Modern Vespa

re: loose nuts- is that a 10mm with an integral lock washer?

Yep.

it's probably the one for the hot lead on the starter. at least, that's the only one I can think of right off the top of my head.

Word to the wise- once you get the engine back in, hook up the minimum parts you need for it to run, but not things like the shocks, exhaust, fender, etc, and try to start it.
If it starts, shut it off and continue buttoning it up, as they say. If it doesn't start, you are going to be happy you found that out before you put everything back together.

Yeah good idea! Getting close!

I'm a little nervous. Wonder how the betting is going?

Yes, pretty sure that's it. Unfortunately I'd forgotten how it goes together...I think the other nut didn't have the fancy washer. Haven't had time to look for a diagram, but not sure it's enough detail anyway.

The big thing is if I need to go through the work of getting it back on or if the one nut is adequate. I stupidly moved ahead with assembly....

if it has the bottom nut, and then a 2nd nut, it'll be okay. if it just has the one, then I'd jump in there and correct the issue.

^^^^
Yup - the lock-washer one goes on first, then the second one is a locknut against the first one. This is NOT a connection that can be allowed to get loose.

we only take bets on the NSM side.

I'm currently holding the action for Reno and Singapore and I think that Birdsnest has Monaco and Florabama locked.

current line is a slice of ham at +1

You are an absolute plus to this site.

SUCCESS!

Well, as usual, not without drama. I put things together per Motovista, as I didn't have a lot of time tonight, but put fluids in, and decided to fire it up. When I started, I suspected it was within the realm of possibility that I'd do something boneheaded like forget to put oil in my enthusiasm to finish. So I put the keys somewhere. I hid them really well.
I return to the garage to find coolant pooling under the scooter. Quite a bit of it. Just before panicking, I remembered opening the bleed valve per Robot's video. Screwed that shut, and no more coolant.

After doing another key search, I went for the spares. Held my breath and turned the key, engine turned over but didn't start. Turned again and starter slowed down, so pretty sure it's just low battery. Plug in the tender, look for the keys...again. Half hour later, the green light is on (kinda fast, no?), I decide to try again, and it started! Running well....and no more coolant for now. Looks like a new battery is in my future. I was wondering about it earlier, but its only like 18 month old, so a bit hard to believe, but that's batteries for ya.

Other bit of good news is that I got the end of the spark plug out of the cap. Thanks for the input, Jim. Thought I'd try screwing a long sheet metal screw into it in the chance it would be tight enough to pull out. Success!

Now the not so good news....I decided to go back and install the other nut on the starter bolt which will take some fiddling around...but I'll feel better.

Another thing I just thought of....I wasn't able to snap the cap on the plug fully. Any tips on getting it to seat? IIRC the little bracket should align with the lead, which it clearly doesn't.

The other issue, is the noise I was complaining about a month or so back is still there. It's not subtle. There was a suggestion of the clutch coming apart and rubbing on the bell, but i couldn't see any scraping, and spinning it on the clutch with the belt cover off yielded no noise. Too tired and late tonight to worry about it, but it's clearly something I need to sort out. I'll be back with that once I finish this.

But hey, it's time to celebrate...and in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm grateful for all of you who participated in this little adventure, particularly greasy, also Motovista, jimc and kmev for the technical support, and the rest of you, even if you just hung around for the banter. It was a bit daunting, but in hindsight not that bad. I even enjoyed it sometimes.

I've got bunting and flags hanging outside my house in celebration They'll be in the same place as the gasket for your chain tensioner

Lol... yeah, probably.

hooray! it was a team effort, we were just coaching from the sideline.

snapping that plug back in is a right whore. I've generally had luck seating it home and then rotating the cap into the clip thing.

or a just lose my mind and pull it off and throw it back into the orchard.

re: the clutch, if you've still got the cover off it's a fairly quick check. just pull the assembly off and compress the clutch pack down and see if the nut is finger tight. you'll know fairly quickly.

if it's all together just get it up and running and then make a note to handle that later. don't get sidetracked chasing another element that's is a different job than the one at hand.

Congratulations on completing another step in the journey.
I too completed the first step of my scooter journey. In Cedar Key Fl. Next spring you will now how it feels.
Eat your heart out in the frozen north and enjoy your turkey 🦃!

Thanks, Ken. Don't we get merit badges or something?

