Modern Vespa

When I went to open the trunk on my 2005 Vespa GT 200, the top half of my trunk came off. I found one of the hinge pins/rods, but the other pin is MIA. I can’t be the first one to lose one of these pins, so what can I use as a suitable replacement. TIA.

I think anything with a suitable diameter like a nail or section of rod will work. If yours is like mine one end is knurled and that keeps it in place. If it fell out I would insert it back in the opposite way if you can by squeezing it into place in one motion and you can peen a few bumps into your new one. A center punch works good to make divots that are almost as good as a knurl.

Thanks for the advice! When I got home, I found an old metal dress hangar (not the cheap, bendy metal ones), and cut it to size. The diameter of the metal was just about perfect. Problem solved!

That will work but I suggest you try to find a replacement made out of brass or stainless steel so it won't rust.

Matthew is totally right but if the hanger was made from good metal you might be ok. I actually went to the hardware store and got a matching diameter aluminum rod and used a hacksaw to cut to length and put a bunch of divots in one end with a hammer and center punch to create the interference.

Thanks for the tip! If it starts to rust, I’ll replace it with an aluminum rod.

Bicycle spoke?

Piano wire available any place that has the K&E display of brass and copper tubing. Most hardware stores have them and all hobby shops have them but those are getting hard to find. Hobby Lobby carries them.

Stainless machine screw with locking nut.

Old drill bit.

This happened to me recently as well.