Modern Vespa

If you have the glovebox removed as in tightening the hinges on the glovebox door and are putting it back together, tape the latch hook that is inside the glovebox in the open position with duck tape. This will prevent the push lever from the ignition switch from slipping behind it toward the rear of the scooter. It if gets behind it it won't work. When I finally figured out why the ignition switch would not activate the latch it was about the seventh time I had put everything together and taken it apart again!! After you have verified that it is working properly you can remove the duct tape and tighten all the screws and you are finished.

p.s. If you ever see how the hinge works you will be amazed that the door opens and closes at all!

I had the same problem EXCEPT I had finished replacing ALL the screws, including the one inside the glovebox, and then realized that the locked box could not be opened nor could it be disassembled for fixing.
After pondering and cussin a while, I stuck my hand through the left knee hole opening and worked the ignition push button and could feel the little hidden lever moving. This suggested where to push to finally open the latch. Then R&R again with care to get the lever in the correct place. I read somewhere here that there was originally rubber band that does what your tape did - until it breaks.

tbates 57,

I now realize how lucky I was. I had the screw inside the glovebox tightened holding everything in place and was just about to close the glovebox door when I decided to check it. It must have been quite difficult reaching through that little access panel on the left and all the way across. I would have been unable to do that because I have added a turn signal buzzer which I could have removed if I had too, but most of the space is now taken up by twin truck air horns which I wouldn't have been able to remove without the whole glovebox removed!! I hope anyone contemplating fooling with the glovebox door reads this!!! I guess the message is the very last thing you do after checking that everything is working properly is to replace the screw INSIDE the glovebox!!!

Next time you've got the knee hole cover off, give it a feel
You don't need to get the thumb through the hole - just fingers and palm - I think its only about 4-5" in there. You can't SEE it but its obvious when you FEEL the movement right behind the glove box lock when pressing the ignition lock.
I hope the bad guys don't catch this - a phillip's screw driver gets you quickly into both the glove box and pet carrier if you know the secret.

I think there is a post* from Jess in the Technical Library with instructions on how to R&R this, and there he points out this small but important detail you are referring to. I highly recommend reading this stuff before attempting to do any kind of work. It can save you time, aggravation, or money, depending on what could go wrong.

Modern Vespa is an amazing resource!

* I found it, this is the link: http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic7819.html

Blunut,

I have read Jess's posting several times and have to say that it is just excellent. However, as many times as I have reread it I can't find anything related to checking that the latch works prior to closing the glovebox door in that posting. While that may be common sense, I just don't see it in the posting as you suggested. While I am at it, I would like to say "kudos" to all the contributors that have posted so much excellent information regarding working on Vespas. They are unbelievably helpful and provide the information necessary to decide if a project feasible for the scooter owner to attempt on his or her own or to seek professional help.

I'm going to contribute a slight bit to this very old thread, so that future searchers on the forum can benefit from my personal cussing.

I too was smart enough to get my inner leg shield and glovebox back in place, getting all screws back in without checking if the latch was positioned correctly. So, my glovebox door didn't open anymore .


I started feeling through the left black cap (of course, after removing it...) and I thought I felt the latch, but it wouldn't work with me. I tried pushing it down, I tried tilting it up, but no luck: it would stay stuck.

Then with more luck than clever thinking, I accidentally pressed something that was mounted vertically instead of horizontally. Thát was the actual latch.


So, yes, it's easy to open your GTS glovebox door by reaching your fingers through the hole behind the left black kneepad (you may have to remove the painted plastic piece if it's still there).

Just make sure you look (feel) for a vertically mounted part, that you can press. It rotates on the lower part of the latch.

Here is a fix I made to replace the original rubber band (or it might not be original but I have seen it on couple vespas). I placed a small round spring over the mechanism mounting point and bent the ends of it so that it always move the mechanism back after releasing the key. Small and thin key ring could be used as well.