OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Another bike, another project thread.

This one is the P200 I picked up last night for $600.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

The seller listed in the East Nashville local for sale group on Facebook and one of my club mates who lives a few blocks away saw it, shared the listing, and I contacted the guy before I even responded to my buddy.

I asked if I could come check it out and he said sure, come in an hour. I rolled over--ten minutes away--took a look and it was an obvious winner. Rattlecan respray on the cowls and horncast, but relatively nice paint and great condition on the frame.

Motor turned and it went through the gears no problem when I rolled it. Paid the man, we loaded it into the back of my wife's car, and I was back home a little more than half an hour after I left. No heroic road trip for me this time.

He'd had it for a while, but hadn't been able to get it running.

I pulled the head and the cylinder had clearly seen some things, but after I rubbed some 2t on the cylinder walls, the piston moved freely and had compression. Head back on and keep moving.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

I took a look at the ignition and it had no spark. Took a closer look and determined that while the stator and CDI had been replaced and seem to be new, the CDI wires were connected backwards.

External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

I fixed the wiring order and got a weak spark. Very weak. I got it to run on starter fluid, so I knew the potential was there. By that time, it was getting a little bit late, so I quickly threw my test tank onto the carb, but as soon as I opened the valve, fuel started spewing out of the spray bar. Float needle was obviously beyond toast.

I disconnected the fuel, but the flooding was done. I removed the plug, rotated the piston to BDC, and left it until morning.

First thing in the morning, because I didn't want to wait until after work, I replaced the float needle and polished the needle seat with a bamboo skewer in my power drill. Checked it and it was holding tight. Awesome.

Put it back together, but still had that super-weak spark, so I suspected the flywheel had probably lost magnetism. Threw a good flywheel (passed the "hang a 19mm wrench off it" test) on and when I tried to torque it down, realized that the threads on the crank were pretty much stripped off. I torqued it down as much as I could and gave it a kick.

First kick start, baby!

Of course, the flywheel slipped on the crank when I tried to give it gas, so now I'm on hold until a new (to me) crank gets here, but since I was expecting to do a rebuild anyway, I'm not bothered.

When I cleaned the jets, I found it had a 120AC-BE4-109MJ in the main stack. I forget the idle. Someone was clearly trying to jet around that massive head leak.

It'll be interesting to see what else I find, but I have a bucket of spare and removed parts that seems to have all the headset electricals, plus some other bits PO bought replacements for, e.g the old stator & CDI, which I expect are probably just fine since the issue was the flywheel.

Looking at the cowls, I will not be surprised if the OG while paint is under the blue rattle can, either, because I can see it where the blue has chipped in a couple places around the edges.

All in all, I'm feeling pretty psyched to have picked this puppy up for such a bargain basement price and looking forward to seeing it properly back on the road.
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7568
Location: Tega Cay, SC
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7568
Location: Tega Cay, SC
UTC quote
The last P200 I picked up over 2 years ago was $650, but no title and no where near the condition of the one you have. In all honestly, it was a mess. Congrats.
UTC

Veni, Vidi, Posti
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7568
Location: Tega Cay, SC
 
Veni, Vidi, Posti
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7568
Location: Tega Cay, SC
UTC quote
"I asked if I could come check it out and he said sure, come in an hour. I rolled over--ten minutes away--took a look and it was an obvious winner."
Most stories of procuring a scoot are full of all kinds of crazy adventure. Ten minutes away!!! This sh!t never happens!! Good for you Chandler, it's about time you got a break. Good man.
@grandpanate avatar
UTC

Hooked
'71 Rally 180,'81 P200, 1979 Vespa 90(125), 2023 Ducati Scrambler Pro Stealth
Joined: UTC
Posts: 300
Location: Tempe, Arizona
 
Hooked
@grandpanate avatar
'71 Rally 180,'81 P200, 1979 Vespa 90(125), 2023 Ducati Scrambler Pro Stealth
Joined: UTC
Posts: 300
Location: Tempe, Arizona
UTC quote
Nice score man! And here I thought the days of decent prices were gone!
@birdsnest avatar
UTC

Not So Moderator
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Not So Moderator
@birdsnest avatar
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UTC quote
Great score.
Congrats.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Tierney wrote:
Most stories of procuring a scoot are full of all kinds of crazy adventure. Ten minutes away!!! This sh!t never happens!! Good for you Chandler, it's about time you got a break. Good man.
I wait until I'm riding my scooters to have crazy adventures. I gotta quit getting lucky breaks like this though, because I can't afford any more of them! Razz emoticon

This was also way outside of normal market pricing here. Even non-running, it should have been twice that. At that point, though, I'd have probably just shared it onto the DoTD thread and been happy to go grab it if someone wanted it.

I started investigating the unpainting options for the cowls this morning. Looks like they're the original cowls, albeit with some decent sized missing patches of paint. They were resprayed with rattlecan white, then the blue over that later, so at least three coats of rattlecan to get off.

