Modern Vespa

Hi all - I was having issues starting my Vespa and it appears the HT Coil need to be replaced and apparently the thermostat and thermostat cover.

I got a quote from the Vespa dealership in New York and was rather surprised that to replace these items it would cost $680.

What I was most surprised about is that they would charge 2 hours to replace the HT coil and 1.5 hours of labor for the thermostat.

I am rather handy and know that the HT coil is directly under the battery so there is pretty limited disassembly required. Is this something that would take two hours?

Thanks for any perspective or thoughts?

I'd say that's inflated by about $100 if their labor rate is north of $100 (I'm guessing it is)

Last time I did a coil I got so frustrated I just wound up pulling the floor board to do it.

Anyway, you could always DIY if you don't think the juice is worth the squeeze.

Cost of Service

Greasy125 is the real go to reliable guy because he actually has performed the work.

I find sticker shock on both automotive and scooter service. That doesn't mean the
price is not well worth it. It is just that I am an old and my mind and prices are back
+30 years ago. I always divide every service bill by 8 to compare it to where my
mind of price is back in the 70s and 80s. The dollar was worth 8 times more back then.

Modern technology and off shoring to cheap labor has kept commodity prices low.
Then, when you need to service those things you bought cheap. local labor rates
kick the price up. Do I think it is worth it. Yes, I believe my scooter/auto service dept
is worth every nickle. Plus, if they goof up (although not very often) they get it back to do again.

Like standing in a cold shower ripping up $50 bills.

Bob Copeland

To the OP:

Like you said I'm sure you have a lot of knowledge. One thing I need to point out to you though is that the HT coil does not attached under the battery.

I remember trying to work around taking it apart. About an hour later, I figured out that i didn't have enough elbows to make it happen. When someone bitched about the labor on the next one, I suggested that we could save more than an hour by removing the plastics with a hammer and using three inch decking screws from Lowes to put it back together. People forget how much of the labor involved in fixing scooters is spent not destroying plastics.
"This is how long it takes, and this is how long it takes if we don't scratch the shit out of it."

exactly this. soooo much this.

re: the coil, it's like the hot girl in the club. just cuz you can see it doesn't mean you can get at it!