Modern Vespa

What with the threads on the dead crank and whatnot on the GT, and the totaled splines, etc...

I decided to fire up my bike post-cannonball work and I noticed it made a terrible noise on start up - but not on idle or with throttle.

The starter gear always has made a bit of a grinding noise, but this one takes longer, and is louder. I might actually go make an mp3 of it, but it's pretty terrible.

I tore apart the variator yet again and everything seemed seated well. The variator was as far as it could be back, etc. I did notice that there's this small cog that looks lik eit should connect with the teeth of the starter gear but don't, unless that cog spins out. I assume that's part of the starter - that when you hit the ignition that pushes out and spins against the starter gear and moves the crank, etc, then retracts when you stop pressing on the ignition. BUT, I can't be sure.

Nonetheless, the stupid thing makes this terrible loud noise, and it didn't before. Thoughts???

I believe you're referring to the bendix gear (which might actually be a misuse of correct terminology, but will suffice for this discussion) and your analysis of its function is correct. Spinning the starter motor makes it stick out.

well I"m super curious why the sound became so... bad.

I mean the starter gear can't fit on the variator any tighter. The variator is as far back on the crank splines as it can get. I can't imagine how I can change the fitment any more. So what causes this terrible, loud noise?

I guess you can hear it tomorrow

Honestly, don't know. Have you considered hitting the starter button with the sparkplug disconnected, the variator cover off, and the belt and clutch removed? Then you could theoretically see what was happening...

(Of course, I've never tried this, and for all I know it will cause your engine to assplode and extra headlights to grow in various embarrassing places that you'd have a hard time explaining to your mother)

(And yes, I've been drinking tequila)

Or you could just be thankful that you have something to fret about.

I'd rather not fret about anything else with this bike, thanks...

By the way, when I was tooling around to see how things worked, that little gear popped right out of the case. Looked like it as. Supposed to be able to but I have no idea.

I was able to fit it back in and start the bike up again, but as I said, terrible noise. ugh.