Modern Vespa

Not sure if this is the first time anyone has been into this section of this critter or not…but I'm having no luck in releasing the clutch nut exposed after the outer plastic cover was removed. I've got all the next metal cover bolts removed and I've watched videos where this clutch nut was broke free before and after removing the metal cover.

I've inserted a rubber covered pry bar to lock the wheel and I've got my breaker bar to turn some…but not in the satisfying way one would expect. I expected it to take quite a bit of force and I used a breaker bar with a cheater extention so I didn't have to shock it hard but rather just ease into breaking the nut free. I've got some turning of the wrench but it really doesn't seem the nut is turning any off the threads. I've never had anything like this happen before. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Are you using a clutch holding tool? I wonder if your rubber covered pry bar is slipping somewhat on the wheel.

No…not using a clutch tool. It's a steel pry bar and I don't believe there's any way for it to be slipping. It's through the spokes. I started with the emergency brake and the rear brake applied and that didn't seem to be enough clamping to hold against the force required to break the nut free. The videos seem to show the nut requiring some decent force…but then breaking free and spinning off. Definitely not what I'm experiencing so far.

Although I haven't had experience with an MP3, I've changed belts on several other scooters which should be similar, and I don't recall the clutch nuts ever "spinning" off. I've had to use a ratchet handle to turn at least the first couple of turns to remove the nut. Lately I've been using an impact wrench to remove the nut, and a torque wrench to replace it.

You really should use a clutch holding tool! You can make one very easily from a U-bolt:

Yeah…what has me worried is the sick feeling of potentially breaking the bolt off. I'm very uncomfortable that this disassembly isn't going the way I'm personally used to these things going…nor anything like the couple YouTube's (including mitch who I really like) seem to show things happening. Just doesn't seem like it should be such an ordeal for something that needs to be done at a minimum of every 6500 miles.

It's NOT a good idea to jam something into the rear wheel to get the clutch nut off - the torque magnification could do damage to the gears. It can help in getting the axle nut off, along with a zip-tied rear brake and parking brake on, but NOT for the clutch nut.

Just use a clutch holder.

Hi Jim…thanks for the suggestion. How long and how heavy a u-bolt are we talking? It just doesn't seem like this damn thing should be this much of a chore to get off. Maybe the YouTube's are using pre-loosened trick photography?

1/4" x 2" x 4", standard zinc-plated steel. Bend the legs at right angles 2" up. Just clamp in a vice and use a BFH to bend it. They are using a clutch holding tool OR an impact wrench.

do you have the variator holding tool? your going to need one if not.

I have both the vari and the clutch holding tool and can make you a packaged deal.

Just get the correct Buzetti tools, they're cheap compared to the misery of breaking stuff and having to get new expensive hard to get Piaggio parts.