OP
UTC

Lurker
2013 S 125 College
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2
Location: London East
 
Lurker
2013 S 125 College
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2
Location: London East
UTC quote
[img]

When I picked up this scooter, there were a few small jobs it needed: Bent lever, front brake not lighting up, headlight half functional, broken seat lock, cowl broken and more

I installed a new lever, seat lock piece, cleaned the brake switch contact, superglued the broken cowl pieces, replaced a front end fuse added the shiny square headlight trim piece, and added tape for semi-decorative purposes

It's still very rough and ratty cosmetically; it generally functions. Maybe at some point I will address the dents and rust. Never removed dents before. Panel beaters, how do you remove dents? I plan to make a stencil of the Zaffiro graphics for when I remove the dents and repaint it in the A/249 paint it came with. Another question- how much paint would one need for the exterior? I've also never painted a bike before. What's a good way to diy a good finish on the cheap? I'm talking secondhand airbrush, or is a colour match rattle can good enough with a base white coat and clear coat?

When I decide I'm ready to paint I'm going to try find replacement cowl though... this one has seen better days. I don't know if this kind of plastic you can use plastic welding or not.

I have noticed some unsavoury noises when I ride. I don't know what is making it... yet. Sounds grindy, coming from the front end (possibly). How does one tell whether it's a warped rotor or if some bearings are close to failing?

The odo also has given up. I plan to disassemble it and see if I can wangle a repair.
Also, this being my first vespa I don't know how it's supposed to sound. It kind of sounds like a yowling cat. Is this just because it is air cooled? Do these have alternators?

For £400, I don't know how well I did to be honest, but I love it anyway [/img]
Blue Vespa S on sidestand
Blue Vespa S on sidestand
@bluecloud avatar
UTC

Ossessionato
2018 GTS Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2913
Location: Googleville
 
Ossessionato
@bluecloud avatar
2018 GTS Super
Joined: UTC
Posts: 2913
Location: Googleville
UTC quote
CallMeEJ wrote:
superglued the broken cowl pieces....What's a good way to diy a good finish on the cheap? I'm talking secondhand airbrush, or is a colour match rattle can good enough with a base white coat and clear coat?...When I decide I'm ready to paint I'm going to try find replacement cowl though... this one has seen better days. I don't know if this kind of plastic you can use plastic welding or not.
Should have used ABS cement, all the plastics on the S are ABS. ABS cement solvent welds the pieces as solid as original part. Can also fill holes or glue in missing pieces or tabs fabbed from raw stock. When you're ready to paint if you can get the superglued pieces apart and clean off the glue try this before buying a new part.

Doable with automotive paint in spray cans with 2K clear, but not cheap, and you will go through a lot of cans. I didn't even paint the whole scoot, just a couple trim pieces and estimate for what I paid could have bought a small compressor and a cheap gun. Don't want an airbrush, need a gun.

pro results with a spray can

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