The paint is not giving up nearly as easily as it did when Voo Doo unpainted his Super.

I tested my paint stripper on some of the OG paint on the inside of the cowl and it doesn't seem like it affected it (nor did it do much to the VBB or GL), but I'm still hesitant to use it on the outside.

Finally, I can see where at least some of the paint on the frame is re-shoot, because they center stand bolts are painted. I'll have to investigate further, but at least that looks really good.

I certainly *could* just get the paint code and re-shoot the cowls and horncast, and still might wind up going that route, especially given that the frame's paint may not be OG. Right now, I'm trying to decide how much effort I want to put into it before I get out the torch and just let rip.

On the plus side, the floorboards look amazing, respray or not. That floor mat really earned its keep.
Hmmm...looks like white respray, because they left the center stand on when they did it...
Hmmm...looks like white respray, because they left the center stand on when they did it...
Entirely too much work for that little result.  You can see where the blue smeared into the white rattle can
Entirely too much work for that little result. You can see where the blue smeared into the white rattle can
chonky missing paint spots.  Don't miss the BIG one to the right of the reflections.
chonky missing paint spots. Don't miss the BIG one to the right of the reflections.
@socalguy avatar
UTC

bodgemaster
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7223
Location: So Cal
 
bodgemaster
@socalguy avatar
63 GL, 76 Super (x2), 74 Primavera (x2), 79 P200, 06 Fly 150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 7223
Location: So Cal
UTC quote
If you're going to flip it just block sand the cowls and horn, epoxy prime, respray with some SS 2K to match the frame, and call it done. If you're feeling frisky, maybe knock out the dents, but I'd leave that to the next owner.
@frank_n_stein avatar
UTC

Addicted
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
Location: Paris & Los Angeles
 
Addicted
@frank_n_stein avatar
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
Location: Paris & Los Angeles
UTC quote
External inline image provided by member with no explanatory text

Damn cdis written in foreign, with no colored stickers to tell you where the wires go!! That's hilarious!
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
While I didn't do any work on the P200 this weekend, I found both interesting and useful things about it.

First off, PO said no keys, but they were jammed in the corner of the glovebox, so I now have keys for this thing. The ignition key was a little bent, but I was able to straighten it out and it now works. Yay!

More interestingly, I found the OG unobtanium fuel tap and it looks like it, and the key, were both involved in a fire--and not one that I caused.

Both the key and the tap have fairly significant heat/flame damage. No clue what happened, so I pulled the tank but it doesn't look like a fire was inside the frame. It might explain the respray, though.

Anyway, just a fun little mystery to go with this project.

And Mike, I think the "just block sand it and respray" plan is going to be the winner for the cowls and horncast.

More to come on this one.
Keys.  Smokey, smokey keys.
Keys. Smokey, smokey keys.
Smoked unobtanium.
Smoked unobtanium.
@birdsnest avatar
UTC

Not So Moderator
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Not So Moderator
@birdsnest avatar
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UTC quote
Quote:
Smoked unobtanium.
With subtle notes of ham.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Birdsnest wrote:
With subtle notes of ham.
mmmm...smoked ham unobtanium...

*drools*
@frank_n_stein avatar
UTC

Addicted
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
Location: Paris & Los Angeles
 
Addicted
@frank_n_stein avatar
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
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UTC quote
Looks like the tap was "decorated" with a lighter. Burnt all around the base, but not the face. Same for the intact lever with the housing burnt to the edge. I'm guessing it's functional, meaning the innards didn't reach a t° high enough to deform the mechanism, which would be less likely if it had endured an actual fire.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Frank N. Stein wrote:
Looks like the tap was "decorated" with a lighter. Burnt all around the base, but not the face. Same for the intact lever with the housing burnt to the edge. I'm guessing it's functional, meaning the innards didn't reach a t° high enough to deform the mechanism, which would be less likely if it had endured an actual fire.
Yeah, it's weird. The tap and lever were separate when I found them. Makes me wonder if whatever happened was not to the scooter directly, but to the garage the bike was parked in or something.

Either way, seems apt that a fire-damaged bike would wind up in my hands. Razz emoticon
@gmontag avatar
UTC

Addicted
1964 GS160, 1966 90SS, 1966 Sears Bluebadge (90SS replica)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 515
 
Addicted
@gmontag avatar
1964 GS160, 1966 90SS, 1966 Sears Bluebadge (90SS replica)
Joined: UTC
Posts: 515
UTC quote
That was some precision fire. Could it be they were stored with some sort of solvent? It's pretty weird the keys themselves and the lever show no signs of damage.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
gmontag wrote:
That was some precision fire. Could it be they were stored with some sort of solvent? It's pretty weird the keys themselves and the lever show no signs of damage.
The key is burned up pretty bad. The tap lever itself is fine, it's just the housing that's burnt, hence my suspicion that the fire hit the workbench where it was sitting (along with the keys) rather than the scoot itself.
UTC

