Modern Vespa

Off with the bearings!!

Off topic but love that we are talking about Shep Fairey. I went to RISD at the same time. There was a mayoral race at the time and the incumbent was a mafioso who had abusive instincts. So one morning we woke up and a bill board of the incumbent on the main drag had an Andre the Giant billboard size wheat paste over his head! It was brilliant. He actually did it twice because the first was not the right size. He got community service for it but it was spectacular!
That was when I got my first scooter. 1964 gl 150. Loved it. Couldn't get parts so it always broke down but I got it for 400 bucks

Good ole buddy cianci. Twice elected, twice imprisoned. Both times for corruption. They almost elected him a third time! RIP.

That's saying something about Providence residents right there...

I was too young to know about this stunt, but I approve of it 30 years later!

Indeed!

I'll allow the diversion

These Cush drive rivets never come out willingly. Gotta combine these units. Going with 23/65 primaries on the sprint gearbox to make my swap to 8". Greasy sold me the one on the right for my 65. That tree had a bad day in the past….

Just put an Andre The Giant sticker on it and you'll be fine!

Given that you don't tend to build (and rebuild...and rebuild...) stupid-fast motors for most of your bikes, the 2 port wont seem that bad in the VBB. Of course, you could at least put a 177 on it, which'll give it a decent amount of pickup without going crazy.

Yeah as far as I can tell, my goals for the VBB are to build a not pretty bike from a pile of parts nobody wants and make it work. It will end up a functional, titled bike from a pile of parts that gets traded to greasy for a pile of P200 that has been powder coated but never rebuilt.

I heartily endorse this plan.

Yeah it's the only thing that makes sense. If you're gonna build a pretty bike from this you'd start with a better base and be miles ahead. So the theme is reuse everything that is functional but not desirable. 2 port motor, tiny carb (20.17) restrictive stock exhaust? Hell yeah!! Bodge nammer cowls and fender? For sure! Single saddle seat with white cover, oh yeah.

Is this the tab that must go for a 7 spring clutch?? Snap off with vice grips? How close to flush do I need? Easiest time is now before the bearings go in.

So bearings installed to the crank before the crank installs to the engine? Do they need to space off the face by any amount? I had this bookmarked, and oops gave some pretty good instructions. Never did one of the older engines yet.

Bearing installation help...

The correct way to build VBB engine

the fact that cowl still exists is a testament to the durability of Piaggio products. two different bikes, and now three, and a million miles later and it's still kicking around. this pleases me!

hey! make it nice, I might wind up with it eventually...

*laughs*

this is the way...

Is this enough? It looks like it.

it will be nice, just very stock like in performance. Unless Kajiit wants to send care package?

This tab is part of the oil way to the clutch centre. Take off the minimum possible, just enough to clear the bigger clutch.

Well I hope I didn't go too far!

Clutch cover modified for 7 spring.

As usual, the primary gear rivets defeated me and will require a drill press.

Well I have to admit that that oil tab question is nagging me now, whether I removed too much. I'm sure the only answer is run it and find out, but I hate it when that happens.

Drill press 6, rivets 0

I know it's better/proper to use a drill press, but do you know if it's feasible to do it with a hand drill?

I have only failed with a drill. Twice now. I'm surprised in your shop you don't have a drill press. I have only a tiny bench but chandlerville is spacious by comparison and well equipped with welders and paint equipment (and scooters).

Fortunately my work provides in this department. We have lots of fab equipment and parts washers...

LOL!

All of the above are true, but I've just never gotten around to a drill press. It always seems like something that I wouldn't use "enough" to justify it, even though there are definitely tasks where it's 110% the right tool for the job.

I mean, I have an ultrasonic cleaner for parts, and while it doesn't see a ton of use, when it's the right tool, nothing else comes close.

Maybe this will be the task that puts me over that edge for a drill press.

Yeah you don't need a huge one for this job, but it will take a bit of space.

YESSSS!!!

I found the thread I had been looking for on the removal of that case tab.

200cc clutch cover

Best part is freakmoped leaves even less in his video, I'm going to stop worrying now.

I've been able to hand drill them a few times starting with small drills and working up larger. But most times I just end up breaking the drills. Instead I Dremel the heads off the rivets and just go to town with a punch until they come out.

I tried that this time and just ended up bending my punch, even after using a heat gun.

My punch lasted probably 2-3 cush drive replacements, but gave up the ghost after this last time when I swapped my orange Stella cush to 65 tooth.

I feel like a drill press is the "gateway machine" to a full-blown machine shop. I'll be all, "It's just a drill press. I can quit any time," then six months later, I'm full-on CM2 with a CNC, a couple lathes, maybe a band saw and an old Bridgeport "just in case."

I think I'll try disassembling the old cush drive with a punch to start, then decide where to go from there. Especially since I might wind up needing to splash out for a new gear cog or two.

absolutely, the more tools I buy the more tools I discover I "need" to buy. I'm very space limited and think I need to find a makerspace to hold myself back from a machine shop that I don't have room to build

chandlerman if you need some to practice on I've got several more that need rivets removed

I have a few on the shelf that need to be removed from their trees, too. I seem to be hard on xmas trees for some reason.

I'm taking it there's no spacer required for assembling the early style crank? Looks like the bearing would sit too high.

Opposite side

CM, just buy a mill. two birds one stone! all the drill press with machine action on an flat bed to boot!

I have a big, old, lumbering drill press. and even with that thing the rivets are a chore to deal with. center punch a billion times, slow drill, up the size as needed, grind and try the punch. bend the punch. break a bunch of drill bits along the way. there's no easy or fun way to tackle that job.

And don't forget how frustrating is to find that all the springs were fine after all that trouble…

I'm only asking on the crank bearings because I'd like to be able to get the tool back on there and get them off in the future. Will it be ok without spacing them?

(And yes chandlerman just buy the mill already )

Leave a millimeter or so of clearance so you can get the puller underneath to start and you'll be fine.

And to the rest of you, I'd like to thank you for you kindness, love and support, encouraging me to skip the bong and get straight to the needle and spoon!

I can imagine that conversation.

Wife: Is that concrete slab under your workshop new?

Me: Yeah. I needed the stability

W: For what?

Me: ...

W: For the bed you're going to be sleeping in out there?

Me: Something like that, yeah