Modern Vespa

Hi all,
I'm new to the Vespa world, or maybe I haven't even joined it yet? I bought a '67 150 in 2020 that was built by Bajaj Chetak. It's having trouble staying in 1st gear, constantly slips out. It stays in the other gears just fine. I tried replacing the gear selector box but that didn't seem to solve my problem (although it's certainly possible I did a poor job of it).

What's my next step?

Thanks,
Jeremy

Have you checked your cable adjustment? If they are too tight it could pop in/out of gear, even with just a slight bump of the handlebar. Otherwise, it could be a worn cruciform, or even a work out 1st gear; either of which means splitting the cases open to see what lies within

Yes check your cable tension, does not a little bit of slack.

If this doesn't solve it it is most likely the gear selector cross, unfortunately that is located inside the christmas tree and means splitting the cases... the part itself is easy to find and relatively cheap (much cheaper than a selector box)...

Not in Christmas tree but part of axle.

I'll throw a +1 on cables and maybe, possibly the wrong shifter box.

obviously, I'd go cables/controls first.

but after that man, you're opening it up. and with what you have, I hate to say it, you might just let all of the magic out when you do.

Yeah...I have...questions...about your scoot.

What do you know about its provenance?

Looks legit Bajaj with round tail and volcano speedo. All of the accessories, white walls tires and the 4 button seat makes it look far east. Seems to have an 8 to 10 inch wheel conversion as Bajaj was still making VBA clones in 67. Def some type restoration was done on it.

I hardly know legit Bajaj's at all, but I ask about provenance because Scooterworks (the Dealer/Chicago side) imported an entire shipping container of Bajaj frames/headsets/panels, painted but without engines or mechanicals about fifteen years ago and that was one of the colors they came in. I think they were also at least party 10" conversions.

It looks like a LML motor with the coil on the frame, though which could mean it was an SW conversion and while the frames weren't great, they weren't terrible, either, and the final assembly workmanship was done at SW Chicago and so the builders were competent.

If it's *not* one of the SW Bajaj's, though, all bets are off.

I remember that batch of
Scooterworks Bajaj frames and the colors with that green like that scoot, a light blue, and maybe a beige, too. They had a handle where the rear rack would go. I heard it we used in India to get the scoot out of the mud.

It was more pink than beige, as I recall, but the same pastel palette in any case.

I have some pictures of a batch of them lined up in the shop that I took at some point, but couldn't find them when I went digging through my hard drive.

you trainspotters are on it.

that looks to be LML (grey cylinder shroud, coil on frame), all the SW chrome tat, and legit volcano speedo round tail Bajaj.

Naturally! I even put my anorak on before typing those posts. I had the same read on the motor, hadn't thought about that being the SW chrome, but that's spot on as well. And, as I said, I'm not qualified to comment on the Bajaj-specific bits.

Meanwhile, the OP is reading all this and thinking to himself, What have I gotten myself into? I just wanted my scooter to quit popping out of gear!

Same issue with both boxes?
You could try selector box spacers, after trying cable adjusting and before opening things up.

Read the description:
https://www.scooter-center.com/en/spacer-kit-for-gear-selctor-box-der-dichter-vespa-largeframe-px-cosa-t5-125cc-rally-sprint-gt-gtr-super-gl-vna-vnb-vba-vbb-gs160-ss180-lml-star-stella-speedy-125-200-0.25/0.50/0.75mm-3333181

I'd venture to guess it's been in the US for a while. Unless the accessories were vintage ones here.

They're all ones 1980s ones that American bikes had. The Vigano rear bars, that front rack, the split front crash bars.

^^

this is LITERALLY all the chrome from the scooter works catalog circa 2005

That's true!! And peak import era.