Modern Vespa

Hey, so I'm picking up a low mileage USA import chetak 1980. I know the seals are going to go after sitting inside for so long. It runs. My question is this: if the case has to be split for the seals, do I really need to swap out anything else for such low milage? What was the metallurgy on these internals? Old bearings? Am I wasting money on any of that or passing up an opportunity to put better manufactured parts in if it's going to be split anyway? I've never split a case myself and I'm weighing doing the seals myself but not so sure I want to tackle bearings and such.

Also, what would the condition of the clutch cork be after all that time? The clutch works, the scoot is rideable. I want it for a commuter with a 177 kit and and a SIP road pipe.

I ask this because I have a few options as far as local rebuilders but they only will rebuild the entire thing which will run me about $900+. I'm not opposed to that, but do I need it on a 550 mile indian sprint?

I wouldn't do anything until you need to split the cases for some other reason. So ride it until the seals fail, which could be right away or could take a while.

I think I'd go ahead and do seals when you put the 177 on, but that's it. And at that point, you might consider extending & widening the intake a little so the 177 can breathe.

I slightly edited my original post. I have two rebuild options that are local to me, but both only do full rebuilds $900+. I think you are right about just riding it till they give up the ghost. I understand what you are saying about doing the seals when it is time for the 177 kit, but I don't need to crack the case for the 177 kit.

and the only reason I'd crack the case for the 177 is because if you ignore the air leaks (you'll have some warning time) and then seize the stock top end, you're already planning to replace it, so it's no loss.

Replacing a new-ish top end for avoidable reasons, on the other hand...

I have a 1995 Chetak 125 which arrived to me with just 1650km on the odometer. Engine was in pieces with blown crank big end. Threw in a new crank along a VMC SuperG 177 cylinder kit.

At least on my block the transfer sealing surface was not too generous


Resorted to some bodgery to get things buttoned up


If the older engine is the same, the crank runs with two big ball-bearings make the engine cases a PITA to close.

That'd be my fear. It's why I keep procrastinating on my Sprint motor's new cruciform, too.

So I've gotten the chetak home and pulled off both cowls. On another thread I really went back and forth with the decision to rebuild the motor myself (my first time rebuild), have someone do it or put another engine in. I finally made the decision to purchase a reconditioned p200 engine from Lee at that scooter shop. This way I can have the sprint motor rebuilt at my leisure, and end up with a nice P200 motor at the end when it the sprint motor goes back in. The wiring seems to be in pretty good shape. I have to find some sort of replacement idiot lights if I want to keep them. I'm thinking waterproof ones for a boat off of amazon.

Plenty of room to work with here. I've ordered a 12v battery. I asked Lee what rectifier I should get but he has not replied. I think it will either be a vape one or a trail tech one. The plan is to run the DC into the battery then run all the electrics (including the indicators) off the 12v battery.

Is the current electrical system 6V or 12V?

6v. I asked Lee to make the p200 stator compatible for DC.

Watching w/ interest, I'm building a 1982 Bajaj Chetak but a four stroke I've converted to two stroke LML power. Your bike with the integral steel horncast is the older style, mine is more like a P w/ plastic horncast but same huge glovebox originally. Keep up the good work!

Why do you need to replace the indicators?

sorry I meant idiot lights.

Same question

Boat lites for indicators?

I have a set of period genuine Vespa indicators in black if you are interested.

Idiot lights? You mean hi beam indicator, or oil pressure & charging battery?

It has two, an neutral and a high beam. I think I'll try to keep them if possible since this is a commuting scooter.

They do not have replaceable bulbs? I assume they do not work anymore but even if they did they would be 6v wouldn't they?

The indicators have bulbs you could go 6v or 12v. Here is a link to my conversion on my Chetak. I'm using a P200 stator electronic ignition and flywheel. You can buy a regulator on Amazon for $12 or buy one from a scooter retailer for 3x. Essentially no change to the system still has battery.

Updating the electrical system

are you talking about the idiot lights on the headset?

The High Beam and Neutral idiot lights do have replaceable bulbs. The top chrome trim unscrews, and the bulb is inside. Obviously its a small bulb.

I found a suitable LED replacement @ SuperbrightLED's, color options too; I'll have to find the link. It did require minor modding, as the outer diameter of the metal casing was slightly too large. A bit of sanding & filing made it fit just fine.

Oh snap! I did not know that. Thank you!

