Modern Vespa

To avoid dropping the screw down in to the bowels of your scoot slide a rag in there tucking it like this photo.

Similar tucking to avoid dropping the screws that hold the rear handle bar cover

This is an excellent tip.

If only there was a place to store this wisdom!

(hint! hint!)

GT/GTS: Headset Cover Removal

reminds me, the split between https://modernvespa.com/forum/forum15 and Readme1st ! : Modern Vespa Wiki is a bit weird as where should somebody look for info?

I think you're asking about the difference between the wiki forum and the wiki itself -- if I am misinterpreting that, sorry, feel free to redirect.

There are two sides to the wiki: the actual wiki, and the discussion. The way it's set up here, each wiki article has a corresponding forum topic -- kind of a "backstage" -- where we can debate whether 'tis better to use tea towels or wash cloths to avoid dropping screws into the bodywork (kidding).

I happen to believe that the bizarre "discussion" pages that they use on traditional wikis (e.g. wikipedia) are a terrible way to discuss something. But then, I'm a forum guy, so of course I would think that forums are better at discussion than wiki pages are.

(But I'm not wrong)

The weirdness appears only because the wiki discussion area is visible in the list of forums. Were it hidden, we'd probably not be having this conversation.

.... How to not drop the screw...

Is a splitting infinitive. To my ears it sounds like chalk on a board.

Which is nothing compared to the sounds that come out of one's own mouth when they drop a screw into the bodywork and realize they are going to have to take off the glovebox and possibly the floorboards.

Great tip but from the looks of the 'rag' you gonna be in trouble

I use another method. I have a pair of tweezers waiting to seize the bolt as soon as it protrudes enough. Helps with putting it back too.

What a great idea.
Thanx

Steven K.

Magnetized screwdriver or magnet-on-a-stick works also.

It honestly never occurred to me to use a rag to catch that screw, and I've been going into the headset of my S150 periodically for more than a dozen years now. Brilliant!

I turn the headset then there is no place to drop.

I have dropped that screw into the insides of the scooter so many times I can't even remember. I think the secret is in the cloth that you use. Because I was using a square cloth but it wasn't enough to catch the damn screw from falling into the bowels of my scooter.

I've used both the rag method or long needle nose pliers method.

The rag method is a bit easier and keeps your off hand free in cae it's needed.

Anecdotally, I found a screw pointing out of the drain hole on the underside of my recently acquired 2007 GTS; not sure if a previous owner dropped the screw or if it came from the factory like this.

They often come from the factory like that. I've opened up several GTSs that were pristine and found stray screws (that I did not drop).

A variation is to use a "tack cloth" below, which is a sticky piece of waxed cheesecloth that woodworkers use to get the last bits of sawdust off a surface just prior to varnishing it. The cloths don't leave any deposits. Little screws, washers, etc. will stick to one, but anything over 1/4" diameter will probably roll.

As the Planck-Ruder law states, every tiny object that is dropped, will become invisible as soon as it hits something and makes a noise. a couple of months ago it finally dawned on me to buy a set of telescoping rods with different sized magnets. ($25). Uses go beyond wrenching. .

i just replaced my headlight with an LED. When I removed that screw under the headlight after, i had unscrewed it a bit, I lightly held it with a hemostat and that held on to the screws and also allowed me to fully unscrew and remove it. Did the same trick to replace it worked well.