Modern Vespa

How important do you think it is to keep the little tunnel vents open at the ends of the ribs ? Seems to me that if the rib seams are sealed there would be no real reason to allow moisture or air in there.

These :

Good question. I don't know the answer. But, I wonder if those allow airflow so that trapped moisture/condensation can vent off?

Even if there is some rust in there, if it's dry and sealed, why would it progress ? Were these thing dipped and they are drains ? I think I'll seal them up.

My thought... is that they are "U" shaped when flipped upside down. The inside of the U being hollow would have enough volume for condensation from atmospheric humidity to *maybe* cause an issue over time? Now, if scoot is garage kept. Pfft... Never gonna be an issue and probably wouldn't even be an issue for many years even if kept outside.

All this is conjecture.

These are to allow moisture to exit. The ribs are not sealed.

I instruct my buddy to not seal them when he's working on Vespas I get to him. Moisture will find a way to creep in there. Also, don't forget that later models came with drain holes from factory…

If they were sealed up I don't see the need for vents.

It's amazing how air still finds a way to creep in and cause havoc. Me personally, I'd leave them open and squirt Boeshield in them. At my work we've used Dynol and ACF50 as well. ACF50 never firms up and constantly seeps out till gone and needs to be reapplied. I hate it for that reason so Boeshield for me.

I have had ACF wicking out of floor board / tunnel seams on one bike for years.

It's by far the best creeping of the buch but never hardens like Boeshield. They both do a great job of keeping corrosion at bay.

I don't know Boeshield but lanolin Woolwax or Waxoyl are my favorites. They wick for a while and then leave a nice film.