Modern Vespa

Hey all!
On this '61 Allstate, does anyone know the size wrench I need to get
that I will bend so as to remove the petcock from inside the tank?
>
> -David

Here's how I managed. I used a standard fuel tap wrench with a slight "modification". It's a wheel lug nut held on with a zip tie. It worked.

How about a basin wrench, readily available from most hardware/home improvement shops?

I tried that on mine and the end of it is too big. There's a round depression in the bottom of the tank where the nut is and the basin wrench just can't get to it. Another option would be to get an open end wrench and heat and bend it.

I was thinking about the wrench idea, since the online shops are sold out of the special tool and I need to do this rather soon. I wonder what size the wrench is?

Couldn't tell you the size, but any nearby shops friendly enough to lend you one?

Option 2 - check out Stella Speed and see if there's any members local to you who might rent you theirs for a 6 pack.

Try these guys. I've been thrilled with their service. They've been my first choice of shops lately.

http://www.scootersoriginali.com/osc/product_info.php?cPath=1_66&products_id=1884

If you can't find one, I don't anticipate needing mine in the near future. I'll send it to you if you pay shipping there and back.

I sure do wish there were some shops around, but I'm in a little North Carolina town called Mount AIry. It is the Mayberry from Andy Griffith Show.
No Vespa or Stella shops around!

I appreciate your offer Killo, I may call you if I can't fabricate one.
Thanks everyone.
I must say, this forum of scooter people are top notch.
Good direct advice and help, very friendly. I'm glad to have joined this group!
-David

+1

I got my fuel tap wrench there too. They were closed on Monday but they still got my order out that day. Great people over there for sure!

I make fuel tap wrenches, I made those nice ones that were at Amerivespa this year , They are all stainless steel if its the allstate it should be 21mm on the inside could be 24 mm but most were 21

I used a hacksaw to cut the tap off. I didnt have a wrench at the time. By the time I got it back from the body shop I had a wrench. I was able to measure the nut of the replacement petcock to make sure I had the right size wrench.

Don't cut the tap off of the Allstate tank. It's smaller than the one for the Vespa and you can't get another one. You'll wind up having to replace the entire tank.

Because it was in such disrepair, that is what I did.
I spoke to the good people at Scooters Originali who said that is often what happens in their shop too. A step bit can make the opening bigger incrementally to the right size, and not have to get a new tank.
I didn't have to use a hacksaw though, it was so rusty and crumbly that i reached in with a pair of pliers and in 3 or 4 wiggles it was out.

-David

Well, at least you now have a path and a plan. And the tap is out. The people at Scooters Originali are top notch. They won't steer you wrong. Let us know how the rebuild goes.

What size is the nut. I have a 1965 Vespa vbb 150, thinking of building my own wrench

Hi,
If you don't get a answer here, contact Eric @ 2ndAvenue scooters. He did a tank refinish for me. I know the sucker is big as none of my large crows feet wrenches were very close.
Good Luck!

my tool measures 27mm

oh missed that. lol

I got some 6mm rod and bent it after grinding the end flat to hold the nut a little better. You don't need a whole lot of tension on these nuts so close enough is good enough.

heres what i did since i didnt have a wrench. not sure if its right or wrong, but it got the job done and it doesnt leak! this was on my large frame vbb. pulling the tap is just the reverse of installing it in my procedure. when i installed my new one, i dropped the nut down on and used a long flathead screwdriver to get it started. once it was started and the nut reached the tank surface, i just turned the whole tap assembly until it felt tight enough (too tight and the rubber gasket starts squishing out). The nut stayed put on mine and i didnt need anything in there to hold it while i spun the tap around. It took a bit of trial and error to get it to line up correctly and be tight enough. But all i had to do was loosen the tap, reach a screwdriver down inside and turn the nut a bit, and pull down on the tap to put pressure on the nut so it stays put and doesnt spin, and turn the valve around till it gets tight enough. Probably would have taken a lot less time with a real wrench, but it worked for me!

Did a lil research and found the answer to my question. It's a 32 mm nut.
Ref: http://www.scooterhelp.com/genmaintain/vespa.fuel.tap.html