Modern Vespa

The new gearbox bits arrived from Scooter Mercato while I was up in Chicago for a few days, so my original plan was to true the crank up and weld the pin, then put it all back together (or at least determine if I needed to order some different gear spacers).

Assuming that I feel up to it (i.e. fully over my hangover), I may still get out to the workshop and make some progress, but I don't think it will be as much as i was originally intending.

Anyways...parts look good. I'm curious to see if the Malossi axle with the notches actually helps keep everything in gear.

Speaking of dive brakes off an SBD Dauntless...walked under this while passing through Chicago Midway this weekend...

Well, I didn't work on a scooter today...

Every time I see the guts of the motors on a mower, leaf blower, pressure washer, gas generator, etc. I think I die a little inside.

To me, the most amazing thing about them is that they ever work.

You mean these notches? I hadn't seen that before.

Yup. Those notches. It was new to me, too.

Getting close to buttoning this one up. While I was under there, I scraped off most of the old undercoating. Came right off with a paint stick revealing thin layer of factory paint underneath. Underside will get epoxy primed and painted dove grey. Lots of uncomfortable overhead welding under the bus.

I made a few dollars at the beach scooping up sandcrabs for some fisherman with the new rack this weekend. 😉

Standard EFL style notched driveshaft. The combination of notches, flat cruciform, and wider inner profile of the loose gears; really does make a difference in the feel of shifting. Gears engage more securely, which can be felt at the grip, and it just feels more strongly engaged within the gearbox. EFL all the way! Especially in a tuned build.

My old EFL driveshaft (OG Piaggio) didn't have the notches like that, though it certainly makes sense.

Don't know exactly but I think the notches appeared at the same time as the internal oil seal. Both make me happier.

On closer inspection, the old driveshaft *did* have notches in it, so I spoke incorrectly on that point.

While I was inspecting it, though, I noticed that I'd cracked it in two places, so that thing was going to die sooner than later in any case. Better now than on a longer trip.

I went out to the workshop to have a go at true-ing up the crankshaft and make sure I had the correct thickness gear shim...and wound up closing up the cases and putting on the top end. Not quite sure how that came about, but I'm not complaining.

I got the crank to .0005" true on the clutch side and .001" on the fly side out on the tip, so I declared victory and welded the pin.

Used the good pink Loctite 501 on the mating surfaces and now I'm just waiting until the morning to pressure test and, assuming all is well, finish re-assembly tomorrow night.

Chandler's rear axle...

I'll confess, I had to go google to figure out what this was, but a belated

And the GL is back!

First pressure test failed, but fortunately, it was only the blanking plate on the carb intake, so that was an easy fix.

Had it out a little bit and the throttle stuck again. Luckily, I managed to get it shut down uneventfully, took it home and spent a little time sorting out the throttle cable. Looks like the tophat was popping out of its seat up by the pulley, so I sorted that.

I didn't push it hard, but I could both feel and see on the AFR that it's now too rich from half throttle and above, so definitely was sucking oil. Still pulls wheelies in first and second, and I didn't really wring it out, but initial impressions are that all is again well--eventually better, once I get the carb dialed in a little.

Got in a prerun today from my house to the 154 hwy in Santa Barbara and back. 109 miles in 2hrs and 20 min. All systems go. Loving this lunatic scoot till the GS is finished. Handles admirably at 70 mph. Had a couple cars pull to the side and a couple thumbs up and smiles.

LML is finally ready!!! Last thing on the list was to fix the indicators, I had to replace all the switch wires and sheathing. Electrics and wiring are really a rat's nest and every rubber on it has disintegrated. Happy engine, happy electrics, tomorrow will be delivered to its owner...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBj-v7i-5J4

That was fast! Sounds great.

I wouldn't say fast. Took a month, waiting for parts, raining constantly for 2 weeks, but finally done...

When it started...

today i ..... bollox 2.1 (Post 2724581)

Sounds lovely and that wiring is top-notch. LML could have learned a bit from your quality of work, man!

Well greasy125 and SaFiS, I think I finally properly wounded ol' Scabby.

Rode almost 250 miles yesterday, whipped it up and over some 10% grades and then hill-bombed the crap out of it several times to catch the group. Got close to home when the temp needle started moving in a disconcerting manner. Had to shut it down at traffic lights and nursed it home.

No funny smells or smoke, but even money says the head gasket finally gave up the ghost. Oil looks great, no drips or streaks below the scoot, but the radiator was empty; no bueno. Overflow tank is fine and no wet spots on the radiator, so it's just slightly sucking coolant.

