Modern Vespa

So, long story short, I was doing a repair on my 2012 LX150ie, and needed to remove the mirrors to remove the front headset. I bought the scooter used and have only had it about 4 months.

Repair finished, i put it all back together and the left side mirror just spins, the mirror screw looks okay but the socket it goes into is stripped.

I am not too psyched to pull off the the headset again and look...is the mirror socket a part that I can replace? Or do I need to drill it out and put in a helicoil fix? Is this common?

It looks like the mirror screw is an M8, can anybody confirm?

I believe you can buy a new casting for the left hand side which includes the tapped mirror base. Be careful when working with the left hand mirror and base as they (may be) left hand thread. That is probably how it got stripped to start with.

When did they change to a left-hand thread? Our 2006 LX has the normal (as in every other Piaggio/Vespa I've worked on) right-hand thread in all places, including the mirrors.

Yes, the mirror is an M8 thread. If the socket is stripped you either go for a new replacement part or you can use a helicoil or time-sert to fix it. And no, the thread isn't left-hand. Left-hand thread, especially on mirrors, is mainly a Japanese thing. I've never seen a left-hand thread on a Piaggio...

Brake lever perch...
https://www.scooterwest.com/l-h-lever-perch-with-left-hand-thread-vespa-lx-2010-newer-cm063806.html

Noting that that is for after-market mirrors, and the OEM version is this:
https://www.scooterwest.com/lever-perch-l-h-side-vespa-lx-cm063804.html

So if the OP has OEM mirrors, ensure you do not buy the left-hand thread version.

Sorry, I missed that. Apparently there's a left-hand thread perch. The part code was taken from the spare parts catalog. First time I see this...

Are you certain it is stripped?
Did you try reversing the screw in ?
Lefty/Tighty, Righty/Loosey in other words.
O.S.

Thanks, everybody, for the great info!

This is an oem mirror, so I will be ordering the replacement brake lever with mirror socket.

I had heard about left hand threads on the left mirror, and I saw a youtube video that mentions that, but my mirror is definitely a right hand thread. It is very obvious when I look at the screw on the mirror.

Okay, just ordered the 'left side lever perch' from ScooterWest.

Has anybody ever changed one of these on an LX150? Any tips?
It looks like remove the hand grip, disconnect the brake hardware and brake light switch, slide off the old perch and replace.

Is it reasonable to try to re-use the old hand grip? I would like to. I found an old post from 2007 recommending using compressed air to remove it. Are there any setscrews or other types of retention on the handgrip that I should know about?

Glue. Seems to be a "contact cement" type. Could probably work a small screwdriver or similar tool far enough in and around to break the bond. I took the easy out and just cut it off. No glue for re-install and it's fine.

My understanding is that at least some newer models use a left hand thread on the left mirror - and no, I do not know when such a switch may have occurred. It just seems prudent to be sure before reefing away on the thread.

Left Mirror Stem and Locknut use Reverse Threads

https://scooterpartsco.com/recambi-scooter/scooter/mirror-piaggio-for-vespa-lx-reverse-thread-left

https://www.scooterwest.com/mirror-l-h-vespa-primavera-cm182101.html

Don't get me wrong about the handgrip...I am not interested in a major project taking the grip off to save a couple of bucks. But the grips on my Vespa are really cool looking, with Vespa inscribed in them and a chrome ring.

But now I see that ScooterWest carries it...so if it turns out to be a big pain I will cut it off.

[/url]https://www.scooterwest.com/vespa-s-lx150ie-left-hand-grip-cm083803.html

It's hard to see the detail in the ScooterWest photo, so I attached mine.

Dooglas, I totally believe you.

I saw this ScooterWest video, LH threads at 3:37

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX90J4dCY18

But both of my mirrors at absolutely RH. I don't get it. A Vespa thing ?

Yes, confusing, isn't it. Some parts info would suggest that the switch on the LX happened in 2010, but your scooter is a 2012. That just leaves us with maybe RH, maybe LH.

i just had the same problem. i tightened the mirror too much and the thread just got stripped. so i use a long nut to repair the issue. the thread is quite long on the handle bar piece so at the bottom was quite new. so i took a long bolt cut it to the desired length and fitted it to the long nut than fitted the mirror in the long nut. its a really cheap fit, on the downside the mirrors will stick a bit higher than standard. but its a quick fix

If I'm not too late.

1, Yes 100% there are 2 versions....thread wise.

2, I doubt you stripped it by going the wrong way, the casting is like soft cheese.

3, pull back the chrome bit on the handgrip and it should reveal little grub screws, then that'll just slide off.

4, once all the casing are off, you can then loosen and slide off the brake lever and replace.

5, you will probably need to loosen the rear brake cable at the rear wheel......but it can be done without.

Lastly take care not to drop/lose any spacer washers or insert that the actual lever bar has.

loosen the adjustment "nut" on your rear brake cable until it's nearly off-- like one or two threads kind of close. that will give you the pull on the cable you need up at the lever mount without the headache of unhooking all that nonsense.

anyway, loosen all that mess up, blow up the handlebar assembly and get up in there. carefully remove the cable end so as that you don't lose the plastic buffer and be sure to lube that and the exposed cable when you reinstall everything. obviously if you're replacing the entire mount don't forget the brake switch (or to connect it!!) as well as the small return spring in the handle assembly.

do not over tighten the pivot nut. it will jam up the lever. it doesn't need to go on that tight. trust me on this.

test everything before reassembling the handlebar cover.
(ie don't be a dumbass like me and forget to hook up the headlight)

finally, a few drops of blue loctite on the perch mounts is fine.

hth
-g

My new perch hasn't arrived yet but should be here soon. It may take a week or so to get around to the repair, then I will update the thread with a report.

