... not like an old classic

thanks mate i,m been using the forum search one , will do your google modernvespa.com searching !!!!!!!!i was just not made for modern times lol have a phone i can barely understand a tv the kids have to program and the washing machine has more lights than blackpool illuminations lol I haven't even plugged the hd box i got for last years birthday yet lol mate thought ,it a brilliant idea needs bigger mount hole for yor the electric start ,but had visions of it comming down digging in and me over the top lol

my enginestand and jack i made a similer version not as nice but the base had to turn ? is the top threaded with a bearing?

I just got in getting dark been out on mates px the shocks big improvement the kit woooooooooo, i do think you need the better tyres and shocks for a tuned bike ,the gearbox is clunkier than mine lol you guys were spot on they all need a bit of coaxing i,m under revving her,177 ok 300cc in one of theses frames would be madness

george

Hi, the top has no bearing. You adjust as you need. 8" or 10" wheels. Flat surface or rough.
Just place it under the shock and lift the scoot a bit at the rear, and push the base forward.
Easy.
Sara

Hi sara i cant lift so needed something self extending twist the nut pushes the top shaft with the hook so they move independently
george

Hi forgot to say , i want my glove box for cake lol so i,m working on an aluminium screw jack based on an acrow prop ,super light and as bending and lifting are a problem for me i want to mount it clip on under the footboards along with appropriate wheel changing tools as its hollow they can sit inside my mate has borrowed my mig ,so its just big heavy lumps with stick lol
george

Here's one a friend developed for me. I learnt how useful a tool like tis in the glove box is the hard way with a flat in the rear of the PX in the middle of nowhere. It's made from a converted VW jack. The foot can be positioned in different positions to adjust for ground conditions. It works fantastically and packs up compactly too. A 19mm socket or spanner is all that's needed to raise and lower it.

hi very very nice idea ,resourceful, ingenious,adjustable compact and i even like the colour A*...................................many thanks
george

I used a can of orange juice in the past. But after I got this new (old) PX a couple of weeks ago, I realized I am not strong enough (nor willing) to lift the rear everytime I need to change tires. So I made this from scrap wood. I'm not surprised others have done similar and better jacks before me, but I'm still excited to see ingenious solutions to our common problem.

Sorry for flooding posts. I can't seem to figure out how to attach more than one picture. Anyway, the jack is made of a 5" piece of pipe, 5" bolt and nut, a susan bearing for the base. Operation is simple: the pipe acts as the grip. You twist it to push up or down the thread, no wrench necessary, a half-moon metal is welded on top of the thread.

Flat tire? I just use one of these under the engine case. It holds the rear wheel up just far enough. No extra things to carry.

https://www.scooterwest.com/vintage-vespa-large-frame-t-wrench-tool-toolt.html

Yeah. I, for one, am obsessed with minimalizing everyday-carry tools. I used a longer sparkplug wrench that acts also as the tire jack. But I don't feel that it's right to jack the engine under the gear box and jacking it up from the bottom of the shock seems right. Plus, when carrying top box, and with the tank full of gas, I don't like lifting the bike for even a bit. It's a compromise. But the next thing in mind is to make this jack more multi-tool than it currently is.

I guess my few bricks or milk crate are considered retro these days?

Not sure this fits in here, it is kind of backwards from the others. Not taking something else to make something for a Vespa, but we took something from a Vespa to make something else. We made a foundry sand muller using a concrete mixer like this guy did:
but didn't have to make an axle, wheel support or spring setup like he did because we had one laying around.

Well I imagine that most of you like myself work on your scooters by your self after work in your garages. I know that I do. As one could imagine it does help to have a lift, but when you scooter is on the lift and you want to remove the back tire and service the brakes or replace a clutch as I just did, trying to lift the rear of the scooter and securing it....not so easy if your by yourself. So I made use of an air bag. Makes lifting the rear or front of a scooter a one man job. Or a one women job. So I would say it is a useful device.....scott

For all you non lube auto Vespa owners. Tired of trying to put gas in your scooter in between the seats and spilling gas everywhere? So, for the pre-mix owners, this has been a great useful device. Pumps fuel from my 5gallon jugs into the ol vespa. Not a wasted drip of gas anywhere. It even has an auto shut off. Did I mention it was around 40.00.
Not sure how most people put gas into their vintage pre-mix scooters. I put the oil into 5gallon jugs and then fill the jugs. Anyway I thought it would qualify as a useful tool. That's all I have air bags and fuel pumps to make life easier while working on your scooter. Scott

This is the wedge tool that keeps you crank from twisting when you tap it in with a mallet. For Sprint/RallyVMA1 floor rails it is perfect for using as a dolly between the channel and a flat pry bar works nicely in conjunction.