Modern Vespa

I was recently treated to my first 'off'. I luckily escaped with a few broken ribs. I am slowly getting fixed but now on to the scooter. The back wheel came off because a local mechanic didn't reinsert the split pin and the castle nut backed off. That caused me to vault over the handlebars.
I got the back wheel back on and have checked brakes etc and to the eye everything looks ok. However, I went for a short test run and all was not well. The front wheel is off centre and it looks like the steering column has bent. So a couple of questions.
1. Is this something which can be repaired? If so, how to do it and how easy is it?
2. Or do I need to replace the steering column. If so, new or 2nd hand?

I will do this myself for obvious reasons!

Thanks and HNY!

I'm guessing it is the fork that is bent, not the actually frame. But more pictures would help. Glad you are OK.

If it's not the frame that's bent and only the fork, replace, very difficult to impossible to straighten it back...

Sorry to hear it.

Hoping fast healing for you and the scoot.

This. I'm going to guess it's the fork, unless there are wrinkles in the legshield or floorboards we can't see in that picture.

You'll also want to check distance from the seat to the fork to make sure it's not bent back. Someone else will have to give you the distance, though.

And if you want to know how to check frame straightness, I just did it over here with a laser level.

Thanks. There doesn't appear to be any damage to the frame although the top left of the leg shield appears a little bent as I hit the deck. I'll take a few more photos and post and will be sure to check out your thread.

If it is the fork, replace or realign?

replace. 110% replace.

Forks are basically impossible to straighten effectively and yours is not going to be difficult to replace.

137% replace. I'd never trust a bent fork that was straightened on a bicycle so there's zero chance I'd trust it on a motorized one. Not worth the risk. Just replace it.

Thanks guys. Ok so replace it is. This is a 1978 P125x with a semi hydraulic disc brake. If replacing would you go full hydraulic and if so would you go for a complete assembly and which one and from where. Ha. Four questions in one sentence!

Just looking for any input on the above. Thanks.

All you need to replace is the fork itself.

If you're happy with it other than the whole "bent" part, I'd just transfer all the existing parts over and go on.

I was getting a bit of déjà Vu here...

Ahh... the good ol' missing or loose cotter/split pin strikes ... AGAIN.

2nd ride after rebuild...wheel fell off.....went to hospital

So NOS forks have turned up but come without the lower bearing cone and dust cover. How easy is it to remove from the old forks and install on the new? Or do I buy new.
What's the process for removal if it's possible?
What's the process for reinstallation without fancy tools?

Thanks.

I'd buy new, unless the bearing race is perfect, which is doubtful.

You can remove both by sliding a thin piece of metal (think old Bowie knife) under the dust ring and working it around, prying slightly all around until it comes off.

I agree with Qascooter, order a new one.

The race is thin to be reused, it is not expensive.

use a propane torch to heat the bearing race for a few minutes and then you can use QA's technique pretty easily.

The dust cover was considered a "wear part" due to the likelihood of damaging it in the removal process. It's a pretty common task, though, because you have to remove them to get the mudguard off on most Vespa's.

Personally, I'd also just buy new unless you have some sort of emotional attachment to the OG parts.

Thanks all. Surprisingly for this scooter they both came off with a little persuasion from a sharp screwdriver and actually look OK. New fork build next!

So rebuilt the new fork and everything went together ok and without issue. I've just taken it for a little ride and it still does not feel safe. There are no outward clues as to what it is or why. But when I pull the clutch in the scooter seems to wobble a little bit like if you had a buckle in the wheel. The wheel that is now in is the SIP rim which was the spare and never used. Also, when I pull the clutch in it almost feels like the flywheel is not quite centred or balanced. As I say it feels unsafe, so I have just parked it up and now scratching my head.
Any ideas out there?

This is a new and different problem from the fork?

[EDIT... comment removed... wrong thread]
Wobble on clutch pull? No idea there that's a weird one.

Yes. But one I thought was related to the fork. Could it be worn splines in the rear hub or some component missing? When I checked the hub before I put it back on the splines looked a little worn but nothing drastic. Could there be play in the rear hub causing a wobble when engaging the clutch or foot brake? Any experience if this?

Is the rear shock buffer/spacer (and frame around the rear buffer/spacer) in good shape?

Total spitball... but it's all I can think as a weak link on the clutch pull causing wobble.

Unless.. did the impact fuck up the top of the bearing race inside the steering column?

Does it go away or change when the motor is not running?

Try getting up to speed where you feel it, then pull the clutch, kill the motor, and
coast and see if it's still there or not.

It seems unlikely that whatever happened would have bent the axle or damaged the rear hub, but it'll be easier to tell without the motor running.

Thanks will check the rear shock. But the top of the bearing race looked fine.

The wobble is more pronounced when I pull the clutch or press the brake, seems more so at slower speed. Will try when engine disengaged and see.

If it's not a loose rear hub, I'm feeling a bent axle right about now

And if it's a loose hub, it won't take long to thrash the splines and ruin the hub.

Try getting it up with the rear wheel off the ground and feel for any play in the axle/hub.

Put your spare on the front .
Possibly a bent rim