Modern Vespa

Time to resurrect this thread again....

I'm having a bugger of a time getting the wheel bracket off. I have the nut off, a retaining ring, and the engine mount bolts are out. It simply won't pop off the axle. Is there a trick to this?

I've tried some lubricant and a heat gun, with no luck. It wiggles a little, but won't come off.

Spray some Liquid Wrench or any other bolt loosening product at both ends. Screw the wheel bolt back on until it is flush with the end of the bolt. Find an extra set of hands, willing helper.
Then while one taps the wheel nut and the engine mount area alternately. The other wiggles vertically the center of the bracket.

Last edited by Maynard Schweigert on Wed, 03 Dec 2014 00:06:25 +0000; edited 1 time

you can also get a 3 prong bearing puller and use that to help pop the swing arm bracket off.

I used a piece of wood through the spokes of the wheel and a dead-blow hammer. Put the wood through the wheel, on to the back of the arm, a few decent whacks and it pops loose.

Thanks Fuzzy...
This is good to have for quick reference.
I swap so much between City Grip / Car Tire, your right it comes down to a habit on swapping these out. I typically have problems re-installing the exhaust as I always bear those bolts on the MP3/250.

Keith
Marietta, GA

, A million hats off to you guys for keeping this post alive. Walked into the garage to find my tire shredded and flat. I thought it felt funny the afternoon before.

I tried to source a pirelli to get here in a reasonable time but no luck so I did find a Avon am63 Viper Stryke. It looked like a decent tire and thought I remember reading something positive about it, so we will see it, should be in today.

I read the service manual and gathered my tools and jumped into the job. Love the service manual but it doesn't say anything about the bushing on the muffler. I hope I didn't jack that up; I was pretty careful and mostly pulled back...lol Hopefully I can crimp it down some if needed. Besides I might like a little louder ride; help keep me from being ran off the road too many times this week. (Dont get me started on cagers who refuse to turn their head or use their mirrors or get off their phones). I am pretty sure it didn't say anything about the "C" ring behind the wheel spacer either (excuse the bad terminology but its a "C" looking ring with 2 circle that they make the special pliers for)

Long story Long, I walked away last night having removed all the bolts but not being able to free the Support (Wheel/swing arm) bracket. I immediately got on line here and looked it up. So I will try ziptie-ing the front brake back and using wood and a hammer to remove the support bracket like previously suggested. NEWB question; I took off the bolts to the rear brake assembly but haven't been able to turn it and pull it free. Do I need to open the bleeder valve and push the pads back first?

Thanks for the help guys

Billy Harford


The tire

The muffler

The rear wheel assymb

Wow cant get the support bracket off. I have used penetrating oil, hammer and wood thru the spoke like previously said, pulled my ass off and even put a crow bar between the support assembly and wheel assembly but no luck. I dont have a heat gun. Stuck now.

In the advice above to remove the support bracket. Where Maynard suggesting using the wheel nut and alternately tapping it and the frame. I assume the nut we are talking about is the 24mm center bolt for the wheel?? If that is so are we also adding the "C" retention spring and the bearing looking outer spacer back in before the 24mm nut??

Thanks guys

Billy Harford

So, with alot of penetrating oil, vertical wiggling and pulling I got the support bracket off. After I get shoulder surgery I will try to figure out how to get the wheel to release and come off...lol I know, use the other shoulder. Seriously the bearing look a little rusted in the rim is that normal? Any suggestions while I let next round of penetrating oil to work?

Interesting problem...

I have removed mine so many times, with minimal Effort.
I have two rims, and I swap between Car Tire, and City Grip Rims depending on the time of the Year. The Wheel goes on to a "Sprocket Shaft", I wonder if it was forced on in some way previously. You the Original Owner?

The fact you had problems with the Cross Arm I am suspicious?

Good Luck with this... I guess Brute Force is next.
Hopefully it is just Rust? I always lube mine up before re-mounting.
Inspect the Shaft once the wheel is off.

Keith,
Marietta, GA

Keith,

Thanks for the reply. I am not the original owner and considering the way I got it (Keep burning batteries, rectifier, and 2nd owner could not find a mechanic for it so I got it for $500-steal) I don't think the wheel has ever been off or someone less knowledgeable jammed it back on. Although it rode beautifully before. One mechanic said remove lug nuts but there are not any and or tap the shaft backwards but you can do that because the gears and sump are behind it.

If you think of any good ideas I would love to hear them. I will take my time and steel wool the shaft and inside of the wheel well where it covers the shaft if I can get it off; then lube of course. I assume a standard mechanical lube is fine; that's what I use at work when I replace motor bearing on the shaft.

Chime in with some ideas need to get my baby back on the road and not have to load it up and take to my over-worked bike mechanic.

thanks

Billy Harford

I'll chime in.

you need a 3 prong puller, the bearings have semi seized on the shaft.

now on to the Avon. absolute the worst tire I have ever tried. actually took it off after 1000 miles and threw it away.
Michelin City grips are by far the best all around tire.
The Michelin power pures are very nice but do wear a bit quicker.
The newest Pirelli Diablos are very close to the power pures.
The metzler feel free's are decent maybe a tad harder compound and good in the rain but not great.

Now on to your existing rear tire, you are extremely lucky EXTREMELY. that tire has disaster all over it. next tire replace when you get to the wear bars, as the tire gets real thin real fast. why take the risk of crash.

OAD,

I thought the Avon were decent tires; guess I will be replacing them soon. I might just order a pirelli diablo now and have it on hand so I dont run into a similar scenario.

Yeah I had the bike checked out a yr ago and everything was good; didn't really see the wear bars when I looked and definitely didn't realize how fast bike tires go. I am a new rider. Wont make that mistake again. change at the wear bars, got it.

I think I can get my hands on a three prong puller. Hope that works.

Thanks for the insight and knowledge

v/r

Billy

I'll second that as I had a rear tire blowout last year at 90km/h, I was lucky that I wasn't in a sharp corner. Lesson learned as well.

The avon have no feel to them for me, they rode like bricks, but I am a picky rider. You might do well with them.

Would like to see a picture of the 3-Prong Puller on your rim if you have time to get one with your phone possibly. As far as the Rear Tire, so much discussion here on that topic, but you can beat the City Grips, and maybe consider a Car Tire too.

Keith

I will take a phone pic of the puller after I go grab it from the shop at work. It's a 3 prong with arms about 8/9" both sides of the arms have curved grabbing heads (1 side longer/shorter and head shape differs some on each side) so you cab invert it to change sides. It has a nut on the end and a threaded rod with a point in the center. I will post a pic when I have it. Probably from harbor freight; my old boss loved that place...lol

I may have to add to my assortment of tools, so just curious.

Thanks,
Keith

This is what he is talking about. From Harbour Freight .

That's the one. I hope it works and doesn't damage the wheel assemble. I am a little worried about using it with the threaded/pointed base.

Hmmmmm....I had AVON tires on my Silverwing and went through several pairs, with good mileage. Also used them on my wife's with no problems.

Last edited by Shiftless on Thu, 11 Jun 2015 18:18:35 +0000; edited 1 time

The puller worked like a charm. Highly recommend adding it to your tool list.

Now I need to clean up the rust on the rim and shaft, lube it then read the reinstall post and pray for some luck.

Hope the pic helps

excellent

Thanks everyone for the assistance. My babygirl is back in action. The 3 prong puller is the way to go if you have any resistance so I would recommend adding to your tool list.

I will report back later with how happy I am with the tire. Of course since I have not ridden on some of the better rated/recommended tires it will be somewhat incomplete from a comparison stand point.

Happy Riding folks

Billy Harford