Modern Vespa

I will go plaid - that is a promise!

Gotcha

my engineer brain has kept on about those tabs. if the bush can rotate in the rubber as easily as I just rotated it, it will be moving in service. so why the tabs?

i think i get it. if the tabs aren't there, the metal bush itself might also rotate, which it can't with the tabs. if it rotates, it's probably going to undo the lower shock bolt over time. my guess is those tabs are there to keep that nut from coming loose. there's a lot more rotation going on than at the rear shock (shorter distance from lower shock bolt to the fork pivot vs lower shock bolt to engine pivot). the rear shock pretty much moves in one straight line, with minor arc by comparison.

nice work Johnny mule!

so it's gonna be together for the weekend then, right?

Totally

That fork looks like a beast. So many oddball widgets crammed into a small space. Not looking forward to doing mine.

it is a wild setup for sure. i'm still looking at the felt sealing washer for the axle bearing wondering - how will that stay in place and not eat itself? yeah there's a groove on the axle plate where the stubs are but really, it's not going to wander out of there? i was not so excited to get that bearing and see that it wasn't a sealed version.

Axle is in, forgot the spacer at first and torquing the nut made it not spin. Don't forget the spacer!

I'm on to brakes but the shoes I have don't seem to fit the pivot pin and it looks like tight clearance to install with axle in. They can go in with the axle in place, right?

My shoes are missing the little clips for the actuating side. I may just grab another pair. I can try to adjust these with a dremel but I'd still be missing the clips.

They're on but I need the little clips to go on the actuator side. Anyone have old ones?

I'm sure there are better (i.e. closer) options, but if no one else steps up, I can throw some in the post.

In the future John, the brake shoes go on way easier with the axle not installed yet. I'm honestly not sure how you managed to get them on with the axle installed!

He's an engineer, man. It's not a problem, it's a challenge.

With the holes opened a bit, they are a tight fit to the axle but it works. I have to do it again for final assembly. I guess that means normally people pull the axle? I'd be afraid the stupid little spacer falls off into the abyss….

Hell I'd shave a bit off their sides to get by the axle rather than pull it

I pull the axle to do it. I've never managed to do it *without* pulling the axle, but I also quit trying years ago.

Found in my stash, 8" rears, with clips

Nice work there, but how will you get the spring on without pulling the axle?

Good eye I missed the no spring!

The shoes come back off anyway, but the spring may be the dealbreaker once I try again…

That's not gonna work

It will if you Choose Violence.

that will make it fit, but not necessarily work.

i can buy shoes, it's only $10. but before I go there, greasy is hunting the stash and I need to comprehend the speedo drive setup. since there is no hurry, I want to see what I need there before any order anyway.

What's the deal, how does this speedo gear turn without the square inset? What are these washers s.13583, and do I need 2 of them? Why are they not in the kits?

does the screw on part of the cable push the brass bush against the speedo gear, coupling them by friction? inquiring minds want to know.

I would not worry too much about the washers. If I recall the gearing correctly, the worm is pushed downwards away from the washers when the wheel spins forward. The washers only do work when the scoot is pushed backwards.

I think 8440 is the nub that fits on the hub assy and the worm gear rubs against it. Can be replaced but is basically a wear free item.

The worm gear metal part should be pressed on the sides couple mm after the end. If there is no square hole, replace the worm gear. The brass is there only to hold the outer speedometer cable in place once you torque down the nipple.

Uhhhh....

2 washers found under the goo

I scored a new in box first over piston for my worn out Malossi cylinder. Someone saw my post on the lend a helping hand thread and reached out. We were gonna trade, but my old P200 Corsa seat needs recovering and he wasn't into losing the logo and getting it redone. I offered some cash and it arrived on the weekend. Still looking for a Malossi 166 head.

I can't seem to find any reproduction covers for those seats. You can find the seats for $135 it seems, they are available.

Like this

Brakes are on, and yes the axle had to come out. And of course the spacer stayed inside, but it wasn't too bad to line up.

Speedo cable troubles. The cable mates to the speedo I have but not the gear. It's too big for the gear inside. Can I just get a gear that is for the bigger cable? How do I get the right one? I don't want to buy another that ends up the same as what I have…

The speedo turns, it takes surprisingly few turns to add 0.1 km

looks like this is the gear that will work?

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Speedo-Drives/93525

I'm hoping the fact that there are so many km on this speedo means it has a few more in it. I always hear that so many of these die almost instantly.

Some garage Tetris to get this on the bench.

I'm not sure what to do, the frame needs some legshield and floor board straightening. Right now the paint might be serviceable, but if I start hammering away, maybe not. I've been hoping not to paint this.

How many holes belong here?!?

The paint wouldn't survive the straightening required. Attempts at straightening that left the paint intact would not be enough to make it look better…just different.

Yeah I'm still torn on bash out a bit and live with the rest, using stickers liberally vs. try and paint this thing by can like the cowls, fender, and headset. I'm on the fence. I got away with it quite well on the PX but this frame has more character marks

I ordered the vice grips with bars to reshape the lip. I'm gonna try to work with it as is. It's too much investment of time and money, I think it's better to let it be a bike with a snarl, Billy Idol style.

I was thinking that slowly bending the metal back might leave more of the paint intact. Maybe using wood blocks and c clamps to straighten. You could also spot paint and color sand and polish.

Yes yes yes I like this. Perfect is not the goal, just better is the goal.