Modern Vespa

I purchased a used 05 GT 200 with 3400 miles on it.

Sadly, it never got it's break in service and lived outside uncovered in Seattle for 3 years.

When you start to accelerate or use the "friction zone" it's really rough and after accelerating if I release the throttle it pops allot, more than I ever heard my GTS do.

I changed the oil and filter, and replaced the spark plug. Also put a half tank of fresh gas in it as I have no idea how long it sat for, it does kinda feel like a knocking at idle, but it hasn't died on me at all.

Any ideas on what I should check next, or just save myself the headache and take it in to Big People.

Thanks in advance.
Nate "Whiplash" MC
VCOS/Westenders SC

I would take it to your local shop and have the carb cleaned and valves adjusted. My wife has an '07 GT and the guy at my shop said the valves should be adjusted around 2000 mile mark.

sounds like a stick clutch and Variator pop the case and look for surface rust

did you change the gear oil

your rollers might be messed up due to sitting for so long with temp changes they may have some flat spots

did you use a NGK plug ???

it might just need some run time to work some of the moving parts from sitting so long but look for surface rust around the clutch and variator

If you are even mildly mechanically inclined try removing the CVT cover and give the clutch housing a clean out, scuff up the bell housing with some 300 grit wet+dry carborundum paper. Check the belt for cracks and generally clean out the whole area. If you have the right tools there is a good photographic guide in the MV technical library to doing the rollers etc yourself.
Good luck

I've done all that stuff to my Honda before, I just need to buy the GT specific tools. Thanks for the advice, I'll check it out and report back, probably take me a week or so. I figured it would probably be something in those areas.

at least I can check those out and say if they are good/not good and then take it in, rust is a definite possibility on this one.

I didn't change the gear oil, it was next on my list.

I did use an NGK plug that I bought from Eastside Vespa. ($14!) for the non Iridium one. If you are in need in the area, Edmonds Auto Parts has the Iridium ones for $11.98, just call in advance and they can get them quick.

An update!

I forgot about this post until Brad at Vespa Eastside reminded me about it... I barely could remember posting this, but hey apparently I did! Thanks Brad!

My GF took it down to Big People for servicing they told her it was the rollers so they changed out the rollers, It didn't help at all and the grind has only gotten worse. They didn't say anything about rust or the bell housing, nothing.

Last night while going through the service paperwork I noticed the tech didn't check off that they did test ride it to see if it made a difference.

After reading more on the forums here and comparing the different noises, it sounds like the clutch slippage that has turned out to be so common with the 2005 GT.

I'm waiting on the rest of my tools to arrive from Motorsport Scooters and then I'm going to take a look inside.

to me it sounds like the regular belt noise that could be real rough from sitting. If it was mine I would change the oils first, take a look at the exhaust donut ( the popping on deceleration) and take it out for a hundred kilometer blat riding it hard. Hard acceleration hard stopping. Go through a few tanks then see how it goes..

Belt was in spec. Replaced the exhaust gasket with the copper one from moto amore. Which stopped the popping. We put over 300 miles on last weekend going to Bellingham and back for Hamster Run.

The sound/grind is like a lawn chair getting dragged on concrete.

Hmm is it consistent or only on take off. I wonder if the bearing in your swing arm is shot. I had a stone caught in between the brake caliper and rim on my ET4 and it confused the hell out of me for a long time thinking that something was amiss. I finally notice a big scratch on the rim and found it.

Only on take off

I would throw some seafoam additive into your gas tank. It really helps get rid of the gunk. Good luck and Brad is awesome isn't he?

it sounds like it might be the dreaded 'angry sea lion' noise that indicates a dirty clutch and glazed clutch bell/shoes. take the clutch bell off and rough up the inside with some coarse sandpaper. do the clutch shoes too. then make sure everything is sparkly clean - blast out the inside of the clutch bell with compressed air or give it a good brush out with a clean dry paintbrush. i did this last weekend and my GT sounds normal again.

My money is on the clutch bell.

Going to do just that when my tools arrive genie

Clutch bell.

You can:
1. Brakleen in the holes in the transmission cover or
2. Blow out dust with compressed air or
3. Take off the clutch bell and clean and dress the clutch bell surface with aforementioned sandpaper or Scotch Brite pad

Easy peasy.

Judy! I put sea foam all over my scoot and now everything is stuck!
Grin.

Done all three now we'll see how it acts on the rally this weekend. However if it acts up again, I'm putting a Polini Bell housing and clutch on it from SIP.

The positive is that we spent $2700 on the bike, spent $170 on servicing (that did jack squat to help) and about $200 on a DIY oil change, spark plug, new tires (K58 FTW!) and now sanding the bell housing. I won't be upset about replacing those parts, especially now that I know how easy it is, it's pretty similar to my old Honda which I've done all these swaps on.

Here is a pic of the bell housing before I gave it a sanding.
http://twitpic.com/cty1y

I didn't have time to change out the rollers in my GTS so I have no idea if that is the cause or not to compare surfaces.

Your bell looks a bit glazed and should benefit from the rough-up. Just remember to go easy on the sandpaper and not take too much material off or make the bell out-of-round. I would recommend Scotch Brite pads for this and not sandpaper, though if you've never cleaned up the clutch bell before. The inner surface should have a satin finish to it when done. You can scuff up the clutch pads a little also.

Sanded down the bell a bit, it worked great for half a day and then the same thing started all over again.

I bought a Polini Maxi Speed Clutch & Speed Bell from Scooter Barn in Lynnwood. Gonna just changed it out this weekend and be done with it.

Sadly my GTS's bell has been showing a bit of bluing from those really hot days.

I did look at SIP and see that there is a Clutch Fly/Fanwheel Piaggio puts on the Gileras now to help cool down the clutch and bell, it's a $13 part that I'm gonna try, hopefully it will help cool everything down.

http://www.sip-scootershop.com/EN/Products/48230500/Flywheel+clutch+GILERAPIAGGIO.aspx

Awe shucks, I am blushing Judy ...

The new polini clutch solved it. Takes my GTS off the line, so I'm replacing my clutch this weekend.

One snag was the polini speed bell didn't fit, polini is sending a new one but waiting so they can see if it was a catalog error or a qc issue

new news.

Polini apparently doesn't make a clutch bell for the GT or GTS. They got back the part and all of them are the same tolerance. So they don't have one that will work for me. Looks like I might have to break down and buy a new Piaggio made one, i just hope it doesn't go and glaze as easily with the new clutch.

But it's working fine now with just the Polini Maxi-Speed Clutch.

I looked for a Malossi but wasn't able to find one for the GT or GTS.