Addicted
1968 VBB150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 703
Location: OC
 
Addicted
1968 VBB150
Joined: UTC
Posts: 703
Location: OC
UTC quote
I've got that tap piece for you- just pick up shipping (pm/text/email me)

And other P200 stuff since I am done (for now) with Ps at least until the Rally is done.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS
@frank_n_stein avatar
UTC

Addicted
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
Location: Paris & Los Angeles
 
Addicted
@frank_n_stein avatar
Jet 200, P200E (x2), T5
Joined: UTC
Posts: 562
Location: Paris & Los Angeles
UTC quote
chandlerman wrote:
the fire hit the workbench where it was sitting (along with the keys) rather than the scoot itself.
I am still with the arsonist modder theory

The key is a softer plastic, which melts and deforms easier/faster, and is harder to control.

The lever being separate from the housing explains how there's no burn overlap, but the neat distinction between the edges and around the lever, and the top of the base tells me this was the result of someone applying somewhat precise and low temp heat on the burnt areas, and purposely avoiding the intact areas; something a chemical or otherwise free (and more intense) fire wouldn't do. I'm still betting the inside of the lever housing is intact .

I knew a goth type in high school who would keep busy burning stuff with his lighter, and this reminds me of his "art".
@scooterist avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
71' Sprint Veloce , 05' Vespa PX150, 1978 P200E
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1614
Location: Tucson, AZ
 
Molto Verboso
@scooterist avatar
71' Sprint Veloce , 05' Vespa PX150, 1978 P200E
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1614
Location: Tucson, AZ
UTC quote
It couldn't have fall into better hands. I am very happy for you, that is a smoking deal and we know you will get this scooter road worthy in no time(another one). Thanks for sharing. Scooter emoticon
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
scooterist wrote:
It couldn't have fall into better hands. I am very happy for you, that is a smoking deal and we know you will get this scooter road worthy in no time(another one). Thanks for sharing. Scooter emoticon
Oh, I'm sure it could have fallen into better hands than mine. I'm the guy with his own Workplace (lack of) Safety/Explosion counter, after all.

It should look and run better on the way out than it did on the way in, at least.

And Frank, I have a couple theories to explain exactly what happened that don't include goths with lighters about that fuel tap. I'll need to take some pictures, though. Razz emoticon
@oxymoron avatar
UTC

Hooked
Joined: UTC
Posts: 134
 
Hooked
@oxymoron avatar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 134
UTC quote
fun paint job or a police bike?
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
oxymoron wrote:
fun paint job or a police bike?
Nothing fun this time. Just converting the rattlecan blue back to OG white urethane.
@birdsnest avatar
UTC

Not So Moderator
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Not So Moderator
@birdsnest avatar
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UTC quote
chandlerman wrote:
Nothing fun this time. Just converting the rattlecan blue back to OG white urethane.
White P's are some of the fastest P's... and that's fun.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
Birdsnest wrote:
White P's are some of the fastest P's... and that's fun.
It's because they don't have the weight of the pigments in the paint slowing them down.
@birdsnest avatar
UTC

Not So Moderator
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Not So Moderator
@birdsnest avatar
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UTC quote
exactly... it's science!
@bajarob avatar
UTC

Molto Verboso
1961 VS5T, 1981 P200E, 2003 Malaguti F12 Phantom,Rigid Frame Chopper, 2001 Harley FXDXT
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1516
Location: Ventura, CA
 
Molto Verboso
@bajarob avatar
1961 VS5T, 1981 P200E, 2003 Malaguti F12 Phantom,Rigid Frame Chopper, 2001 Harley FXDXT
Joined: UTC
Posts: 1516
Location: Ventura, CA
UTC quote
chandlerman wrote:
It's because they don't have the weight of the pigments in the paint slowing them down.
That's the reason I built a 221 for my P. My paint job would definitely bog down a stock engine.😝
@orwell84 avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3670
Location: northern New York
 
Ossessionato
@orwell84 avatar
Joined: UTC
Posts: 3670
Location: northern New York
UTC quote
You could hit the cowls with some really coarse grit with the DA. What comes off, comes off. Bang out the worst of the dents. Epoxy prime, fill, coupla wet coats of 2k white. Machine buff the frame on the big spaces. It would pop.
OP
@chandlerman avatar
UTC

Lucky
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
 
Lucky
@chandlerman avatar
76 Sprint V, 63 GL, 62 VBB, 05 Stella, 66 Smallstate, 66 Lammy S3
Joined: UTC
Posts: 10883
Location: Nashville

281 Days Since Last Explosion
UTC quote
orwell84 wrote:
You could hit the cowls with some really coarse grit with the DA. What comes off, comes off. Bang out the worst of the dents. Epoxy prime, fill, coupla wet coats of 2k white. Machine buff the frame on the big spaces. It would pop.
That's where I'm going to be at with it. It has zero dents, just needs the visible touchups filled/sanded before I shoot it.

It's a great frame & panels, just hasn't had the love.
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