Modern Vespa

There's still carb fine tuning to do, but overall, I think hit the mark of being ready for Lammy Day tomorrow.

With Extra Dog Goodness.

Hearing protection? I think you've elevated safety from 3rd but I approve of saving your hearing. Will you make sure it's jetted safe? Please don't seize!!!

I upped the jetting considerably and it's sounding much better. I won't be pushing the bike today, just parade riding, plus it only has about five miles on the motor right now, so I'd like to get at least a couple more heat cycles before I go really wild.

But the electrical has already developed a short to ground in the harness, so we know what's next on the repair list.

And while I suffered a lot of hearing damage in my youth, I'm really diligent about it now, partly because my ears are really sensitive to loud noises.

And believe it or not, that pipe is pretty quiet, too!

Just want to say your videos give me unending pleasure. You know my absolute fav is when you purposely set the exhaust up to fall off for me! Lammy is looking and sounding good now. Don't know where you find the time to get it all done. You're an inspiration for sure. Thanks, Chandler!

So last Thursday I got to look at a P200. Very nice owner and left an offer with him. The next day, he counter offered for more coin than I could put my hands on. So I told a few others about it and moved on. This morning, the owner called and told me three other people came by and none really knew what they were looking at. He told me he liked my passion for the brand and was willing to take my lower offer. I went over to take another look today and shook hands on the deal. I pick it up on Wednesday. A few quick crappy pics with some cowl protectors of the like I have ever seen before. I'll get more up when I get it my garage and cleaned up.

Getting there with the bodged up Sprint V. One step forward, two steps back. Worst ever motor I have worked on. Whoever worked on it before, definitely apprenticed in Vietnam

Cylinder probably origins from the far depths of India. Ports didn't match any gaskets I had, so I had to make one and rings are 1.25mm. Couldn't find any replacements so we stuck with them (ring gap is acceptable)…

Clutch got some upgrades and Malossi plates, machined the clutch arm for double o-ring, Pinasco clutch nut and Newfren AntiAqua shoes. Stator rewired, new points, condenser and engine's in the frame…

great story and the scooter looks awesome. love love love that color.

I would never assemble another engine 'without' a double o-ring clutch arm. Mine would always leak even when rebuilt with a NEW single o-ring and so far after acquiring the knowledge no longer leak. It's nice not leaving oil when parked and the engine is slightly cleaner. Two stroke soot is the main contributor.

Right on, Tierney! Looks like a beauty. Way to swoop it up.

The Vespa color supposedly is Bordeaux. I guessed maroon, maybe burgundy? What do I know? Just want to get it running and ride.

It's like the rally color, and it looks awesome on a rally as well.

Pure blind luck on my part. Best part is it is 0.5 mile away.

It's in top cosmetic condition from what we see so far, looks like kept indoors all its life. And way to clinch the deal by wearing your ❤️ on your sleeve!

Mine is called Ruby

Great job on snagging an awesome scoot in an awesome color!

Damn lucky find. Great lookin' scoot and you really can't go wrong with a P200.

Some modern TLC today, GTS 300…

Was sitting at a stop light today and noticed my clutch lever screw slowly rotating. Apparently some idiot forgot to put the nut on the bottom end of it. I'll have to remember not to ride inverted until I fix that.

I've lost two on rides. Started using medium strength loctite on them and have been golden ever since.

Nyloc nuts and they don't go anywhere…

This is what I do. The last set of lever hardware I bought came with Nylocks, too.

I've been working on everything but Vespa's lately, it seems like. Today, I got a generator running just in time for Band Camp. Mostly just carb cleaning, but it needed it pretty badly. The worst part of tasks like that is the amount of teardown I had to do in order to get the carb out to clean it. I understand making it compact, but it was a giant PITA. Still, it'll be nice to have since it's a camping rally.

