Modern Vespa

So, Phase II on a barnfind '63 VBB. It's pretty rough, and I'm an amateur. Let's see how this goes!!

To recap: Earlier this year I finished a basic rebuild of a junkyard Vespa 100. Mechanically, it came out great, and I learned a ton. For the body, I tapped out a few small dents, Bondo'd for the first time in my life, and primed & painted with Eastwood 2-part rattle-can epoxy. Fine for a first effort, around-town bike; I like it. Paint doesn't have a lot of shine, but it went on smoothly—no drips or sags.

This time, I'd like to do better with the paint. I want it shiny. Right now, I plan to use a compressor and gun, and go with 2-stage paint.

This bike had surface rust, but no structural rust (it also had mouse nests and smelled like cow). The leg shields were more dented than I anticipated, and that feels like the biggest challenge to a noob.

Given that this is a backyard project, I had to McGuyver a couple of things. I used a cord tied to a seat bolt to measure that different points of the leg shields were equidistant from that bolt.

And I had to figure out how to get enough leverage to bring back a couple of diagonal bends. I used one C-clamp to keep the bend from spreading to a small tear on the top edge, and another, larger C-clamp, over leather, to get enough leverage to bend the shield back to "normal".

So, with that done, here's where I'm at (picture below). Much improved but not perfect. BUT getting close to skimcoat, maybe?

The plan is to keep tapping, get a couple of small cracks in the edges welded and ground, and, if possible, get an "edge tool" from Mercato to make all the edges nice.

Then prep the surfaces as well as I can and begin painting. I'll start with the left cowl and see if I can make it nice. Prime, paint, clear, with all the sanding. If/when I do, I'll move on to the rest of the bike.

Any thoughts/comments/wisdom welcome. Cheers.

Show us a pic of the legshield from above looking down. Shouldn't be any angles at the reinforcements.

No angles at all? Both sides have a SLIGHT, and equal, bend back, just beyond straight, at the same point—i.e., where the support for the headset tube ends.

Right side previously also had a significant bend back at the end of the support bar.

??? Thanks!

I've done videos & posts on how to do pretty much all of this on various projects. You totally have this.

Take a look at this one for how I like to handle the legshield and its annoying tendency to go Taco Mode over time...

SaFis was the one who showed the picture that inspired me to do this, and it works great.

I also did a post on here about fabricating the legshield edge: Time to Go Plaid...the VBB resto-mod project (Post 2522343)

My welding has also gotten a LOT better since then, which in its own way is proof that you can still be really bad at a lot of this and still get great results if you just keep at it long enough.

Many thanks Chandlerman! I'll take a look at these.

Is that bar across the top really supposed to be absolutely straight?

Also, in your painting thread, you mentioned the CFM you used but I've had trouble finding it again. So: How many CFM do I need?

Cheers.

The bar across the top should be curved on the ends. I show the curve that I put on mine in the video, I think.

I have a small pancake compressor and have found it to be inadequate. You really want a 5.7 CFM compressor to avoid spending more time waiting for the compressor to catch up than painting.

[quote="Primer100"]


Is that bar across the top really supposed to be absolutely straight?

Only straight through the legshield part and a nice curve out the rest of the way. Your reinforced piece is actually bent forward first at the horncast then bent towards the rear. It's a pain in the ass getting it right but just take your time. It helps forming the beading at the same time so you can see the transition better.

I almost painted my GS frame when I stumbled across Chandler's post. I had two perfectly matching bent back legshields with an angle. 🤣 I still owe him some beers for that. Orwell84 saved me with his post about fitting the floor rails before paint too. Both those mistakes would've cost me lots of time and wasted money on paint.

Many thanks. I can see how it would be a pain getting there. Creating a pair of identical slight curves will be quite a challenge. Not 100% sure I can get there.

Will go down the street and look at my friend's 200 to see where I'm trying to get.

Onward, ever onward!

I bent one to my liking, then traced the edge onto a board and used that as a guide for the other side.

Was much easier than you'd think.

Unfortunatately these are no longer in stock, but if you can/have a friend make one of these, they'll help a LOT on those channels.

I made a C-clamp version. It takes patience, but it pretty much re-stamps 'em.

https://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Factory-Tools/SAINTS-6000_5

Here's mine. It's almost done. It used to have the Texas taco hat look. Now it's more of a smooth curve instead of pronounced angles starting from the edges of the horncast. It was cracked too.

