Modern Vespa

*this post is not targeted at pre HPE engines*

As I mentioned in another thread I have just found that my coolant hose has rubbed most of the way through. So I checked Robot's video and he shows that there is a bracket that is supposed to hold it. I don't have that bracket. And I've just checked my neighbours near new HPE and he also doesn't! And there I was thinking it was my mechanics fault.

Can't help but think this should be a recall issue 🤔


*the rub point is against the ht coil near its bolt* see red circle in pic, can also see part of the bracket right below the red circle

I am not talking about the breather hose rubbing on the coolant hose where they are held together with a zip tie. that is very minor

edit: content removed as not relevant

If I had a HPE it would be the first thing I would look for after seeing your info., APAC or not just for peace of mind.
To be clear, Robot's video is Comprehensive 6K Service for Vespa GTS 300 HPE, at 36'40"
where he shows the bracket.
So how did you resolve the issue of the missing bracket and the rubbing....

New hose and bracket on order.

In the mean time i used some thin nylon hose with a zip tie threaded through it to pull the hose towards the frame away from where it rubs.

they all rub. even with the bracket.

some of the new hoses come with an additional protective sheath.

That supports my feeling that what Piaggio gave me is not acceptable and should be a factory recall to replace hose if worn and add the bracket and sheath.

edit: I hope we are talking the same rub point - please see red circle in new pic in original post

Yep. My 2017 hoses rub as well, even though they're factory zip tied.

that's different. I'm talking about it rubbing on the coil. the coil in your 2017 is in a different location. please see updated original post that has a red circle showing the rub point

I can't see any damage on the hose from here, but this is what my 05/19 manufactured Italian HPE looks like. There is a zip tie on the hose, and the hose is resting on the black plastic thing you've circled.

(I literally can't see where it's rubbing will enough to say for certain whether the hose is being eaten into.)

It's hard to get a photo down there, but I just looked at your diagram again and see the screw boss you've circled. It does look like my hose is rubbing on it.

at a different point, but they still rub.

you can see the protective sheathing on part of the hose.

try rubbing your finger around that area, probably have to reach up from below (easier with side skirt remvoed)

also, dose yours have the bracket?

is the green I circled the sheathing you're talking about (mine has this the same)? sadly doesn't reach the red part that is the problem

correct.

some have it some don't, some have it in different places. fact of the matter is, they all rub.

ouch. I assumed the missing bracket would have stopped the hose rubbing at that red point. but what you're telling me is that all HPEs are likely to have potentially significant damage to this hose after a decent mileage* especially if the roads aren't perfectly smooth. I really feel piaggio dropped the ball here

* for me it's 28,000km on 99% good roads. yes I do some bad but they are a tiny tiny percentage of the total and obviously at a considerably lower speed

standard GTS and GT's as well, not just HPE

maybe they just see it as a wear item. figure that at the point it rubs thru it should be replaced anyway?

I though standard GTS have the coil elsewhere so couldn't be rubbing on the same sharp edge... ? or am I wrong on my understanding of the placement of the coil on the gts? after less than 2.5 years?

not exactly the same sharp edge, but very close. same proximity, if you will. that area is just problematic in terms of routing items. but, no you are not wrong on your understanding of the coil placement, it's in a different area. but that hose still rubs.

re: replacement after 2.5 years, I can't say what their intention is. I can say that the FSM states replacement intervals for hoses, not than anybody abides by them, but they are out there.

curious, have you ever had to replace that hose on a GTS or heard of anyone else needing too?

yes on both accounts. many different factors each time: bracket, no bracket, clip of the bracket left loose, clapped out rear shocks with a overloaded rider, slight crash damage, worn engine mount. high mileage, low mileage, all of the variables.

but for as many as I've seen worn or had to replace, I've seen ten-fold that looked mint.

very interesting reply 🤔

Was in the store picking up the new hose today and stuck my head inside a brand new 75th GTS on the showroom floor and it has the clip!

I had the coil out today so jsut for fun I took a couple of pics showing how much the hose had rubbed

Sounds like it's an issue with the Vietnamese assembled HPE's. I suppose a recall will only come into force if hoses begin to fail in numbers. It will probably only start to become an issue in higher mileage HPE's when the hose has abraded enough to start the hose to leak. It's a good thing you caught yours in time.