Modern Vespa

I went through my 'new' Px200e and in my overzealous attempts to do preventive maintenance I applied grease to the starter motor bendix, everywhere I could access, including behind it when pulled out.

This morning the starter does not engage every time. The starter motor just spins.

Do I qualify for a weekly Darwin award?

How big a problem is this? I have water based degreaser, is it as simple as just removing as much grease as I can without removing the starter?

Your comments and advice is welcomed.

Bump.

I have no clue on access to the bendix... but if you can wipe some out with a clean dry cloth I'd try and see what happens. May help some?

Thanks Birdsnest

I had actually just finished sorting it out.
I sprayed the bush and pinion gear with degreaser, and removed the grease with a toothbrush. I also pulled the gear forward to the engaged position and cleaned the area behind it and the accessable part of the shaft with a 1cm wide strip of cloth, like flossing.

After that it engaged every time a I gave it a spin.

I have read up a bit, and very thin oil such as Bliistol, or graphite powder are suitable lubrication. Hope this is of help to someone someday.

Awesome sorting, and thanks for posting up how you managed it!