Modern Vespa

Has this happened to anyone else....just brought mp3 500 in for 600 mile service and on the ride home (within 10 miles) gas starts spraying out from the gap between the body panels just above the gas "door". Nothing leaked from where you'd actually put the nozzle in to pump gas, just from the gap above the gas "door". Any thoughts at all? Of course the dealership is closed until Tuesday!

Wow!

Sounds like a split in the fuel hose which exits the tank round about there - or the hose has come off!

Did the bike come to a stop?

Yes, the bike stalled out after all the gas spilled out. I opened the gas tank and it looked empty.

Hose has come off by the sound of it. It might be something else - but the simplest solution is usually the right one!

You'll have to strip quite a few panels off to get to it, including seat etc. It should be an easy fix unless some plastic tube has shattered (I can't remember the exact construction).

I trust you got the bike home OK somehow?

I noticed the back tire slipping all over the road so I pulled off to the curb and noticed the tire was covered in gas! I had to have the bike towed home...didn't have the piaggio roadside number on hand at the time so had to pay for the tow.

Call Piaggio ask if you can submit the bill for a refund, I am sure you can.

Wayne B

A lesson learned and one for others to forget at their peril!

Good luck getting it fixed - it should be no more than a bit of screwdriving - not even spannering except for the seat!

Thanks, I called piaggio and as long as I send them my receipt they will reimburse me up to 100 bucks for the tow. Also, Jim how hard is it to get the panels off to check out if its a busted hose or if it came totally off? I work on cars but am new to bikes. Thanks guys!

IIRC (I haven't done it for a few weeks) you start with the side rear painted panels, seat, side panels (inc footrests maybe, can't remember) and centre panel. It might be slightly less than this - but it doesn't take long. The trick is to get a good look at the front left of the tank, and the hose thereto attached (or not).

jimc, what is the procedure for removing the rear panels? I have done the front a bunch of times (start with lower nose piece, then the front side panels) but never saw the rear ones removed.

All covered in the Chassis section of the workshop manual.
http://www.wotmeworry.org.uk/manuals/Gilera%20Fuoco/

The first thing the OP needs to do is to remove the seat then the tunnel cover.