Then, I took a look at an old 49cc Ruckus that one of my buddies bought for the rally so he doesn't blow up or tear up any of his "real" scoots. Another buddy cleaned the carb, so I didn't have to deal with that, but it didn't want to (kick) start or run well once it turned over. Eventually, I tracked down leaks at the fuel pump, so while I didn't fix anything (it was too hot and I was too tired of working on Other People's Motors), I did figure out the proper series of incantations to get it to start and run reliably. Other than the fuel pump leak and it dripping fuel at a steady pace while it's running, it's about as good as you're going to do with a stock 49cc Ruckus.

Without fail!

It's a long road to getting here but I finally got this done on Tuesday :

WOW!
Looks ace man. So glad to finally see the beauty you have been working on.
Very cool.

And nice set up for your "booth".

Your paint job looks outstanding! Looking forward to seeing your scoot all together.

Wow that looks great I really like trap headsets. Guessing it's a motovespa. Nice round back frame.

Yup. '64 150S with a round tail. Other than the trap, which I dig, it's got all the curves.

Nothing beats GS 160 cowls and glove box. Motovespa engine? A peculiar one for sure.

I decided not to mess with the flatting as I had gone to so much trouble to get this one as smooth as I could and it didn't seem right to hide that. I was also concerned about having to re-spray something or a future repair. I am currently knocking it down with 800/1200/1500 and will buff it when it's truly hard.

Since '74, I have painted eight cars and this is the sixth scooter. Each time I learn something about how far I have to prep and then I forget it and have to learn it all over again. Story of my life. Always an adventure.

First rate work. Looks fantastic.

I am a lousy painter and always farmed that out. I have patience for the mechanics but not body work and paint. Amazing work, I will be following your build. Kudos!

A lot of things are very similar to the 160 but slightly different. I had to shorten the rear cowl flashes and tweak the curve. The VBB floor runners are the same although, fortunately, longer.

I have the original piston-ported 150 motor, all rebuilt, but I found early on that it just wasn't enough for this hilly area so I swapped in an LML ( $800 from Scooterworks) with a DR on it almost 20 years ago. It's going back in with a Malossi.

Today I found out my old exhaust doesn't need the manifold stub that my new exhaust definitely does need.

I also found out how close the old exhaust gets to my rear tyre.

Good news is that when the bits arrive from SIP I'm well practiced in installation.

Joe C doing work:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C8HqVd2x6nc/?igsh=bXJ1NGlkanhoNXRi

I always had a dislike for those stock exhaust manifolds on my primavera. When I was in high school I didn't have money for parts let alone 2 stroke oil and gas even at 75 cents per gallon. Tires were another financial hardship. I replaced 2 of those manifolds they seem to crack before I got my SHAFT expansion pipe. Installing them is no fun trying to get the washers and nuts ON when the engine is still in place.

*grumble*

Well, this might 'splain why dialing in the pilot circuit has been difficult.

Don't forget the cotter pin and don't let it prick your finger…

And…

First time catching it. Body was aching all night, took a morning test. Son of a BIATCH!!!

final got back in the game after a bit of scooter-time break. Today was finally time to tackle yet another engine rebuild for my ole white P.

About 6mos ago I destroyed the flywheel keyway on the crank. My mechanic (me) was rushing a job to go out on ride, and forgot to torque the flywheel after setting the timing. Said well that was stupid...I'll get back to that in a week or 2, and now here we are in June. Moving on - Time to pull the lump and break it all down.

This engine is one I did not build myself, nor have I been inside. I pulled it from another project, it ran before, so I ran it; atleast for a bit until my not-so-little mishap. Lets see whats inside.

Plan is I'll swap the crank for another off the shelf, replace any wear parts; and we're back in business.

Bummer SaFiS - hopefully you'll heal fast! Push the fluids...

Right on GL - I'm particularly impressed with the spotless bench - no accumulated crap - walll-o-wrenches and tat removal tool

Serious though, good one opening up the engine. Smart move, and thanks for the pics and explanation!

R.I.P.