Modern Vespa

Greetings,

1779 P200E

In replacing the brakes front and rear, I found a discolored and slightly roughened area on the front axle in the area of contact with the brake drum bearings. It can easily be felt with a fingertip. Somewhere along the line the bearings have done a number on the axle.

How much damage is acceptable? What is a good method to resurface the axle? Can original size bearings be used afterwards?

Thanks for your help.

Jay

Ok, I don't have that much experience with Vespa axles, but I have worked on the documentation for the repair of aircraft axles.

It is hard to see the damage in the photo, but if you can't repair it with a light polish (it sounds like you won't) I would scrap the axle. An axle is one of those things that I would not take my chances with. Losing a hundredth of an inch could result in some kind of failure.

My suggestion would be to replace it.

I would replace the axle as well.

And if you want to be really safe, replace the bearing it rides on.


Even if you can't see the scratches in the picture, you CAN see the bluing of the steel, which happens when it REALLY heats up and is rubbing badly. I had a crank that blued by rubbing on the inside of the engine for a while.

I'd say your axle is out of true, and needs replaced.

Did you say blue steel?

Eric,

The parts manual shows a one-piece "front suspension link" that appears to include the axle.

Can the axle be bought separately and installed into the front suspension link?

Scooterworks comes up blank for the suspension link part number.

Thanks.

You might see if this works-

http://174.36.196.117/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_56_70&products_id=665&zenid=ff1aebb946dfa493f47f7b2551cd95d0

Or this-

http://www.scootermercato.com/Scooter-Parts/Pivot-Kits-and-Axles/183436

Thanks for the links. Obviously, the axle is available by itself.

The picture of the axle from Scooter Mercado is interesting... the area of concern on my axle looks just like the axle they are selling. Could that be a burned up axle too?

That looks like a used one ..but that's not quite the same as yours.

I have a hunch yours is bent slightly.

Eric,

What's the process for removing the old axle from the suspension arm and installing the new? Can it be done with the fork installed?

Sure... rebuilding the front fork axle is relatively easy. Look at an exploded diagram of your front fork and you'll see what i mean.

I actually think they all have that. the bearings don't ride on that section and it's just a low spot in the forged axle that didn't get ground as the rest of it did.

Patrick,

I think you got it right. The front wheel assembly is reinstalled and the bearings do not ride in the rough area.

It sure fooled me.

Thanks everyone for chiming in.

Jay

I would be very thakfull if some one could explain little bit closer how to dismantle front fork axle, i mean how to replace it.
I cant find any bolts, that would hold it, looks like that it is pressed in, is it so?
Andis