Modern Vespa

Stylin....

You have a point.

Fired off that missive when I came in at lunch from yard work.
forgot all about it until just now.
like I stepped on a Vespa nest!
Hahaha

Just trying to buy Hec some breathing space.
Never know so many on this forum to agree on anything.
Turns out - its the blue Hec doesn't care for.
Tough entry.

It's also true - I think the color is ok - but it doesn't really excite.
Everyone's entitled to their own opinions...
Funny - the more electric blue that Hjo posted is nice.
Is Hec's blue even original?
Don't think those two are the same.

No backpedaling now - you already called the baby ugly!

Hideous really.

That blue is not bodge orange but it's a very nice original color.

That blue only came on the first batch of P's that came to America. That and maroon are my two favorite colors of P's. There was another blue metallic but it is even less seen. The paint is lead and more durable then any paint made today. Piaggio gave the frame a charge when painting and the lead paint stuck and soaked in like glue. Single stage with no gloss which allows a buff out to a shine even after some of the harshest conditions.

I remember back in the day everybody wanted to paint there scooter some psychedelic or metallic color like electric blue, or purple, or lime green. Had to add the several layers of gloss to make it look wet. Those scoots did not age well at all. I know of a purple SS180 that looks like hot mess on a stick all glossed out and tacky.

At some point people get passed all of the ooo's and aww's you may get from a stranger looking at a shiny paint job. That same stranger that's not in the know would think a bodge is a beautiful scooter.

It's his P 2 common and I really hope he's enjoys whatever he does with it. Can't wait to see the results and the happiness that comes with a completed project.

couldn't believe I had gotten this far without anyone noting...

Good insights on the OG Rowdy.

That process you described is called electrostatic painting.
We used it for hockey stick production in my past life.
It's calling card was that the paint would wrap around to areas you might not be able to hit well otherwise.
Was cool to watch the paint bend around the object as it left the spray gun.
Wasted less paint - and got in al the nooks and crannies.
Didn't know that Piaggio used it.
The original paint certainly is tough on these things.

We will see how tough the paint is when it gets sandblasted off next week!

Hec

^^^ hahahaha
Again, you are gonna fit in well with this band of reprobates.

On sandblasting... are you doing it yourself? Make sure to blank off and plug every hole to the interior. On my VSC resto the sandblaster blew threw tape, knocked off a steering column plug and basically filled the entire scoot with sand. I am still cleaning it out of nooks and crannies 5 months later. *sigh*

Birdsnest

I am having a sand blast shop do it. I may have them use Carbon Dioxide blasting now given your experience. The CO2 will evaporate leaving no residue.

Hec

CO2 blasting sounds great. When I blasted my tunnel, I plugged it with plastic bags to prevent media from going into the fork tubes and headset. This didn't prevent media dust from blowing out the keyhole of the steering lock. Oh well. Sometimes it takes longer to clean it all out.

Doesn't heat up metal either,

I know! Instead of blasting, just paint over the already great base coat of original blue.

That way when somebody gets the bike they can strip off what you've done and have it back to original paint.

See, still watching.

[I know! Instead of blasting, just paint over the already great base coat of original blue.

That way when somebody gets the bike they can strip off what you've done and have it back to original paint.]

I have only ever done body work on a vbb and VW bus. Both have iron clad factory paint and primer. I don't remove it except when welding, metal and filler work require it. It's hard as nails and chemically dead so there is not much worry of it reacting with new products. Nothing wrong with starting from bare metal though. More than one way to get things done.

Color choice can be a tough one. Leaving my p200 and LML bike the original color because it is easier for me to learn to like it than it is to choose a new color...not to mention all the work involved.

My VBB will cause me no end of hand wringing because I really love orange. I would match it to my orange VW bus and use it as a toad. I just think orange would look absolutely tits on an old vbb.

But...my stock purist soul is hard to resist. The original blue is just so Cold War era machinery that even painting a riding mower that color would make it ooze vintage cache.

So I think that if you have made a choice that is solid for you, yer good. Asking for permission, approval or forgiveness won't help. I think people here are pretty cool with that kind of thing. They lose their minds about it on Vdub forums.

Good advise. There's a group on facebook that does just that. Here's a description of the group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/300580933621796 Decades down the line someone may get a real nice surprise of original paint.

Good God. Stock Nazis. Every form of transportation seems to have them among their enthusiasts.

the OG stock paint makes a wonderful base for a repaint. so unless you've got significant rust issues or several coats of paint I'd not bother personally.

but yeah, stock is tough as nails and cleans up nice.

Are they better or worse than Illinois Nazis? Cuz I'm a Chicago-boy myself, and I hate Illinois Nazis.

orange whip?

three orange whips please!

I tell you what Im gonna do. I will include the picture taken in my very first post and seal it in a zip lock bag and hide it inside the frame tunnel. This way 50 years from now when I'm long gone, and enjoying a dirt nap, someone can see what the original color was without having to go through the trouble of inspecting the whole scoot for hints of original color overspray! Cuz there won't be any original overspray left when I'm done with it!

Hec

your newly minted exuberance pleases me. can't wait to see the finished product.