I know! I watched the video. It's lovely.

But I don't have a welder, don't know how to weld, and have never fabricated serious metal. That is, alas, beyond the scope of my tools or skills.

I think I'm just gonna have to hammer, use some C-clamps and wood blocks to get the best bends I can, and hope it becomes less noticeable when the trim is added.

Wish I had your skills, C-man. You too, BajaBob. I'm just going to do the best I can with what I know how to do. And also learn a couple of things. As mentioned, this bike was in worse shape than I knew. When I first saw it, I thought it was beyond me. Each day I've made a little progress, and I can see that it's gonna work. But I also have to lower my sights. Good mechanics and better paint than last time. And it'll be a fun, old scoot. And I will have saved it from rotting away in a barn. Tho I'm sure the mice who were living in it are PISSED!

FYI, here's my skill level, for better or worse. My first attempt, starting last Fall, was a junkyard 100 that had been abandoned outside for 20 years. I even had to fabricate a cowl door because they simply don't exist anymore. Far from a museum piece, but a fun, satisfying first project and it's now leading a much better life than it was. Hope to do it again, but with a cooler bike and at least a LITTLE snazzier!'

Cheers

Re the edge pliers: Yes, noticed they were out of stock. Have asked David when/if they might reappear . . .

Also, BajaRob, not BajaBob! May a camel tread on my extremities!!

PM me your address and I'll send you mine. Cheap vice grips plus some scrap metal rod & pipe. I don't have any projects in the pipeline where I expect to need them right now. No need to pay $75 for a set.

I'll make more next time I need 'em, and you can pay 'em forward when you're done.

🤣😂 Either works for me! My dad was Bob and somehow Rob stuck to me.

You do your scoot anyway you want! We all like to help. Feel free to ask if I can help you with anything.

SideshowBajaBob it is, then!

Like Rob said, do your scoot however you want and we're here to provide all the advice, support, and harassment you might need.

Chandlerman, that's a very kind offer and I will certainly take you up on it. I'll send you a PM. And please let me Venmo or PayPal you to cover shipping.

And I'll pay it forward down the road!

This is a big relief. Didn't know how I'd get those edges nice if I couldn't find the tool. Merci.

And thank you both for you help. Onward!!

I only learned to weld a couple years ago. It's definitely something that I find useful on a much more regular basis than I might once have expected, too.

It's my pleasure!

My first legshield crimping tool was Voo Doo's, that he had sent to SoCalGuy, who sent it to me, and I don't even recall whom I sent it along to.

And once i had the ability, I just made one which was effectively free (I think I even found the vice grips I used on the side of the road) and I enjoyed doing it.

Primer take note, this is one of my fav things on NSM! We like to rib each other.🤣🤣 I laugh every time I log in.

CM, Sideshow sounds better but I would look more like a tall Crusty the Clown if the hair grew out on the sides of my head! My S.F. shooting buddies labeled me as SpongeBob cause I'd show up wearing Dickies shorts. 😝

(Raises hand)

I have those still.

I have the same bends on the top of my VBB legshield, but it's not cracked. My plan is to use a little heat and hammering at the 2 spots where it is bent and weld a brace over the existing brace from the back with plug welds.

I've managed to get the legshield a lot straighter than it was. The last step before filler will be going over it with a shrinking disc and lots of planishing with a small slapper. There will be a point where the metal won't be perfect, but a skim coat of filler should take care of the rest.

As for paint, I won't really know until I get close to the end. I like patina and original paint on other people's rides, but I just can't do it…especially because I would have to be faking a lot of it. It's either orange or one of the original colors.

Thanks orwell. You give me hope!! I've managed to soften those kinks; if you stand back and squint, and the sun is going down, it ALMOST looks like a curve.

Slapper!! Hadn't thought of that! I have one and will give it a try.

Cheers.

You've done a good job so far. For the top part, the wonkiness is caused by a crease in the brace and the twisting in the beaded edge. A hammer and dolly will take care of most of the creases, the vice grip tool, the twisted bead. The reason I mentioned heat is because it will shrink out the crease when you hammer and dolly it. If the brace has cracked at the crease, weld it from behind and maybe some hammer and dolly work. The heat from the welding will help shrink out the crease.