Modern Vespa

Today, as I was lazing there on my exercise matt next to my LIBERTY trying to figure a way to keep the oil from draining again on the center stand...I had a divulgence!
(no, - already used the rest room)

"Everything wants to drain right on the center stand, but...
Who's to stop me if I fold up the center stand, put the scoot on the side stand and then put the drain pan right here!", I divulged to myself.


So, I did.
Sat on the upright scooter with coffee, for the final drain.
No mess to clean up.



Also - wish the pizza boys had given me more than #2 pencil-sized fill hole.

Still getting used to an oil bottle that is not a Qt., but a liter.

O.S.

Priceless

For those of us who just have a center stand and no side stand, fold the center stand up and lean the bike against the open overhead door track in your garage and secure it with bungee cords. No garage? use a tree or a fence post.

Tie down straps from the ceiling or a tree work well too. Then you can give it a little lean that way too.

I have to admit it took me a few oil changes with my BV200 to realize the same thing: it's easier, faster, and you get a steeper lean (more oil out) if you change the oil with the side stand and then lean 'er, rather than use straps to keep the scooter upright.

Exactly what I worked out for my SYM HD200, which is configured just like the Liberty.

Yep side stand is best or even if it doesn't have one you could just loosen the drain plug to hand loose, hold the bike and remove the plug. Doesn't take long at all to drain while holding it leaned over.

speaking of holding up a scooter: Love the procedure for checking the oil level on a Burgman 400.

Pull off the interstate
Take the 489lb scooter off of the center stand.
Kneel down in a puddle at the gas station
Hold the scoot dead level with one hand
Bend over and look at the oil window with the flash light in your teeth


So, I actually have it easy with my Piaggio.
Italians still holding the patent on the Dip Stick?
O.S.

Yes, it's a PITA!

Tin foil.

Yes

Not having had the same epiphany am I missing something?

We are talking the oil that drains from the filter? Correct. As the oil that drains from the motor will come out of the drain plug?

To drain the oil out of the filter before removal surely one punches a hole in it with a screwdriver?

One time I just put the center stand down in the drain pan.

My grandfather used to pull the drain plug on his old Ford farm truck, then hightail it down the dirt road. Claimed it didn't hurt the engine - while cutting the dust by his farm house!
He had that road oiled pretty good after 40 yrs!
My older brother tried often to set fire to the road - never worked.
O.S.

The perfect excuse to buy a $500 lift!

And checking tire pressure is a breeze! 8) 8)

It does come in handy once in a while for belt changes, etc......

Talking about certain models of Piaggio, the drain plug drains down the center stand.

With a couple of harbor freight spring clamps and a double or tripled piece of tin foil works well. I mold the foil into a "U" shape and hold it in place with the clamps and then pull the plug. With a bit of practice you can figure out the clamp points and how to aim the foil into the pan. No mess

+one on the U shape ramp. I do mine out of cardboard. 8" long seems to work well. I use the same one for the gear oil.