I would not relate it to Nazis.
Its more of a progression of a hobby. I've seen as more people stay in this hobby for years, they more or less come to appreciate originality not necessary stock. I don't know many, if any, that's been in this hobby for a long period of time that would just strip and paint a scoot with more then decent paint and dings. It usually the new ones that want to paint and make it shiny.

His shit and his resources to shine his shit up. At the end he's the one that has to live with the results. I look forward to the results and joy from a competed project.

Fair enough. It's all good. I actually do appreciate that kind of thing. It's a progression of skills too. Someone enjoys that aspect of the hobby and get good at it. Sort of like how rust removal in difficult places has kind of become my niche thing. Someone else might find it excessive.

Reminds me of my friend Clarks' P200 painted as described circa 1986 the joke was Italian on the way and Mexican when he left. Sounds like a horrible idea.

Howdy All,

Today some parts were dropped off to be powder coated. Should have them back in a couple of weeks.

Parts dropped off:
* All three Rims
* Front and Rear Brake Drums
* Front Hub
* Fork
* Battery Tray
* Rear Brake Backing Plate
* Front Brake actuating arm

I made sure to detail what gets powder coated and what does not. I instructed the powder coater to leave the ends of the wheel studs and brake hub studs exposed so the ends have color on them. Should look very nice when done.

In preparation for sand blasting and paint, I still need to make sure the left floor strips fit good, drill 4 holes to mount the license plate and remove the wire harness. Making progress!

Hec

I'm getting concerned that my Crankshaft installation tool ordered from SIP is going to hold up my engine build. I ordered it back in early Dec. 2021 and it's still not on stock. SIP says they don't know when it will be available again! I wonder where SIP has their tools made? I won't need it for another 3-4 weeks but it would be nice to have it when I am ready. I have been thinking of ordering one from India but not sure about their quality. Might have to use the clutch trick to pull the crankshaft into the bearing.

Hec

You can pull the crankshaft in using an impact wrench.

If I remember, that's what Robot talks about in this video.

Man that's a pretty blue in that video.
*ahem*
(/ducks)

HJO,

Yup I have watched that video many times! At 1:09:28 Robot uses the clutch to draw in the crankshaft as I mentioned. I may have to go this route.

Birdsnest,

You had to go there....

Hec

Scooter Mercado has the Indian puller in stock for around $50. It works, enough.

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Factory-Tools/F-2306849

I can't believe I'm just now getting into this thread after all the "But the Patina!" conversation already happened!

First off, as someone who literally painted a scooter yesterday, I'm Team You Do You, especially for a resto-mod. It's too bad you're going with the Italian Flag scheme, though, because as we all know, Citrus is the faster scooter color(tm).

you built a scooter stand and an engine stand. build a crank puller ya goof!

Greasy 125,

Great idea! Can someone post the dimensions of their Crankshaft Installation Tool? I have been kicking around the idea of welding a nut to the inside of each end of a pipe(for the spacer) and using a piece of all-thread rod. One end of the all-thread rod could have a T-handle welded to it and the other end have a metric coupling nut for the crank. If I could get the Outside diameter and length of the spacer tube I think I could come up with something.

Hec

On the Sausage engine build videos he uses an old clutch cover with a hole in it, and then some allthread with a nut welded on the end. Tightens a nut on the clutch cover outside against it and pulls it in.

DIY a tool, or drop the $50 for the one from Mercato; they can have to your door within a few days. . If you have a welder and some spare nuts n bolts its a fairly quick job. Either way, you want to draw in slow and steady. No hammers! I always buy the tool when needed, if you're going to be doing any wrenching at all, its a worthy investment.

Geeklion,

Yeah, I would rather purchase the tool if at all possible. Today I sent an email to Scooter Mercado asking how many thread adapters come with it. Their picture shows one but also they show pictures of the tool pulling in both the crankshaft and the axle. This would require two different thread adapters. I'm hoping it comes with more than 1 thread adapter. Even the Indian models have 3 or 4 thread adapters.

I hope I hear from them soon.

Hec

It should come with multiple adaptors. I highly recommend Calling Mercato on the phone, you'll get a quicker answer that way. In my experience, the email communica chain is much slower. They are great guys, and very helpful. Might even be able to ship it out next day, so you dont have to wait too long. If you want it faster be sure to specify. Good luck!

The SIP tool that had multiple adapters is no longer on SIP's web site. Someone else was asking about it recently.

when my tools got stolen, I was left with just the jackscrew part of the puller so I fashioned a sleeve out of piece of exhaust pipe and a washer. you could do the same with standard pipe, conduit or even PVC.

then just get some all thread and a nut and washer, for the attachments just use standard nuts. they don't have to engage all that far to be honest.

if you're going to be doing it regularly, then by all means, order up the tools. for just a few times, with your skill set, I'd just build them.

also, if you're in a rush for anything then vintage scooters are not for you. expect delays and parts not to be in stocks all the time.

Unless you're willing to spend more on shipping than parts with orders for three things from four different sites all shipping at once because you forgot you already ordered the first thing until after you re-ordered it.