Modern Vespa

I like this plan! Im going to do the same on the 63 VBB (150cc) before I change the exhaust and carb.

Chris and I did this on our Allstate's as well. 47 mph tops, tucked down, WOT. 125cc stock...

The new stator for the GL arrived today, so as soon as I wrapped up my work day, I practically sprinted out to the workshop to get it installed, timed, and tested.

Installation was almost smooth as I thought it would be. First guess at timing didn't work, because my marks said I was at 37 BTDC at 7,000 RPM's. I reset TDC and was actually 13 BTDC at 7Ks, so I advanced it four degrees to 17, confirmed timing, put the flywheel cover back on and went for a ride.

Holy mother of fuck is this thing fast! (that's me in 1st through third gears)

I almost threw myself off the back of it when it reared up in first. Second popped up almost as hard, and I felt the front wheel floating when it hit the power band in third.

This thing is almost in Smallstate territory for performance, only it's a largeframe.

I didn't take it more than up and down the street a couple times because I want to check all the jetting before I really put it through its paces, but I can finally say that this is the motor I was expecting when I built this puppy.

Already trying to reset the counter before even hitting double digits.

That's the Chandler we know and love.

A girl's gotta have dreams!

Can you give us a refresher of what you've got in the GL Chandler?

Basically, it's the OG 2-port motor with a little bit of porting/o-tuning...

I did swap out few bits though:
Quattrini M1XL (cylinder-inducted reed intake)
Quattrini Malossi cases (after I blew up my Stella cases)
*No* Dremel work or porting to cases, cylinder, or piston
Malossi full circle 60mm crank w/ a 110mm rod
Malossi box exhaust
PWK 34
Vape Variable timing ignition
22/65 primary gearing; P200/Stealla EFL gear stack
Dellorto self-regulating fuel pump

So, like I said, basically the 2-port

Hahaha - you're cracking me up.

Yeah, pretty much stock 2 port ...

What did you do to cover the 3rd port in the cylinder?

This:

I was voting for this:

I would have if I'd known about it!

For better or worse, my knowledge of Things Nuclear is more on the War than the Power side.

Oh I get it now. Bit slow sorry...all the 2 port talk.

But - I didn't think Quattrini made largeframe cases?? Do you mean Malossi cases?

Doh...you're correct. Quattrini top end. Malossi cases.

I thought something didn't look right with that parts list, but I'm slower some days than others.

maybe next time I'll try fitting a largeframe cylinder on smallframe cases just for giggles and confusion.

I heard someone mention that there are great YELLOW BOOTS that are about 1" wide... possibly a set of them would work, as they must be tough, as never seen a fitted pair that have worn out, even if the scooter was rebuilt 20yr ago

Autolube full rebuild (careful not to lose the small spring and ball). Everything cleaned up, new o-rings, Loctite 510 as suggested for the locating bolt and sticky grease for the top of the cog / actuating arm. Maintained correctly and it's a bulletproof system...

How it started...

How it's going...

The throttle cable stuck, causing the motor to run away to 11,000+ RPM's. Somewhere in the course of dealing with that, I dropped the motor into gear, causing no shortage of violence. Limped it home barely and tore it open.

Top end looks great. Carb setup is spot on, I think. So there's that.

But the gearbox is...not-so-great.

When I pulled it apart, 4th gear was stuck onto the axle. It seems like I somehow twisted or distorted the axle. When I checked it with another gear, that one also stuck also stuck.

The cruciform looks like it's seen a lot more miles than it has. I put a new one in when I put the Quattrini on, so it probably only has a couple hundred miles on it, if that.

First and second gears' lands are thrashed. Either the pushrod or it seat in the axle are warped. That'll get replaced, too, to be on the safe side.

And the crank's big end bearing pin is about 0.5mm loose, so that'll get pressed back, trued, and then welded.

Oh, and the flywheel slipped when the motor went from All The RPM's to Zero in a fraction of a second, and while both keyways are fine, there's some weird-ass damage to the cone and corresponding damage to the flywheel's surface. I think that'll be solvable with valve paste, though.

Let's take a look at the pictures while the Explosion Clock Committee reconvenes...

That completely sucks. I feel for you. That qualifies as a reset in my book. Lots of carnage. I was wondering about that crank not being welded although it probably wasn't the cause of the excitement. Could've been worse.

That is very unlucky CM. Were you on it at the time?

One time I had a throttle cable fray and stick half-way around a fast corner. Didn't realise that was the issue, pulled the clutch and tried to feather it out. Got dumped upside down fortunately without anyone coming the other way. Pretty sure welding of the pin was discussed and decided against.

Bummer Chandlerman! Thats a quick clock reset if ever there was one…

I was. In fairly heavy traffic. It was very no bueno. Also part of why I'm pissed.

I should have welded the crank after it started to separate in the old cases, but didn't. No damage done, but I'm still not taking that chance again.