Happy Thanksgiving to you and the rest of the gang.

I think my arm's good enough to heave it over the raspberry patch if that works.

Yeah, the noise is another adventure. Today's a rest day anyway.

Happy turkey day! I would add that we must give credit to your trusted and faithful assistant Mrs F.

Good for getting it going! It's not such a mystery now, is it ?

Now that you've done this once, you realize that if you have the parts ready to go, it's a 4-5 hour job... less if you have a helper.

If you are like me, you won't consider this a success until you get 1000-2000 miles without a problem. I did a new cylinder and piston, too, but it's only slightly more difficult than a head gasket. Now you know exactly what you have. That cam will cause problems someday in the far future, but it's easy to fix.

And once you've gone a couple thousand miles, you'll be thinking, " I could put a Malossi cyl/head kit on there"...

Lol. Crossed my mind.

Yes, with the wear the future's up for grabs, But it took me 7 years to hit 18k, much of that before my second scooter.

But yeah, the learning curve was pretty steep with a few missteps, so next time a lot easier. Maybe in warmer weather too.

I forget what sort of noise you are getting from the clutch, but if it's 'tinkling' especially at idle, then it'll be the clutch retaining plate behind the shoes that has worn holes. JBweld sorts this out.

If it's more of a grinding, then as above^^^.

Well played!
Thanks for the journey.

Could be foul play, possibly a Ford vs Ferrari-esk prank

Best words I can think k of. I re ored it again, when I get a chance e I'll post again on my old thread. My biggest concern right now is to be barking up the right tree...

Definitely a tinkling. Best description beyond actuallyhearing it. I think that's what had been suggested when I first brought it up two months back... curious whether that can be checked without disassembly? IIRC I think I had the clutch in hand and couldn't find anything loose. If there is wear, I guess disassembly is in order? I recall discussion of your fix but I can't remember if there were any details on another thread? Thinking at 18K miles a rebuild would be in order too?

Getting a bit ahead of myself as I have a couple of things to finish up on this job, but hey, while I have momentum (and it's not subzero outside yet).....

With regard to mileage, I have over 50,000 miles on my MP3 and have never done anything to my clutch or driven pulley. YMMV, of course...

Well, damn. Don't worry, no explosions, but I buttoned her up enough for a test ride, started well, ran well (though with a tall screen and no earplugs I hear sounds a bit differently... But no speedometer. Was thinking through the process....I remember clicking in the sensor wiring going to the speed ring, almost certain I assembled and tightened the sensor bolt at the axle. After returning from my ride, I looked at it and think the problem is that fat washer/spacer at the axle, which I bet I put insidethe swingarm. There's a good half inch of space between the sensor and the speed ring. So, unless there's anything more likely, that's the culprit. Looks like a bit of disassembly tomorrow again. At least it's nothing deeper and this stuff is almost motor memory. All except that damned spacer, I guess. Going to put a huge note in my instruction notes so this never happens again (yeah, did it once before. )

Only other stuff is the electronic settings, brakes and clock. Looks like it will be nice enough for a long ride tomorrow!

Okay, I was right. Got speedometer now, Fiddling with ASR yet, and danged battery seems to be on its last legs...all of 18 months old.

But it's running well, and no leakage!

Well done!

Nice job… almost makes me want to retry doing my head and base gaskets. The Vespa sits, covered, at the back of the garage…

I feel you. I'd re-read your thread as I was in the middle of things. Not inspiring as you can imagine.. I have a few concerns about future problems, and I feel confident enough that I might go after them if anything happened. Now that I've done it you have one more enabler if you choose to. Assuming you can find time and motivation, it's worth considering. One plus is you know what you're digging into, and repeating all the tasks (on a cleaner engine) should take a lot less time.

Well, I thought this chapter (and thread) was over, but not quite.

Received a small package in the mail yesterday, from Scooterpartsco. Weird, as I hadn't ordered anything else. Opened it up, and there was a chain tensioner gasket.

So, either I messed up and assumed that knowing I'd ordered it assumed I had it-or may have seen it listed on the order, but not sent, or Jorge was tired of me whining about not being able to find it and decided to send one to calm me down.

Anyway, it apparently ends with a deeper mystery....

When you find the one you misplaced, you will have your answer.

Aha! Mystery solved.. Thanks!