Modern Vespa

Hello,

I have been reading here for some time, so if there is anybody here who wants to sell a Rally or 180SS, please get in touch…

But before we start any new project, it might be a good idea to finish off the old ones.

I'm located in the West of Germany, 20km from the Dutch border. I have had some Vespas in the past. As I turned 40 this summer, I have decided to spend the next years to buy all of my dream scooters and fix them. List is rather short with the models mentioned above

I do have a Gs150 Augsburg which I purchased some time ago and used it on rallies in Belgium, Italy and Germany.
As it is original paint, I have been looking for a GS to rebuild for some time now, as I live in constant fear of an accident with the well-preserved Vespa.

We spent our Christmas holidays in Sweden and pn New Year's eve, I found myself a 1958 VS4, 300mls north, and bought it. As it was disassembled, I managed to fit into our van's trunk amongst pur luggage for ten days, 7 seats, two adults and two children.

The condition seems okay, there will only be some welding of extra holes.
A list of missing parts will be added later.

At home, I put her together, starting a list of missing parts. Next step is going to be the stripping of the remaining parts, forks, and engine. Sandblasting is scheduled for coning friday, if temperatures allow to attach the primer. Whilst the painted parts are being treated, I'll rebuild the engine.

Unfortunale, the speedo is missing. I might get one from a friend in the Netherlands.

I bought a spare engine side wing, carb, air filter, and locks. Cylinder, head and ignition (vape) are already there.

I still need the legshield Vespa GS badge, headlight, taillight and the two outer front ends of the floor runners (is this the correct word?).The cocer of the cylinder is also missing.
I have bot decided what to do with the seat.


All comments and help is appreciated!
Thanks

Well done.

I currently have:
1 x Augsburg GS150
3 x Cushman GS150
1 x standard GS150


As always with widebody's ; they are not for everyone. They are expensive and repairs are often more technical than newer Vespa models. Take your time with the project.

Welcome to get in touch anytime. some recent work I have completed for GS150; machined oversized bushing to fit the original output shaft at 3 thousands.

Wow nice scooter here's my VS5 for inspiration.

Did you just kick that ball while riding in the dirt?😂 That's fantastic!

Yes there was a ball and goal set up as part of an obstacle course on a rally event. Ball hit a rock and changed its course or I would have hit the goal dang it.

On my German GS 150, everything is painted in the same color, Grigio metallizzato 15005.

That means frame, wings, flywheel cover…what about rims and seering column?

So,
I managed to get info about the paint and ordered primer and paint in cortect color. It will be 2K-one layer, almost like 1958.

I have almost finished disassemling the GS and I think I might get her to the media blasters next Tuesday or Friday. Only the flopr runners and brake pedal are left.

In the meantime I managed to find speedo, headlight, taillight and some other bits, unfortunately quite expensive. As the parts are originals, I am happy to pay a little bit more for good quality.

Lets come to the engine:

I knew that it was in a bad condition, as the cranc does not turn and there are bits of the piston missing. I had a quick look under the clutch cover (which is shot, as is the lever)…I am happy that FRANKENCLUTCH could be removed without issues. Flywheel is now soaked in WD40 and I hope that I can remove it without damage. Good news: I can shift all gears.
I have a new clutch and crank in a box and a spare cylinder I had once gotten for my other Gs.

Ready for media blasting.

Unfortunately, two of my three rims show signs of damage.i will have to find out if they can be repaired….

Looking good on the operating table I've not seen an engine in that condition glad you saved it!

Crazy.

Very excited to watch this build.

What kinda media are you going to use for the blasting? (I did an SS and they used sand. They blew out a plug(s) and media went into every nook and cranny of the scoot... eeek.)

I brought her to a company which does the media blasting professionally.

Unfortunately, they suffer from a staff shortage and will take until mid-February to finish the job. They are using a material called corund, that appeared rather fine to me. They seem to have some experience dealing with Vespas. Proces are okay with less than 200€ for a scooter.

I love that curve on the bottom.

After soaking in WD40, I could remove the flywheel. Custom ignition found.
The screws ok the gear selector could be removed easily, thanks to my special tool.

Crank bearing rusted. No seals, only silicone used. Of course, there were no needles in the primary gears…

I was offered a clutch cover for 100€…

Needles for the input shaft are located in the case. are those needles missing?

Yes.
But i guess the scooter has never run after they had messed up the ignition and clutch.
Had no energy to take the engine further apart today.
Took care of a small project, not finished yet.

I have received an offer by a local shop for speedo and lights, but I guess I'll have to sell one of the PXes to pay for that…

Got the brake drums back from media blasting. Turned out very nicely.
I also sent a VS5 drum there.

Wow! They look really shiny in the pic like you sprayed clear over them.

No spray. They were blasted with tiny metal balls, as far as I understand, to condense the surface. Makes cleaning easier.

So,
Got the rest back from media blasting and took some fotos on the way to the paintshop.

Not many surprises. Holes for the mudgard trim have welded shut, right side of front is pretty bumpy, as is the LHS floor. LHS rear wing is rather thin at the bottom and shall get a new bottom welded in.

After primer is attached, all dents and a bit of welding will be taken care of.

Unfortunately, due to lack of time capacities, final paintjob won't be done before fall this year, which will leave me some time to find the missing parts. I am currently looking for lights, clutch cover and speedo….

Good progress and a good foundation to work from for sure.

Started to appy primer…

Started to appy primer…

That legshield doesn't look bad at all! Most should come out with hammer an dolly. Looking good.

It looks to me like it will need some shrinking.

Could be but totally doable with a shrinking file or the torch method. I'm pumped another GS is getting worked on! After I saw Gicks video and heard the engine I knew it was time to quit dicking around with the stressful P engine instal and pull out the original engine for refurb.

Was that the lobster episode?!!🤣

Could you show me a shirking file?

Like that?
I shall be goibg shopping for a torch tomorrow and try it out.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sni-77506?rrec=true


Here's what it looks like. When used it pinches the metal and shrinks it. They come in different grades of coarseness. The torch method is quicker but requires more finesse. Go slow and keep checking it against the other legshield till it matches.

You could also use a shrinking disc on an angle grinder. Works well for tightening up rippled panels.

Leif, have you seen the new book out on wideframes? Lots of great info in there. SIP has new cranks for the GS that have a bearing instead of the bushing in the rod end. You can run 2% oil with those. Got one for mine. Going to save lots of money on oil now.