The throttle cable stuck at a little over about half throttle. At first, I thought something had come loose and the engine was dieseling and about to eat the top end, but at least that wasn't the case, so yay for that, I guess.

Contemplating if I want to drop in a long first since I'm buying gear cogs. Do I make first a little more usable, or do I just not care? I'll be back in action soon enough. Still sucks, especially since I thought that project was about ready to be declared done.

my sincere condolences.

Oh man, that sucks! Few pointers. Get an original Piaggio cruciform, all that fancy Crimaz, BGM, Polini, etc. cruciforms are only smoke and mirrors. Also, to me it looks like it was sucking gearbox oil. Use a better sealant than the blue RTV. Loctite 510, Permatex Motoseal, Threebond 1215 that are fuel and heat resistant. Smear on both sides and close it up…

Dang CM… I think you're gonna owe the explosion clock council overtime.
You make ebullition an art.

Seriously... Sorry to this carnage amigo.

Safis...

Pretty work on that oiler rebuild!

I saw that, too, but it didn't really register at the time, as I was focused on other stuff. In that regard, I guess I dodged that bullet by catching this one.

I used 510 on the smallie, but the Malossi instructions called for the blue stuff. I've already ordered more 510 for the reassembly. I'm mostly just annoyed that I have to wait for parts. The sadness is that I just had to drop $500 for new gearbox bits. I'm just making sure MV gets its money's worth out of the Explosion Clock Council.

I can't get too upset over this, because these sorts of things are just the price of building stupid-fast motors. If I wanted them to work all the time, I'd keep them stock or near-stock. As it is, I just keep lots of spare scoots around and enjoy the heck out of them.

In this case, I used stock-grade components (the axle was an OG piaggio to replace the Stella one that I sheared clean in two and three of the free gears were out of a Stella gearbox). I've gotten away with that in the past, but this is definitely my strongest largeframe build to date. Yesterday was the Find Out stage of that decision.

And I think the axle had already been warped/torqued/out-of-round for a while in hindsight, because it would occasionally do this weird little jerk a few seconds after shifting to 4th when I was accelerating hard, almost like it'd jumped out of gear for a fraction of a second, that I could never track down. That might have been the gear hanging on the axle, then slipping down to be caught by the cruciform. I haven't quite worked out in my head how that would have (not) worked, though.

*/ living vicariously through this adventure thanks Cman! Sorry its a bummer right now but onwards and upwards!

Amongst the list of sucky things here, that also sucks. Because you know, a fancy new gear set will be nice but it's just not particularly sexy. It'll just work.

Anyway, I'm glad you didn't end up on the ground.

Yeah, that pretty much nails it. Gears aren't supposed to be something you think about--once you pick them, they're supposed to be something you never think about again!

And I'm also glad I didn't wind up on the ground

Gents, I'd like to pick your brains. After the Winter National Vespa Meeting we're starting preparations for our summer event (held again by our club). I'll be restoring a PX200 which we'll raffle at the event. We're thinking Malossi theme (and maybe kitted too) and this is what I came up inspired by the modern Vespas competing in the Trofei Malossi...

Suggestions are welcomed...

My suggestion would be to hit up Malossi to sponsor some rebuild parts

Suuuuure....

We'll be lucky if we get a sticker or two...

Chandlers right. I bet if you talked to the marketing person they'd kick down some stuff. Especially after you explain what you're doing...

I may not be able to keep my explosion counter under control, but I must be doing something right!

Stickers are not the problem. I have accumulated too many, working with Malossi products over the years. I'll email them though and see if we get anything out of it. Color wise, how does it look?? Would you change anything??

Cheers!!

I would put some blues in there somewhere something to compliment the warm colors. But looking good!

A tall 1st would be very beneficial with a racy engine, but make sure to also get a taller 2nd gear as well. If you don't, they will probably be too close together and kinda cancel each other out so to speak. A tall 1st, tall 2nd, standard 3rd, short 4th is the best combo by far.

As to the cruciforms, i used to have a DRT cross when they were first introduced. I was VERY pleased with it, but that was years and years ago. Seems like most all of the newer fancy crosses are more cheesy nowadays. I can't remember what brand the very latest one i bought was, but i was pleased with it. The few before that i was not.

I merely skim-read the last dozen or so posts... pretty sure i read that Chandlerman is solving issue by switching to 8"

I've used Crimaz cruciforms for some time, but decided to try the Malossi since that's what Mercato stocks.

I did go with a long 1st, but didn't have a good long second option, so it'll be stock along with third and 4th, since they didn't need replacement.

If 4th hadn't been in perfect condition (and Crimaz), I'd have gone short 4th. This thing definitely goes faster than I have any interest in on the high end.

Now, I just get to wait for all the new bits to show up. I already did that with the Malossi 210 that's now in my VBB.

I really really like those malossi built scooters. Those races are so cool to watch. I think you did a great job mimicking the livery. I'd def try to email them and explain it's a giveaway bike for a club event and they'd maybe be more inclined to offer up at least a top end