I figured I'd gotten lucky with the gaskets when it ran fine after radiator replacement, but I now believe it was on borrowed time.

At any rate, it'll get fixed. I like this turd too much to write it off.

This. I know the wiring in my Stella wasn't made in the same universe as your handiwork.

Great job! Don't you just love when you set out to rebuild the engine, and end up replacing most of the wiring, tank cleaning, etc, etc. and the list goes on and on ....

It finally stopped raining long enough for the roads to dry off, so I got the GL out to confirm jetting as well as play with the new GPS/remote I picked up for my 360 camera, which means I can now add speed, route, and other telemetry onto my videos.

This was a quick little loop up to the next exit and back on the highway. Bike is feeling great and I was really happy that the AFR and EGT both jumped to right where I wanted them (13.5:1 and 800F) and then stayed there. The CHT was consistently in the 270's, but it's an under-plug and I didn't maintain speed to really get a good read on it, so that's positive but not definitive.

The carb is setup is back to the same as before the gearbox blew up and the bike feels great. It pulls like a tractor from immediately off idle clear through peak power. I should have gone over to my test route and grabbed some GSF dyno's, but I really wasn't wearing a warm enough jacket, so my failure to estimate temperature is everyone's data loss today.

Anyways, enjoy the noise if that's your thing.

I think I just about did this on Friday afternoon when I set out to turn off the workshop lights I'd left on by accident.

That front end shaking around on the off ramp about 3:14. I'm surprised you're still using that setup, what's the plan there?

I keep ignoring it, thinking I'll get a front disc, but then never get the disc, so instead I just live with disappointment.

It's not a great strategy, but it's been working for me thus far.

Ha ha!

Craig has the Crimaz, he's about to replace it with a PK conversion. Where previously the drum brake would get the front end to quickly dive, the Crimaz disc now does it almost instantly.

Way to sell that Crimaz to me!

You'd think someone could produce a decent anti-dive (and disc) setup for largeframes. I as able to get a badass front disc for my Smallie that will stop the bike harder than I can hold myself off the bars and it doesn't dive. There's no way there's more market demand for Smallframe parts than largeframe.

I guess I'll have to look into the PK option again, or just continue to live with disappointment.

After the LML, quick clean up of the lift and new patient on it. PX 221 full overhaul, cases were vapor blasted, new Pinasco crank (was not my choice), VMC 10 Molle, bearings, bushings, cush drive drilled to find the springs OK (it's always a 50-50 PITA job), new cruciform, etc.

Development these days seems to be 85% smallframe. Maybe that'll swing around but who knows? It would be nice if there was a way to do something with the existing setup that kept the look and worked.
I am tempted by an auto fork although haven't ridden one - except in an auto. You see them on smallies fairly often but don't think I've seen one in a LF. My mate converted an LX fork some years ago for his 50. Not sure if he still has it. I would have thought it's only a matter of getting the length right to match a LF, and a guard.

https://vespa50srebuild.wordpress.com/2015/02/23/lx-fork-fitting/

That LX fork just looks "wrong" to me with no swingarm on the righthand side.

I don't see why you couldn't do something like the smallframe anti-dive. I need to go back and re-re-re-read OCT's post on how anti-dive works again.

I'm totally fine with the aesthetics of a LX fork on a smallframe track bike, but anything else it looks pretty darn bad. And the only reason i'm fine with it on a track bike is because i'm looking at the disc fork as a performance necessity.

Doesn't saigon scooter center make an anti dive brake kit that would fit your scooter? As nice as a PKXL fork is, the headache to install the shock so that it cycles through the stroke correctly, and then fitting the mudguard can be a nightmare…especially fitting the mudguard.

Now that you mention it, they do.

I'm not going to do anything right now, because I don't want to get tariff'ed to death in the deal (currently 46%, effectively making it a $750+shipping part), but if things eventually calm down, it will probably be back on the table.

Had to make a new crankshaft tool. Broke our long time rule to never lend a shop tool to anyone. The 'friend' that got it never brought it back and denied that he ever had it. I'm never making the same mistake again...

seems you have three months respite to get one

Not scooter content, but if you remember my inquiry of whether or not the scooter will fit in my Astro van…well here's my big two race bikes in it. First vintage dirtbike race of then season this weekend. Lots of rain and below 40° temps means it will be actually just miserable and no fun. But I need all the points I can get.

Work continues on the PX221. We decided to replace the rubber main seal for a metal one and crank pin was welded. Piston side windows widened, VMC clutch FTW and all closed up...

Are you concerned the fly-side seal will spin?

No. I slot them for the oil passage…