Modern Vespa

Restarting this thread here since I can't move the original one back from general and this is MP3 specific.

My 2008 500 is being decommissioned. It suffered a piston failure in 2014 and unfortunately I was 400 miles from home. I rebuilt the top end in 2015 and got a few more years out of it. Got the engine dropped today. Head off. NOW GOOD NEWS! But last year is started blowing oil out of the case and I just don't have it in me to drop the engine again.

Jess offered me his 2009 500 so I had it shipped from SF to Indiana. Originally I was going just swap engines but his bike is in better shape than mine and has 10,000 less miles so I rebuilding it. My goal is to have it ready for the 2024 Spring Gathering - May 16-19 - 2 Wheel Inn Robbinsville but I have the 250 in case I run out of time.

Some of the things I need to do.

Swap out the speedo cluster. Jess's had some sunburn on the cluster so I am swapping my old one. It is plug and play but now the "new" scooter shows 10,000 more miles.

Other stuff:
Replace throttle cables.
Replace brake fluid and coolant.
New tires.
Add grease fittings to steering tubes.
Replace anything that looks like it needs it.

Suggestions encouraged and welcome.

Following

I was looking at the 2010 scooter cannonball thread and found this pic of the almost new MP3 500 I am currently restoring. Jess and company were on the way to intercept the cannonballers I think.

That yellow is just so good and striking looking I am hoping to be able to save it. It was painted by the owner previous to Jess and has some crackling in it but is still firmly attached. I will get a color match before I do anything but does anyone have suggestions on filling the cracks or should I just leave well enough alone? I will post a closeup of what I am talking about tonight.

Also recommendations on making the black parts black again. I tried Back to Black with moderate success.

The black rear fairings are in good shape and I picked up two replacement MP3 logos in Shelbyville for them.

As am I

You mentioned the notch in your previous topic about this. While you've got it apart, it's definitely worth inspecting, greasing, and maybe considering replacing, because it's a PITA to get back in there, and if you put in new uppers, you don't have to think about it for a long time.

Yeah I am definitely going to check them while its apart. I just wanted a base of what might have be done already.

Still working though I keep getting interrupted. Most of the plastic is off and I am trying to snake the old throttle cables out without removing more but I think there is a zip tie holding it. I will probably just cut it and pull it through.

Getting the leg shield off was a bitch especially since the workshop manual does not show all of the screws involved but I have to replace the parking brake cable as well so...

I am going to inspect the steering bearings, put in grease fittings and re-thread lock the ignition switch. (The one on my other 500 loosened up once and it was a pain to get to.) Anything else that would be easier in this condition?

The last time I snapped my parking brake cable I decided to just go with GeorgiaGirl's fix and hook a bungee cable around the mirror stem. You can unhook one end, wrap it around the brake a couple times and hook it back to hold it in place...

As for the paint, if it bothers you, then it's worth redoing. It's really not that hard to DIY. A quick trip to Menards/Lowes/Wal-Mart/wherever for a couple rattle cans of paint will do the trick just fine. And while it's all apart is the best time to do it!

The key is the prep. Sand any of the cracks down fully and the rest of it so it's scuffed and not glossy. Then clean all the dust/oil/dirt off, step back a foot and push the plunger. Light coats are your friend. Don't go for full coverage on your first pass or you'll regret it when you have to go back and deal with runs...

Personally, I think the MP3s look a whole lot better when the light shield and other pieces are also color matched. The last time I painted I did practically all the plastic parts (all but the cyclops light panel that I left black as a "racing stripe" with a corresponding black strip on the batwing piece like your bike has in that pic, too).

And then I laid it down at the very next gathering and decided I was tired of repainting so left the battle scars as they were until I eventually sold it...

Mark