I appreciate all of the advice.

While you are at the store pick up some green oil for the starboard lamp.

The left hand threads on the left mirror is just the opposite of what at least the two XS650 Yamaha's I have in the garage have. The Yamaha's use the left hand threads on the right hand mirror.

I was always told the reason for the left hand threads on the right side was if you hit something while moving they would loosen and not break off.

Maybe Vespa thinks it is more likely someone will be hitting you while they are passing you?

Not sure on Vespas but for the Yamaha's the lock nut on the left hand threaded mirrors have notches in the nut to identify them.

So I bought the replacement left-side perch from ScootersWest, and I was about to install it....then I was thinking about the steps - removing the right-side mirror and the headset, removing the grip and the old perch, re-adjusting the brake....and I decided to see if it might just be simpler to fix the mirror thread with a Helicoil type insert.

So I got a kit of 20 M8x1.25 inserts and the tools from Amazon for $15 including shipping. I would have bought a genuine Helicoil part, but instead got a no-name because the no-name came with everything I needed including the drill bit.

So I didn't disassemble anything at all, and fixed the socket. It was easy. It took me about 20 minutes because I didn't know what I was doing, next time it will take about 5 minutes.

Well done, you!

O.S.

Now you just need to find 19 more Vespas with stripped mirror mounts to use the extra inserts! Good job!

Just went through this last night. My friend's shipped Vespa finally arrived and they'd taken the mirrors off. She put the right one on in seconds and was struggling with the left. She thought it was stripped. We tried turning it the opposite direction and it went on. Who knew?

It is spooky easy to drop the mirror while your brain comes to grips with Lefty Tighty!
And scary, if you're not sure which way is " off" on a bike. You could strip something trying to do a simple removal. (My Forza was like that)
O.S.

[nsr] Reminds me: Back in the 70s I had a flat tire on my old Dodge Dart. I struggled to remove the wheel and finally called a tow truck. When he arrived the bloke said, "Haha, Dodge caught another one". Turned out that the wheels on one side of the vehicle had left-hand threads on the lugs.

Someone later said it had to do with the wheels spinning and tightening/loosening the lug nuts.

Absolutely, it's a right hand thread almost for sure.

Excellent solution. So your best friend must be Murphy

I will send you the kit with the tools and remaiing inserts. It is for M8 screws with course threads (1.25). Amazon has kits for different sizes.

I have a 2014 GTV with a stripped mirror. I'd like to Helicoil it. Does anyone know the thread size? Is it 8mm or 10mm?

Not to be a wise SOB but do you have metric open end wrenches?

Just slip what ever wrench over the threads that is the smallest one to fit and that is the diameter of the threads.

Thread pitch is a bit harder to determine best thing is to use a thread gauge. Next best thing is to find a blot with a known thread pitch and see if it meshes with your mirrors threads.

Then there is the question of right hand or left hand threads, not sure if anyone makes left hand Helicoil inserts might have to research that one.


Ok, did a little research and found at least one source for left hand Helicoil kits. Bad news is the price!

https://www.threadtoolsupply.com/M8x125-lh-professional-helical-insert-repair-kit.html

I found on eBay a link to a GTV mirror that says 10mm.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Piaggio-Vespa-Genuine-LX-LXV-GT-GTS-GTV-S-mirror-LEFT-CM020404-EACH-ITALY/112733631734?hash=item1a3f72b4f6:g:jZkAAOSwhlZYuN7B

That's why I asked. I went to ACE hardware store today and one look at a 8mm nut and I knew. 8M 1.25. They had the name brand helicoil kit too. It had the tap, an insert tool, and 20 helicoils. The tap said to use a 21/64th drill. The metal is so soft so I walked up to the right drill using two smaller drill sizes. The tap then went in real nice. There were a lot of metal filings inside the socket when finished. I used Q-tips to clean out the metal filings. The filings clung to the cotton. The mirror is now nice and solid. This is the first time I ever used a helecoil.

I found the mirror spacer was put in upside down. The plastic cover was sandwiched between the spacer and the mirror tightening nut. This allowed the mirror to flex and elongated the threaded socket over time.

I took a couple of pictures. The first picture shows the hole drilled and tapped. The second shows the helicoil inserted.

Here it is after.

It looks like you nailed it!

I forgot to mention that I used q-tips to clean up the metal filings too.

I also watched a short YouTube of the process. Screw tap tools always have large grooves down the sides of them, I never thought about why. Apparently they are designed to collect most of the metal filings. As you tap the hole, you are supposed to tap forward for a turn or two, then back the tap out a bit, then go forward again, to collect the filings into the grooves. (Maybe somebody more experienced knows a specific sequence)

You are also supposed to use 'cutting oil' on the tap which is supposed to help with this. But I didn't want to get a new bottle of oil for just one hole, so I just put a few drops of machine oil on the tap.

Are there any more stripped mirror sockets out there?

Hey Jimjar. One more thing. I forgot to thank you for your posts about fixing your mirror. I helped me fix mine.

And thanks from me to the many other folks who contributed, Dooglas and jimc and SaFis, OldSchooot, retro s, and especially northernerbill and greasy125. I learned a lot. And I hate to have things on the Vespa that are broken, I am happier with it now.

My hope is that if we can drag this forum thread out for one more day, somebody else will see it and decide to fix their broken mirror this weekend. I know you are out there.

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