Modern Vespa

This started with tequila.
There I was, sipping evening cocktails outside with the misuz, when a text from SoCal popped up.


SoCal had apparently turned off the bat phone tho, as he was at a "show"

Taking sip from glass I fired this into the internets

10 min later, this arrived on text

Honey, Wadda u think about a couple days up in wine country, u know, just quick 2 nights or somethin?

And here I am. Loaded up and rolling out. Wife, dog, ramps and gloves.
New project in the works!

I guess this means The Unicorn won't be getting the first aluminum leaner sidecar?

Well, this is exciting!!!!

are you going to get your M1 so this one can go without sidecar?

Inspired !

I hope you already know that we expect the aluminum sidecar to be articulated .

- Aluminum sidecar on the menu.
- M1 lic. Made it this far without. 🙂
- Midway now. Dog in tow. Pit stopping the night in wine country.




5:00 somewhere

When you say aluminum sidecar, i think of some sort of an atomic dustbin contraption...

Yaaaas to all of this!!

I'd be down for something like that!

Something about this construction that appeals to me.

Do a search on "belly tank racecar"...


now just downsize it!

Or:

man, I'm cracking up on that text chain!

soooo glad I'm not on that group chat, I'd be super broke and perpetually in dutch with dr. mrs. the greasy

You'd love our group text. 99% of the time it's just us taking the piss out of one another. That other 1% can get real expensive real fast, though.

There is nothing about this thread that I don't like. Fine wine, fine company, fine scoot projects. Dumbtastic all around. When's the live feed first look? I will need to schedule time to make sure I am free .

Ned's Atomic Dustbin, to be more specific...

Hahahaha!

She's loaded up!




All Sofia Loren from this angle

Joe running his mobile restoration shop! Right down next to the beach. Love it

Headed south. CM approves

Damn that's a good looking bike. And the mobile restoration shop is pretty damn cool, too.

So good!

Cue the Sir Mix A Lot.

so what are the plans for this beast? what will the engine be like? or is it all still germinating, not ready for discussion yet?

Curious minds need to know

Shop is unfortunately covered on every surface right now by lathe parts.

So Sofia Bella is gonna have to just look good in the corner for a bit.

Headed back to so Cal (not SoCal) tday.
Perhaps I'll wash and wax before I unload.

What's best treatment for rusty old paint ? Aka: how do I clean it up a bit? Steel wool? McGuire's #IDK?

Understanding that it does remove paint.

Soapy wash, fluff, & fold
Then 4-0 steal wool with soapy water as a lubricant. You can feel when the oxidation comes off. Important to then stop immediately.

Rinse, dry, and then a wax if ya wanna.

Last edited by Birdsnest on Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:44:49 +0000; edited 1 time

❤️
Got it

Bar Keepers Friend + 0000 steel wool for light rust removal. Then polish & wax.

so does the interest in polishing mean you plan to keep that original finish?

I start with wash and then wax to protect things before ever trying to remove rust or shine up the paint in any way

What i did with my rusty VB1 to clean it up some, but not too much-

-thoroughly spray down the entire scooter with Purple Power cleaner.

-pressure wash the heck out everything.

-let dry completely

-completely cover everything with Ospho.

-scrub the Ospho with a nylon brush and some red Scotchbright for about 15 minutes. Don't let the ospho dry! Keep it wet!

-spray a bit more opsho on.

-let it sit for about 15 minutes.

-scrub some more for about 15 minutes

-Then go and scrub the entire body with a soft bristled brass brush. Some of the brass will transfer from the bristles to the bare metal. It will give the bare metal a super cool slight copper/gold patina hue to it.

-pressure wash the heck out of the entire scooter for the last time.

-let it dry out as fast as possible in the hot sun. A leaf blower will help facilitate that.

All of this should take about 1 hour. Wear a respirator, eye protection, ect...

Gents,
I really appreciate everyone's best tricks.
I only have one scooter - and it's an exceptionally well painted bodge - 🙂
Which is to say - I lack the experience derustifying…,
Or ya'll outa get a bodge.
Dealer's choice.

I'll try out some of the recs.

BTW - voodoo - that belly tank racer is pretty well the construction - spot on.

John - M1,M2, what ever it takes.
And as for color - first move is to get it in the shop and cleaned up a bit.

It's gonna have to rest a while - so might as well make it look nice while it sits.


Home.
Tomorrow off to clean it up.
🙂

I have no doubt you will deliver 50 pages of fun . Congratulations.

Gave her a good scrub today.
Mixed and matched y'all's recommendations for cleaning, had to laugh - the paint appears applied with a brush?
The green underneath appears to be toast. Put some elbow grease into it a just scrubbing with steel wool and bartenders was a work out. Have mucho respect for Voodoos unpainting project !

For the time being, she's a show piece/ muse for my shop. Lathe parts spread around like a cluster bomb was dropped (you know, if they filled cluster combs with lathe parts) - just hope none of them explode on me as I try and paint/assemble.


Scrubbed up nice. Whodat - loved the brass brush trick. Just didn't have one to apply tday.

Kickstand.
🙂

Appalled the stand is not made of wood but pleased to see you have good floor protection. Interested to see what you come up with for a piston port.

Someone replied to the FB listing, saying he has that glove box door.

😁 ooo. Good eye. Thanks!


Door missing… and whodat drying method being applied

I can't tell from my phone, but is that literally an aluminum billet sidestand?

Let's see the motor!

It's not some bodge from SEA.
felt I needed to show some respect. Total failure on my part.

Motor is missing a key component - or so I'm told. Gonna need some help figuring out what "original" was.
The motor side of the fan wheel.

Thinking I might be able to machine something.
🙂

Just need to sort out what exactly was supposed to be there!

Is there an exploded view of what these motors looked like?

Here's an external view

That is the entire motor apart from the the fan wheel then?