Modern Vespa

Hi to all, I just returned from a two week trip with my vespa and I have two issues I need help with.

The rear tire started doing some clanking noise on low speed only when turning right. The sound didn't sound very promising so I checked the tire on the central stand. The tire had a side to side wobble I never noticed. I removed the split pin and tightened the bolt. After this operation the sound and wobbling was gone. But after 2 days and 3-400km more both were back. I did this a few times during a trip and now that I'm back I have to fix this. What can be the problem?

The second issue is about the mudguard. I recently changed rear the suspension position up three steps for the first time for this trip since we were two people with some luggage. The vespa was doing a strange rubbing noise and I found out the tire was touching the under part of the mudguard. So I moved the suspension one step lower (3 out of 4) and the sound disappeared. But after one day I had it back, I checked and this time the side of the mudguard was rubbing on the tire. Now I moved it again to the lowest setting and nothing happens. Do I have a faulty mudguard? Is it mounted wrong? It seems like it is not centered but moved slightly to the left (air box).

Thanks a lot

When was the tire last changed? Shortly before these problems started?

I got a new tire in January, since then I have made approx 2500km..

The problem with the mudguard could have been there also before the tire change, it's the first time I change settings in the shock absorbers and at the standard lowest setting it doesn't' touch the tire at all

I'm wondering if the rear was not reassembled correctly after the tire change, in particular the spacer might be in the wrong place. That nut seriously shouldn't be coming loose scarry ...

So what can I do to check? Do I have to remove the tire completely and send a picture of what's inside? It's scary as fuck but I was on holiday and I didn't want to rush home.

can you see this spacer between the nut and the bearings?

Also, was there a cap between the pin and the nut?

also check the bearing in the exhaust bracket.

Ure I can see the spacer of that image, so I think this is ok. I will try and remove the tyre tomorrow and see if something is wrong by comparing it with a video from robot. Anything else I can check? In the meantime I won't use the bike as I'm afraid to break something now...

I also made a picture of the mudguard regarding the second issue, it seems that it is bent to the right of the scooter, is this normal?

Ok so the spacer is there. I am very concerned through that the nut had come loose multiple times and you had side wobble. Maybe the thread is damaged on the nut or axel.

Yes the guard is wonky. Check all three bolts for it are correctly in place

based on the dirty grungy pics I highly suspect the bearing.

Thank you all for your help. Currently the Vespa is at the mechanic (he is in holiday actually but the Vespa won't start any more so i left it there). Once this problem is fixed i will check on the tire as you mentioned.

I'll update with news soon (i hope)

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Thanks for your very kind message. Its The second gts I own, my dad has had three from the first 250 in the early 2000. I have 4 classic vespas where I do everything myself (taught by my dad of course) since I was 14. But I almost never did anything to this newer Vespas and since I live alone now I'm I bit insecure, so sorry if I'm asking here for help, it won't happen again

Ignore those who are not only unhelpful but downright rude as well.

There is no such thing as a stupid question here - but there have been some stupid answers.

I reopen this post because I found the problem on the vespa and now it starts again. An electric cable was worn out so I had to fix it.

I removed the exhaust and the tire, but found nothing suspicious except for rust and a slight dent made by the baring on the main tyre axe. As you suggested the bearing is running fine and looks fine except for some dust.

In the last days there was an unhealthy intermittent sound coming from the rear that was getting worse and worse, even when just moving the tyre while on the central stand.

Here a few photos. I put a very little amount of grease on these parts to check whether the noise is coming from here, I put everything back together and yesterday I got no noise, but in my opinion it will come back. This does not explain why sometimes I have to tighten the bolt 😭

Is the guard still wonky or did you work that out?

And how have you been tightening the nut? And what torque?

I highly suspect the bearing is done.

I checked all three bolts of the guard but they are all tightand there is no actual wobbling where it is secured. It really seems like that in ten years of use the heat from the exhaust has bent the plastic on the right side so that it touches the tyre when setting a higher level on the two absorbers.

I admit that during my recent trip I was just tighten it with pliers and with no known torque hen the tyre started to wobble. The bearing is actually no more than 6 months old as it was changed when the tyre was changed. It runs smoothly and without any nois or friction. So I think this is not the issue.

Did you take the hub off the axle when you had it apart? That you had to tighten it repeatedly suggests damage to splines either on the hub or axle or both.

Also was there any play other than rotational with the axle? There are 2 bearings on the other end of the axle in the final drive, any lateral movement of the axle would indicate a problem with these.