Modern Vespa

The very short hose from the throttle body to the intake manifold cracking. Not all the way through but this is only 13,000 km (*).

So how many potholes and rocks on 4wd tracks speed bumps and manhole covers etc before it cracks all the way through? Not many.

Replacement will be ordered this week.


(*) only 13kk? yeah, when I was replacing the head gasket a year ago, I saw that it was cracked all the way through so replaced it.

Since the throttle body / ecu is 0.8kg and is bouncing around because the several inch right angle hose from the airbox to the throttle body is soft-ish, I'm seriously thinking of replacing that with stainless steel (around AU$70 from some places or over AU$200 from SIP who inappropriately label it as a cold air intake)

EDIT: done, see GTS stainless steel intake hose (airbox -> throttle body)

Good find!

I guess you need to be especially proactive on the inspection and preventive maintenance, given the riding you do!

Didn't take long.

Idle went obstinately high and thew a P0130.

Checked that hose again.

Fuck.

quick fix with Silicone self fusing tape seems to be working for now ...

What did you end up ordering for replacement? How long until it arrives?

Both - two different but related things.

The cracked rubber standard part is between the throttle body and the manifold. I've ordered one but will probably take a month.

The stainless steel aftermarket part shown above is between the throttle body and the air box. I've ordered one and will probably have it this week.

unfortunately heat cycles kills plastics. like i said on IG i've seen it on multiple cars in my day.

1 year / 13,000km ain't that much for Rubber

I usually swap em out after every use.

This rubber is pretty thick and hard, only useful if other means are too soft.

Although the order was accepted and paid, I've just been told that part is not available anymore and no replacement part number.

WTF Piaggio!

I could go to the nearest store and lift the seat of a gts300 on the showroom floor and point at it.

To be continued ...

Maybe a long shot, but any chance your local dealer would actually pull one off a bike for you?

Vespa Toronto West once did this for an exhaust clamp I needed that they didn't have in stock. Nice guys there!

Chances are the clamps are available to be ordered though. Apparently this is no longer available through the dealer network. Which is completely ridiculous (but unsurprising--they're italian lol)

Order fixed. Don't know why the Aussie importer's DB didn't list the newer part number as a replacement but now solved.

Good stuff!

Is it still looking like that rubber tape needs to hold up for 1 month of hard miles?

The tape shown is a silicone tape, not rubber, and IMHO is rubbish. There are good silicone tapes around, but that doesn't appear to be one of them. If I'm correct (I could be wrong!) that one just won't last through even a medium amount of heat cycles.

There are some excellent self-amalgamating *rubber* tapes - some years back I used some to cover a hole worn in a BV125 coolant hose, and it lasted over six months, when I finally managed to find the correct replacement hose.

Any self-fusing tape used by electricians on external connectors etc should be OK. The clue will be that the backing material doesn't extend way over the edge of the tape but is cut to the same width, and isn't translucent.

That was the first i found in my toolbox.

I do have another brand and had already planned to try that if the first fails

Too early to say.

Of course if the crack works it's way around the whole circumference ...

Could suck if i was in the middle of nowhere

Yeah, you'd be kicking yourself then! Are you able to find one in stock nearby, and keep the shipped part as a spare?

I did check most of the local dealers. I didn't order from overseas, i ordered via the importer who doesn't have it in the warehouse

did some silly 4wd track yesterday and still seems to be running. ie, silicone tape holding.

the stainless steel part arrived today. GTS stainless steel intake hose (airbox -> throttle body)

toast.

new one still ain't arrived.

so have just ordered a silicon joiner that I think will be the right size once I trim about 2cm off each end.

probably will also walk over to the local vespa shop to see if they have one but I doubt it.

Update:
When I measured I thought 38-48 was about what I need. 38-44 and 38-51 seemed common so bought 38-44 as I hoped it would stretch whereas the 51 wouldn't squeeze enough with the clamp.

38 is perfect but the 44 doesn't fit.

have now ordered a 38-48 from overseas.

Hope that works. I'm a bit envious that you have the option of just *walking* over to your Vespa dealer!

In the meantime, can we just have more cat pictures?

New.
Old.
Custom.

I've given up on the oem part. Broke another, I blame the road in https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVSzJ4ZkeV9/?igsh=b3R4bzB4dTExNm5s (see section with the 70kph sign).

Gone back to my custom silicone.

harsh roads. Evil corrugations/washboard.

But when I did Gibb River Rd they said "Do a 100 mate! - you'll just glide over them!"

Yeah right!! how many tires later?