Modern Vespa

vespa 150 VBB: (8")

needs some work:

needs headlight, tailight, front brake lever, horn, clutch cable

straight frame, dent in legshield, surface rust, has some graffiti on it.

engines runs fine, starts on first or second kick.

no title.

thinking of offering $300 or $400.

fair?

VBB parts are easy to come by... but if you think what you've got is worth that, then based on your description i'd say it's fair.

that's what i was hoping. definately needs some parts.

thanx for the quick response.

ditto. 500 and under for a running motor is fair in my book. it will be much slower than your lx, but a good basic starter to cut your teeth on.

thanks. appreciate the advice.

it ain't pretty, but it runs!

congrats! you're running, and that's a lot more than i can say on 4 counts. now don't go tearing it all apart and mucking it up!

i can't take the credit for getting it running. i realized i was in over my head 'cos it was in a lot worse shape than i thought. got some MAJOR help from the experts at scooters o.

anyway, it looks like it's been thru a coupla wars!

I think VBBs are the best looking largeframe. Have fun.

You know, i always get a really proud feeling when i clean up a bike and get it back running on the road. I feel like i've saved a piece of history from the trashbin.

Congrats and enjoy!

-Eric

worth the price and teh effort. Restorations are fun, just plan it out and go for it.

we painted her. she looks a lot better. thanks for the all the advice. the photos are crap 'cos i got a bad roll of film. yes, don't laugh, i still use film.

just think of it... as adding to the nostalgia!

looking good so far though

don't you just know it.

i knew once she was painted and looking nice she would stop running!

may have a fuel blockage, hard to start and stalls a lot. she sometimes stalls at idle. if i don't give her more throttle she stalls.

hope it's an easy fix.

She sure is fit

Hi Mate, Yes it could be a blockage, or a seal. Have you tried pulling the choke whilst the scooter is warm?

What was done to the scooter at Scooter O?

Cheers, Jim

[quote="jimh
Hi Mate, Yes it could be a blockage, or a seal. Have you tried pulling the choke whilst the scooter is warm?

What was done to the scooter at Scooter O?

Cheers, Jim[/quote]



no i haven't. this afternoon it started on second kick then stalled out (with choke pulled out). i pushed the choke back in and then fter about 10 kicks it started but i had to give it lots of throttle to keep it running. i went for a ride and it was fine as long as i was in gear. after riding for about 10 minutes i stopped and put it in neutral. it stalled. i was able to start it after 3 kicks but again i had to give it lots of throttle to keep it running. whenever i go in neutral it stalls.

about an hour later i tried to start it and it was the same problem. didn't have a chance to do anything 'cos had to go to work.


scooters o replaced the fuel tap and rod, the scooter had no lever when i bought it. they cleaned out the carb, as well as replaced cables, got electrics working (non battery).

while taking off glove box cowl to paint one of the screws fell into the the body of the scooter so we had to lift out the gas tank and reach in to get it and put proper screw back. i guess it's possible we crimped the fuel line, i don't now. i searched this topic on scooterbbs and i guess i could be an air leak also.

thanks jim for your help/interest.

today started at first kick with choke out, but still had to give a little throttle so i won't stall. it would stall sometimes anyway. once it was warmed up enough, it would idle without stalling and ran fine. i went for a quick ride and it didn't stall at all.

sweet! keep us posted on how things go! like eric said, it feels great to get some beat fired up and running again! although ive only brought one scooter back, i have done a couple cycles and some lawn equipment, hahaha.

There's probably crap in the fuel system, so I wouldn't be surprised if even overhauling the carb doesn't preclude future problems. Probably gotta clean that puppy out all around! Looks nice though, and the fact you can ride it around is a very good sign to me!

it's fun restorin' old stuff. i'm tryin' to get this 1957 german-made console radio fm reception. it has the original manual, but it's all in german. the knob works with pulleys and cloth strings. it's weird. if i turn the pulley it turns the knob, but if i turn the knob the pulleys won't move.

i can get am and shortwave reception at least.

now the bike will not start AT ALL!


i can't even push-start it.

have you personally adjusted the carb at all? remove the plug and have a look...is it all oily and gassy? with it out, and grounding it to the case or jug, are you getting a good spark when you kick?

I have a VBB and I have had simelar problems, first thing I did was fit an inline fuel filter, I changed the points and the plug. then it ran fine.Regular checking of the points and plug gap are very important, if they get too wide the scoot behaves exactly as you've described. As rover eric said you paid a fair price, in fact scoots over here in the same condition are fetching twice as much as you've paid.....Paul

thanks guys,

i'll check the spark plug, fuel line, carb etc.

and we'll see what's what.

sunday - couldn't kick start, but succesfully push-started it with choke out, bike ran beautifully, no stalling at all, got a quick ride in just before some violent thunderstorms arrived.

adjusted idle

monday - succesfully kick-started 3rd kick with choke out half-way, again ran beautifully, no stalling whatsoever.

it's a mystery. runs fine now.

havin' fun ridin' all over town, gets stares and smiles.