Modern Vespa

On the GTS the lower mounting bolts are in a difficult position especially the lower one. These are hex head bolts.

The lower one on my 2006 won't budge. Has anyone experienced this? Has the hex cammed out? How did you remove it?

Seems to me a hex head bolt would have been a better fastener here.

Maybe try an impact driver.

I've had good luck using a short allen socket for these. the other option is a ball end allen so that you can get the angle-- the only problem is that those don't usually stand up to a ton of torque.

I use a universal join with a 1/4" ratchet. not saying it's better or worse than a hex with a ball end, jsut that I had one already.

I have tried all of the above with the exception of the impact hammer. Problem with the lower bolt is that you can't get it there easily. On my other scoot it was able to be removed with a long allen key but this bolt is stuck and I fear the hex may have been rounded out.

Did you try some penetrating oil?

Have you tried anti cam out fluid? It can help to get more torque on the socket.

I can even use a torque wrench (or normal ratchet) with this combo of pieces

can you get a standard L style key on it from the side? or maybe a super short with a long wobble extension threaded in from the front?

if you can confirm it's stripped out, I'd suggest pounding in a torx and easing it out that way-- either from the side with a small wrench or again from the front with a long extension.

failing that, some vice grips may be the next step.

Hi, was away at Crescent City and Jacksonville rallys so have not gotten back to this. i have been spraying with penetrant.

Sometimes an sae allen works too.
Get an allen on it, then tap the rachet with a hammer. Sometimes you can break it loose like that.

My lower shock bolt is stripped. Had you any luck getting this out?

are you installing a new shock?

vise grips?

cut the head off?

cutting the head off wouldn't help as the other end is has no nut - it's screwed into the shock. the shaft would remain in place.

I'm familiar with this bolt as I've removed it a few times. Quick rough sketch (cross section looking from above). that's the thread of the bolt on the right in the shock (bolt head on the left). that would still be stuck after cutting the head

from the front using a long extension pound in a T40 torx. the percussive nature of that operation may well do the job and you can just unwind it with a ratchet from there. but if it's really stuck an impact driver may be the call.

vice grips from the side work as well, but there's not a lot of swing in there for activities.

Good suggestions. Thanks. I think I'll soak it in penetrant and freeze it, then try the torx trick.

Or take it to a shop. I was putting in a new shock, which looked fairly easy until this happened. 😕

you haven't even gotten to the fun part yet!

the upper securing nuts are where the real party starts!

I used MV member keithm's excellent walkthrough from 2013 when I swapped my front fork.

Malossi RS24 Front Shock Install on Vespa GTS Walk Thru

I believe his quote when tackling those upper securing nuts was 'So go slow or frustration will set in.'

He was not wrong.

Yeah, the top nuts look like fun. The new bikes have Allen bolts. I can get a short socket on the nut with a universal and cover most of the nut. The new Bitubo shock is narrower at the top and should be easier to install the nuts.

I need to get past the stripped lower bolt before I get any further. I wonder how hard it would be to drop the suspension arm so I can get to the lower bolt straight on in case I need an impact driver.

??

do you mean drop the fork out of the bike? or get the arm to pivot so you can get at it?

dropping the fork is not a party I like to be invited to.

the shock is what locates the pivot, so you either need to remove it from the base where the stripped bolt is or remove it from the top mount, and I don't think there's enough room to make the swing down with the fender still in place.

Pivot the arm. But if it won't clear the fender with the shock still attached, that won't work.

Removing the fender means removing the fork. That's more difficult than getting the bolt out.

I ended up taking the bike to a local Vespa shop. The tech got the bolt out pretty easy. He used a special socket made just for getting stripped hex bolts out. I had the brake fluid flushed while I was there to make the trip worthwhile.

New Bitubo front shock is installed and the ride is much improved. Thanks for all the help!