Modern Vespa

Tidy rivets. I am burning up with rivet envy.

Rob has an unfair advantage when it comes to certain tasks like riveting. Just sayin'

I can't imagine many of us have a microstop countersink cage. I have two, one for the AD3 and one for AD4 rivets. Are you an airplane builder?

I do lots of riveting and sheetmetal work so got to have the tools. I don't know how an average person could buck those rivets flush without tuning up the holes. I can see that being a nightmare.

Going to leave the pipe black for now and see how it goes. Hibbert that's a great idea with the ceramic coating.

Getting close to closing the engine. I'm taking my time so I don't blow it.

You could say that 🙂. Been an aircraft mechanic for over 24 years. My microstop has removable bits for the different sizes. Wonderful tool.

I was just going to ask if you were an aviation guy. I know you fly.

Ah, OK. I'm a builder; worked my way halfway through an RV-7 before selling that project after a medical thing that has me flying light sport. Now I'm flying an RV-12 while building an all wood biplane, but I kept a lot of the tools because… well, they're tools, keeping tools needs no explanation.

My micro-stops are the same as yours - I just bought two because I was using them daily for both sizes.

No doubt the nicest rivet job that i've ever seen Rob. Something tells me that the rest of the project will have the same high quality work done to it.

I wish I could watch about to work on mine. Does your book give you a good procedure for getting the crank in? I used a hot plate with my Bajaj that helped a lot.

I think there are 3 different ways to do it in the book.

Now you've gone and done it! I have to work extra hard now 😄. You set the bar pretty high with your quality of work Whodat. All of you have been a great encouragement for me seeing the cool things you've all done with your scoots!

Here's how I originally picked up the GS. This is the same year 206 I used to fly. I just took out the extra seats, slid her right in and tied down for the trip home. Those back doors made it too easy. I fly a 180 now and it has the room but getting a scoot inside would be difficult but not impossible.

Fitting since Vespa has many design elements from Piaggio's aircraft history.

Made it back from my two week trip riding down to Cabo. Started getting this engine together. Dry fit is good. Need to order a shim for the gear stack then I should be able to assemble the cases. Most importantly the two case bolts are in before the Christmas tree. Thanks GickSpeed!

Looking fabulous good tip on the bolts behind the tree! Having dummy bearings is essential can't imagine not having them and not doing a dry build. Cases and everything else looks clean and fresh keep the pictures and progress forthcoming.

Looking good!

Nice to see some progress. If you have all the parts and a successful dry fit, you'll be on to the first start soon enough.

Lookin good!
Question: how will u get that IN your Stationair?
Are u gonna have some ramp system?
Need a pic of this baby.

One of my favorite things about you is your ability to get things done! Sometimes I feel like I'm moving at a snails pace. This engine has me on edge. The P engine is a breeze but this one I really have to think so I don't screw it up. Still have to make sure it shifts properly before final closing.

OK, the 206 was too easy with the big side doors and was a one man job. Don't fly that one anymore so I have a new plan with the 180. The passenger door comes off easy. I'll take all the seats out and have a little ramp just to help wheel it in hopefully by myself. There will be a locking wheel chock towards the back for the front wheel. The cowls will be off to make it easier to fit and tie down. This plane has plenty of anchor points too. Put the pilot seat back in and I'm on my way. Should have some interesting pics for "Vespas that have left the house" thread.😆

Looking good.

Cramming a wideframe in that plane will be definitely be something else. I cant imagine.

Cramming ANY scooter into a Cessna 182 blows my mind a little bit.

And how often do we get to wish a scooter a successful maiden flight?

Got to work on the kickstart lever. It was ground up pretty good on the end. I traded my old curmudgeon welding friend lunch for building up the end for me. He's way better at aluminum than me. In all the excitement I failed to get a before welding shot. Just needs a little more work and a little buffing and and think that'll get it.

Stellar.

Looks better than new!

Does it look right to you? I didn't have a good model.

Here's mine

^^^
*Starts Office Space Manager Voice*
Yeah, you need to send that to Bob for some polishing.

Thank you! I see how they get worn from the starting process when it touches the ground. I know a guy that'll touch that up for you when it's ready. He can also bling it out with his buffer like Birdsnest suggested. 😉 "Bob's Scuff and Buff"🤣

I thought I could just whittle a little off a gear stack shim to get the right clearance. Mine was just under 2mm and needed 2.73 to get her tightened up. I had a .9 shim so started surfacing by hand. Forgot it's hardened steel. After loosing lots of skin I went too far and ordered new shims. 🙄 That's finished thanks to the good selection of shims from Scooter Mercato!

Next was dry fit and check shifting with new selector. New F.A. selector needed one mount hole offset. All gears worked but first wouldn't rest in the selector notch. Half a day later, found out the selector arm was hitting the new kickstart quadrant. F.A. quadrant is nicely made and included bushing fit great. They neglected to machine the area down opposite the side of the kickstart lever mounting point. I had milled out the area for the shift shaft that attaches to the cruciform but needs a little more to clear the arm. Black area in pic shows contact point of arm in first gear during travel of quadrant.

You're making great progress on all the stuff I either skip or just buy re-pop's for.

This bike is going to be stunning once you're finished with it.

Looking good Baja good thing you're dry building to find and fix these little nuances in these special machines. Your skill set will make the corrections and you'll be happy you did.

In the new wideframe manual it states a possible 1st gear engagement issue with the new F.A. quadrant. Definitely needed metal removed. I can't see any way around it. Odd they would sell an unfinished part like that. Hopefully F.A. has corrected this issue with present production. Shifter now functions properly.

First time that happens again with anything F.A. made

Well that's a relief…

Thanks to SaFiS and hibbert I should be better protected now by adding an o ring. I hate oily messes if they can be avoided.

Pissed me off that I lost the o rings while driving across the airport. Good thing we have a big selection at my work. It's a standard size now. 😉

Looks good Baja one is better than none.

Still putting the weird stock one on. I managed to find a washer that was missing next to the cotter pin too.😎

Is the cotter pin aluminum or steel a friend wants to know.

I wouldn't trust aluminum. Either steel or stainless. I'll have to check to see if I have one. Might have to raid the work supply. I noticed it's a little smaller than our smallest standard one. We have some metric stuff for the Extras though.

OK this has been bugging me for awhile. Finally found a way to secure the vise to bend my fork. The fork was bent .6 degree backwards. Coincides with the legshield being bent and torn at the top. Didn't know if half a degree makes a difference but when I hold the level straight there was a noticeable gap under one side. I got the fork to .2 degrees of being straight now. Looks much better. Calling it quits and moving on.