Modern Vespa

The clock on my 2004 GT 200 just died and I need to replace the battery.

Owner's manual says the whole instrument panel needs to come out for this. Anyone done this already and can give me some pointers?

TIA

Anyone?

The dealer doesn't know what kind of battery it uses, either. I'd like to buy it before taking the instrument panel apart...

I can't tell you what battery it uses but this is how to take the headset apart:

https://modernvespa.com/forum/topic7431

Here's the battery: http://www.scooterwest.com/item_detail/Clock-Battery-ET-LX-GT-More/2424/
It looks like a pretty common one, but doesn't say exactly what type it is. I'm sure if you open up the headset and get to the battery, you could take it to a store and find a cheap replacement that day.

Thanks, everyone. I've taken the headset apart at least half a dozen times, but I thought it would be nice to have the battery on hand.

WOW! The clock doesn't run off the battery on the scoot. I never would have guessed.

Nope, the clock does not run off the scooter's battery. It has it's own nondescript Lithium battery I can't get a reference or part number for.

You fellow Vespa commuters won't believe how much you rely on this clock until it stops working!

When I was a kid I got sick of never knowing the time when I was on my bike so I bought the cheapest water-proof watch and wrapped it around the handlebars.

I changed mine in my ET2 I used to own, it was a major pain. I bought the new battery at a Rite Aid drug store, very common size.

TIME FOR A MINI SOLAR PANEL

Finally got around to doing this on a Saturday morning, when stores are open and I'm not stuck at the office!

Sure enough this little sucker was a major PITA to get out and replace. Don't know what battery brands are available to you, but I chose to replace the Maxell that was in it with a Swiss made Renata 386.

The specs, in case someone needs to do this, are 1.55 V and it also reads SR 43 W on the back of the bubble capsule the battery came in.

Replacement involved removal of both headset panels -the front with the headlight and the back with the switches. Once these were off, I also had to remove the screw holding the instrument panel support bracket to the steering column and cut the wire tie holding down one of the cables.

The instrument panel is fastened to the rear headset panel by 4 screws. The top left hand one is the hardest one to reach, but I managed with a pair of needlenose pliers and a philips screwdriver.

The hardest part is probably removing the old battery and replacing it with the new one, and you can only do this by cutting the wire tie and flipping the instrument panel upside down. The battery is located right below the clock itself. There's a plastic cap that needs to be pulled out, and inside the hole there's also a support bracket and spring that unscrew with a flathead screwdriver.

Once you have them out, just drop the battery in and the spring and bracket in the same order they came out, tighten the bracket with the screwdriver, and you're done.

I'm glad the battery lasts at least 2-3 years!

Oooooh, I LIKE that idea! Seems so simple ... makes you wonder why Piaggio hasn't thought of it?

Wouldn't work after dark, I'm afraid!

A hybrid then ... with a rechargeable battery fed by the mini solar panel!