Modern Vespa

Kick start sounds like metal on metal. Sticks and don't think it's engaging. Electric start is functional up to the solenoid but doesn't engage either (relay clicks, sends power to solenoid, brand new battery)

Not sure what to do I do t know Vespas at all. New kick start mechanism? Where to find? Troubleshooting tips?
Thanks in advance, sorry a noob.

has it been sitting a long time, or is this a recent development?

did you try starting it with the trans cover off? if so, the bendix is probably jammed in the 1/2 pulley ring gear.

the black wire that's hanging there, it's a ground. it attaches to the trans case with a bolt and grounds the motor to the frame. so if that's not there, then you'll get a no start.

have you tested the starter? do you have a brake light-- the brake switch is a integral part of the starting circuit.

need more information.

It won't let me attach a video.

It was sitting a while (Bay Area too) it's my friend's and I'm trying to fix it for her. "Ran before parked"

It was completely intact, ground wire on case etc. lights work, brake light works. New battery. Holding the brake and button when trying to start.
The kick start just swings / grinds and doesn't feel like it's making contact to get the motor to try turning. Kick it and the lever stays in the down position, manually have to pull it back.

Tested up to the starter but not the starter itself yet. How to test? Do I need to remove the motor from the frame or can I keep cheating like this?

You came to the right place. Give Greasy all the info he's asked you for, and it won't take long to figure it out.

I think you might have a couple of things happening, but I'll wait for the guys that know their shit to chime in.

BUT..you've said new battery. Do you really know that it's a new one? I'd check that bad boy just to be sure.

Take a breath...everything's gonna be fine.<G>

put the video on yoo tubes and link it back here.

you do not have to remove anything from the frame, the engine is entirely serviceable in-situ

pull the starter motor and test it.

okay, so you seem hung up on the kickstart. so, let's eliminate that.

see the yellow circle? that's the kickstart pinion, remove it.
if the lever is flopping around, the return spring is likely detached. don't worry about it, just yank off the kick lever. everything is contained by the plate on the inside of the trans cover.

ET's are notoriously difficult to kickstart anyway and people usually just wind up cracking the trans cover. so just leave all that mess be.

anyway, see the pink circle? that's the crank nut. it's 18mm, get a socket on there and see if you can turn the motor over. make sure that the starter bendix isn't jammed up in the ring gear teeth of the 1/2 pulley.

if the motor turns over, then snap all that back together and pull the starter and test that. check the starter relay for corrosion and clean as necessary. because it sat, and it's from the Bay Area the inner contacts might be corroded, so sometimes a replacement is a cheap bet.

on the battery. new does not mean good. have it load tested. it can have the volts but not the amps to crank it over.

If you put a wrench on the end of the nut that was circled on the variator, can you turn the motor back and forth?