Yeah, gotta love how the NSM crew make themselves useful as well as ornamental.

Perhaps more ornamental than useful, although in both cases; the value is in the eye of the beholder

Thinking down the line. What headset would swap with this the easiest if something goes south with the speedo or I just want a different look? USA spec rally headset? Is it easy to drill for ignition hole on something like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/176458327066?chn=ps&google_free_listing_action=view_item

It'll always be a Bajaj at heart. And you'd lose that awesome orange paint job.

Before you go and do anything crazy to the paint or finish on that bike, hit me up. I probably have something more in line with what you probably really want and I'm only a couple hours away.

Plus, it would give me an excuse to build another crazy-fast motor.

Oh no no I want this scoot for a commuter. If I changed the headset I would match the paint the best I could. I'm not trying to turn it into a vespa, but the dumb speedo I don't like.

I will be pulling the p200 motor eventually though when I'm able to do something with the original sprint style motor and put that back in.

Just know the offer is on the table

I have leftover orange from my VBB, too. If you find a headset you like and think the color would be a match (it'd be pretty close), I'm happy to paint it for you Just Because.

I love the orange and Bajaj's in general; the vintage styling that was kept, the giant glovebox and the Super style cowl with glovebox.

I have been looking into cheap GPS speedometers for my Stella. Thinking of switching to a P style headset top to fit an 85mm speedometer. I would use the tell tale style lights for the indicator and hi/lo lights or fill them if the speedo came with them.

I run a 52mm/2 1/8" GPS speedo in three of my bikes and they work great. Good daylight visibility (which is harder than you'd think, apparently) and good night lighting, too. I highly recommend it if you're thinking in that direction.

I've fabricated a couple of different mounting plates and now that I've started to get minimally competent with hammer forming, I need to go make new forms and revisit the bikes with flat mounting plates.

Just saw a couple of days ago that SIP has come out with a digital speedo/rev counter with an LML Star/Stella wiring harness. Not cheap, you lose the neutral light, and getting the fuel gauge/warning light to work looks complicated, but still a pretty attractive option for us Stella pilots.

https://www.sip-scootershop.com/en/product/speedometer-rev-counter-sip-20-for-lml-star-125-200-star-deluxe-stella-2t-4t_51000220?cr=e993ab67-6807-4109-bbed-f6374ebf9f9b

That not Rally piece would work but you'll be stuck w/ an obviously repop crap speedo because a working old fan shape one if you can find it will cost twice what those handlebars are. I'd put the effort & money into similar like a real Rally or Super that takes a newer more common smaller shell shaped speedo you can still find originals for fair price, or get a new SIP model w/ nice bells & whistles

Consider a trap headset maybe , but I am biased.and prob that speedo issue too

For neutral indicator, do you have working neutral switch on your motor? If a replacement, it likely won't have one or the place for it. Hi beam can be wired into speedo illumination, bright when hi beam, dimmer on low.

West coast ppl LISTEN UP! We all cry about how prices for projects have climbed these days from under a grand on DOD to two or even THREE for nice vanilla more ready to ride. So how about a challenging project w/ bullet proof frame & glovebox, dirt cheap money and LEGAL PAPERS? You got a decent motor or wanna build one too? PERFECT for some minor modification.



Finally a chance to show off a weird Deal of the Day loser because it's a busted ugly dented 4T Chetak that nobody wants.

https://www.scootnet2.net/_dcf772896319d32ca00825e9a8ee60ad

But so damn cheap that I'm tempted JUST for the still minty glovebox, old days DOD winner if 2T!.




UGH!




GIMME!!! for mine:

Am I the only one that thinks this is a terrible idea?

I'm with you. The only thing wrong with that speedo is that it doesn't go high enough.

OG volcano headset FTW

I would rock that headset and speedo. Bajaj's are cool in their own right and have enough cred to keep as is. Stella's don't have the same gravitas and it doesn't bother me to make changes to it. I appreciate it because it's a very capable and functional frame that can be adapted for what I want to do with it.

+1, forget what I said about a trap headset, I thought you had some kinda plastic top crap like came on mine w/ easily busted top.

It's cool, original, vintage, and full of style in its own way. Own it and be proud

I'm such a volcano fan that I just spent way too much time on such nonsense to find a suitable pic that better illustrates the odd attraction of its unique volcanoness!

Thank you, Hibbert

If you ever need to list it on BAT: