Modern Vespa

Well...here goes! My first "project bike"
Scooter was picked up from Greg (Rovers S.C.-Detroit Michigan)(big HI to Keegan!) and is now
re-homed in Windsor Ontario.
The body is in fairly good shape, the engine is seized but I hope to salvage it.
My intent is to keep it as "original" as possible, but I'm also well known for changing my mind quite frequently.
I will update this post from time to time as progress is made.
Any advice/recommendations will be appreciated.....and a quick note to Eric....don't wander too far away.....I get the feeling I'm gonna' need your expertise!

Wish me luck!

Best of luck with the resto, it'll be good to see the progress you make. Oh, and seriously impressed with your garage, if only mine was so neat and tidy.

That looks to be a great scoot to start with. Looks to be very straight. Post pics as you make progress.

Very cool, I look forward to seeing the progress!

Cool man - keep us updated.

What are the initial steps you plan to take? Sand down/sand blast?

Looks pretty clean. I bet you can get most of that surface rust off with some rubbing compound and / or scotch-brite.

And I bet If your Real Nice to RE he would rub one off , I mean rub some off with the compound ,

when are we going to see some more photos of your bike Rover

Please post pix because I'm starting to lose interest in rebuilding my Allstate. I have a tendency to get bored easily. My attention is starting to turn towards another high.

Quick update!
Checked the serial #'s on Scooterhelp.com, and the bike is in fact a 1964 VBB....not '66. Not that it makes one bit of difference.
To answer some of the questions....
Yes...I'll post pics as I go along.....engine is # 1 priority. Haynes manual and Vespa Engine Rebuild DVD (from UK) is on it's way.
And Eric...mostly surface rust. It has rusted through under the tunnel. Floorboard and cross member supports are solid...so just a bit of sheet metal to replace.

Pretty nice. I am still working on my Super. I have had several issues come up with mine because it was an american model. I am haveing the stator rebuilt right now. Once that is done I can get it almost completed. I had no desire to keep it all stock. I had it painted candy apple red, remove the turn signals, and a few other changes.

Looks like a promising project. Keep us posted and good fortune.

Al

Glenn - if you need help don't hesitate to ask for it from the Windsor Rovers over there ... Jake has a '58 Allstate VNA1T and Robi D just built a really nice VNB / VBB for his girlfriend last year ...from the ground up.

Soon. I ran out of funds last month but have a bit more to throw at it now. Just gotta get the final couple pieces (legshield beading + front fender crest), get the cylinder honed to match this new piston, and finish up my seat cover nonsense.

Oh, and rechrome the original taillight.

Thanks Eric...do you have contact info for Jake & Robi?...or is it best to just PM them from the "Rovers" website. Best to introduce myself before I go begging for help!

So, you have already installed the traditional yellow boots on the centerstand?

Al

Yeah, just copy and paste your project thread over there and PM them from the forum. I'm sure windsor is happy to get another vintage guy.

I figure I better introduce my "Assistant Wrench"...Hamish. Not much of a mechanic...but great company, likes the same kinda' music as me, agrees with everything I say and lets me work all day on the scooter.
And a question....taking the engine apart I noticed a gromet(?) that has pretty much disintegrated. Nothing was going through it...just kinda' hanging there. What is it? What's it do? (indicated in pics 2 & 3)
And the progress made on Day 1...... engine apart...piston still very stuck to crank (not for long...found a big hammer) guts inspected and everything else looks good. Working on parts list.

Some of these bikes had NO external HT Coil ...rather they mounted the HT coil directly on the stator plate .....so you end up with a spark plug wire running off of it and all the way around to the top-end.

I believe that's what this grommet is for. It looks to me like you have one of these onboard HT-coil setups ( a pic of your stator would help ), and the grommet isolated the spark plug wire.

The other hole that's slightly above it and also comes through the cases is for all your normal electrical wiring that would run to the rest of the bike ( red, green, yellow, blue, black wires, most likely )

And i like Hamish... he seems the affable sort.

Thanks Eric...here's the stator. And yes...the other wires run through the upper hole. Which brings me to another question. The outer insulation on a couple of the wires has worn through, at about the point where it exits the casing. What is the best fix? Tape? Cut and splice? Liquid tape? None of the wire strands appear to be broken....just the insulation worn.

I would probably rewire the stator with new wire ...unsoldering the old terminals and resoldering with new replacement wire of the same color.

I've found that usually the coils are fine. I just soldered new wires and used heat shrink tubing around the new wires. Just buy the correct guage wire and correct color. Works like a charm.

Thanks again guys...
And the piston is OUT!!

I reckon just fix up the motor and shove it back in.

It looks hot the way it is.

Matt

How did you get the piston out? Heat? Did you soak it in something?

Well, you know as well as I do that after 4 years anything will let go!! haha

People want to know, Jimmy.

Is this still "Resurrect 4 year old posts" week?

I am awesome and this thread has mold on it.

Are you trying to steal Parantens thunder by digging up old shit. ha

subtle, well played.

please don't do it again.

-g

Wilco

Roger dodger