Modern Vespa

Hey all,

My P200 isn't shifting into 1st gear - I have to start in second gear. Does anybody know a place that services vintage Vespas in Boston/Allston area? Hopefully open on Sunday!

Or anybody in the area know how to do this and want to earn a quick buck?

Isn't there a Vespa dealership in Boston? If he's been in business long enough to carry the PX150, perhaps he can help you. Basically the same machine in this regard. Might also try the Yellow Pages.

When you say "isn't shifting into 1st gear" does that mean it won't go past Neutral? (1N234). Or does it go past N and not engage in 1st? What does the dot on the headset align with on the shift quadrant when you rotate the shifter fully clockwise (1N234)?

Did it shift into 1st when you bought it, and then stop, or have you always been unable to shift into 1st?

Al

It goes past N, and does not engage in 1st when I let the clutch out. Basically, 1st and N are the same - I can release the clutch in both gears and nothing happens.

To my knowledge, it has never worked. I had a lot of trouble riding it the first time because I was confused whether I was in 1st or N - both acted the same.

Vespa Boston has a nice bunch of lads, but the store itself is owned by an enormous autodealer and the manager of the store has been there only a year HOWEVER, the head mechanic Chris told me he has a ton of friends with P200s, so even if he isn't willing to work on it he might indeed be able to tell you. Worth a shot.

Shiet, look like service isn't open on Sunday!

But, they might be open on Monday, counter to most PTW shops!

Did the guy who sold it to you offer any insight to why it only had three speeds?

Al

How hard is it to do adjust the gearchange and clutch cables? Do you need special tools?

Check this site for shift cable adjustment:

http://vespamaintenance.com/engine/select/index.html

Also, the PX 150 Workshop manual is available on MV. Much is the same for your P200.

As to special tools, not for adjustments. A 4th Hand cable tool is great for any cable work, however.

Al

Very sage advice. Since you inquired about shift cable adjustment, a task best accomplished with a "helper", finding a "helper" who can teach you how to do it properly would be preferable to, say, your next door neighbor, who's never done it. Someone with a "ton of P200 owning friends" should be able to point you to a qualified "helper".

Al

Good advice Aviator. I would much prefer to fix this along with someone who knows how to do this kind of stuff. Would even pay to have someone teach this to me. Anyone in Boston know how to do this, have all the tools and want to earn some money??

The scooterclub in NYC used to have these get-togethers or workshops where they would teach people how to work on their Vespas. I went to one with my modernvespa and found it extremely helpful. I'm a visual person, and learn much better by seeing and doing, then by reading and doing.

Well, xantufrog mentioned Chris at Vespa Boston as an avenue to meet P200 owners. Call him, or better, go meet him, and see what you can find out. Offer a beer or two, or lunch - money can be insulting, unless you are taking the machine to a mechanic in the business.

Al

Yah - I plan to stop by today. Just didn't know exactly how to approach a mechanic at a Vespa dealer and basically ask "hi, can you show me how to do this so I don't have to come back and pay you/dealer to do this in the future?". Figured dealers aren't in the business of teaching. Was hoping there was an avid p200 user on here that would be willing to play teacher. But will try none the less. Maybe he'll let me sit there and watch? The guys in Vespa TO let me hang out in the garage and chat while they worked on the Vespa. Pretty cool.

Actually, in terms of pedagogy, that would make you a bodily-kinaesthetic learner: You learn best by watching and relating how you would manipulate your own body to perform the same actions, reinforced by then actually doing them yourself. Visual learners are the ones that read text and conceptualize best that way. That's really neither here nor there, I've just got my English teacher hat on at the moment.

Seriously, do you have any trouble at all downshifting from a higher gear to a lower one -- fourth to third, third to second, second to neutral? I'm just wondering if it's an issue with your cable tensioning, or if it's your gear box selector (where the cable attaches near the engine) or actually part of the internal gear box that's causing the issue. Or I wonder if it's your clutch (a worn plate?).

In a shifty first can be a funny gear to get into at times, and often only with a big "shunk" and you feel the scoot move a bit under you (not a lurch forward since the clutch is still engaged, but just a movement of the suspension). Likewise there are times -- for me, particularly when downshifting -- when it can seem like you're stuck in a gear (e.g. the gear selector doesn't seem to want to twist easily) and you need to release and re-engage the clutch in the current gear again to "free up" the shifter and then it twists happily. <shrug>

Welcome to the idiosyncrasies of vintage scooters.

Cheers,
phaetn

This place in Allston specializes in vintage models. I've never used them (no vintage model) but I've heard they know their business.

-Nick

http://www.metropolistransit.com/

Awesome, I knew there must be SOME place around here for vintage service. Regarding Chris, I have no idea if he'll help/show you himself or not - he might not want to for no other reason than he's on the clock. But he's a good guy so I think he'd at least turn you to a place like nickaltenbernd mentioned or hook you up with one of his P200 friends.

So this is strange - called Vespa Boston - the guy Eric does NOT work for them. Eric has his own company, which Vespa boston uses/outsources to for vintage/PX150 servicing.

Eric's store, you guessed it, is Metropolis - http://www.metropolistransit.com.

[quote="phaetn"] I don't have problems downshifting from 4th to 3rd to 2nd. Not sure if that helps?

Who said anything about an Eric at Vespa Boston? Good to know they also recommend the metropolis place - I'll have to check it out sometime

[quote="Wangta"] Is your neutral dot properly lined up? I'm wondering as a way to tell if the tensioning is right for your gear selector cable. If you want to get your hands a little greasy (well not really, you just need a screwdriver!) you could take off the gear selector cover (usually a chromed part) and see if the gear selector cable is actually pulling the selector through and past neutral.

When you're scoot's off (make sure engine is NOT RUNNING) you can manually move the gear selector box by hand (this is the part near the engine, not on the headset). If you don't mind tinkering, you could see if it's actually getting moved properly by giving it an extra push by hand after you've selected first on the hand gear selector (e.g. gear tube in the headset) and then see if the batwing actually goes any further. Just a thought, but don't try it if you're not mechanically inclined.

Check this out for how the gear selector box works. The part you twist by hand is just connected to this with two cables (one for each way the tube is rotated) but this is where the magic actually happens.

Cheers,
phaetn

You should just try it yourself. It is not hard. If you are going to have a P200 this will be the least of your issues. You can get the Haynes Manual at Scooterworks or somewhere else on line and it explains how to do all sorts of things. You'll get a feeling of accomplishment and feel a lot more comfortable on your scooter.

Good Luck
Sjawm

Just got the Haynes manual! Hope to do this myself next time