Modern Vespa

The splines are indeed recessed under the bushing. if the splines are striped at the ramp plate you can use a J Costa variator as their ramp plate doesn't even engage the crank directly. and probably just using it as is will work just fine. outer pulley half and washers/shims may need replacing. good move getting your scooter back.

Oh and another heads up.... taken from anopther post by greasy

not all techs. doug likes croissants and wine and fish n' chips

Yeah Genie, but I'm odd..

Hi All -

Thanks for everyone's help and input. After looking at my bike today and taking more pics (and starting to understand how the transmission/engine works), it looks like the bike is surely fixable. Certainly not ready to sell to the repair shop's salvage guy for $400!

If anyone could take a look at these pics and tell for sure what this might cost to fix I'd appreciate it.....

Also - the kickstart won't budge - so maybe it needs either cleaned or something is wrong with the teeth/gearing:

And I was told the bendix gear caused this problem since it won't spring back into position fast enough. Here's a YouTube showing my bendix, and the rate it returns to position: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79fo3I_2YeY

All look OK to me except for the belt (on its way out - those are the very cracks one checks for) - and the bendix is a bit sluggish sometimes.

So shopping list sounds like:

Belt
Bendix (to be sure to be sure)
Outer variator pulley
New variator nut if you subscribe to changing these out every time.

Make sure the rollers go back in the right way round...

Thanks Jimc! Greasy125 hasn't responded yet, but Drew' now helping me too. This forum has been a great tool to learn and share information - both with other members and local mechanics. I'm very thankful for everyone's help in allowing me to keep my beloved Vesper!

Great tip Doug and Genie - I'll keep this in mind!!

It does look a bit sluggish. Bendix drives are pretty finicky in general.

Sounds like that should be replaced too, just like Jimc above concurred.

I'm still gob-smacked that the dealer was going to effectively write the whole bike off!

quito - I'd probably use the same bendix after giving it the best clean I could. But note I'm not advising you to do this...

Thanks Marc - even thought the scoot isn't working yet, it sure feels good to have it back. I had to google the J Costa variator since I've never heard of it until now. Interesting...http://tinyurl.com/nas6df

Me too. It almost sounds like they either wanted my bike (for $300-400, since their "neighbor would buy it for scrap") or just wanted me to buy a new bike from them. Or, giving them the benefit of the doubt, they just didn't know any better?? Thanks - well, if it can be cleaned I'd surely like to save $$...we'll see....thanks. And don't worry - I know any decisions on what to do with the repairs are wholly my responsibility....

sorry for taking forever in getting back to you, i was on holiday.
anyway, good to touch base with ya today and iron out some details.

i'll shoot you a mssg in the next few and we can schedule a time so i can come by and take a peek.

from the photos, it's not looking terminal.
and yeah... i just did a motor on another ET4... the bill was about 1/2 that with parts and labor....

best,
-greasy

croissants and lattes in the morning...
wine and cheese plates in the afternoon...

;^)

best,
-greasy

Thanks for catching up with me today. It was nice to talk to you and glad to hear again that it's not looking terminal so far.

The motor job you mention - the "bill was about 1/2" of what amount? Did that include a new motor or just rebuilding certain parts?

After I return from vacation on Sunday, I'll call you to setup a meeting time after work. We can look at the bike over a beer...

Typical US thievery. Happens daily at car and bike dealers in this country. Some idiot got the bright idea of putting mechanics on commission for their work, so it has taken honesty out of service. If he can run the bill up, he makes more. Craziest shit in the world.

That is bloody crazy. Give the guy a wage - if a good job done the customer may make suitable extra recompense. The best would be a recommendation on a forum such as this.

I have to say, I'm not a fan of naming and shaming for small stuff, but if a dealer is caught out deliberately trying to get a customer to write-off a bike that is perfectly (and normally) servicable, then perhaps letting clue get through is not so bad.

You already gave us a clue, unknowingly. To those of us in LA, this could only mean one dealer:

Other more specific clues abound in the thread.

Think I'll just zip it....

Do let us know the result Quito. Some of us are very interested.

Not all dealers are suspect - but the one I originally went to (top of post) is one I'll surely NEVER go back to. The story is different for Vespa Sherman Oaks - they've been very helpful and professional, and one day I may give them a try.

But for now Greasy125 offered to drive to my apt and assess my bike in my garage, so I'll setup a time with him next week.

Again thank you everyone for your time and input. I'll keep details posted here for those who are interested...

Cheers!

what is the latest in repair report on your scoot?

He's been on holiday. Give him time to get back into the swing of things!

Hi guys -

I'm back from vacation and am trying to catch up with Greasy125. Once something develops I'll post here - for those interested.

Thanks!

Greasy came to my place and now has my bike. Really nice guy that knows his stuff.

We looked it over during a beer, swapped stories, and talked through my options. The one we settled on was to fix the existing motor with a new belt, rollers and ramp plate, pulley, (and maybe kickstart gear, but I can't remember for sure). We think that the main crank shaft splines - with some cleaning - should hold. If we find later that they didn't hold, then maybe the next step would be a J Costa Variator install. Then when that wears out, a new motor. But hopefully it never gets that far....

I'm looking forward to seeing my bike back on the road. It should be done by Sunday, and he'll bring it back that day or Tuesday night when I'm home.

I don't know of ANY DEALER that has their Techs on Commission
Techs get paid by the book, the manufacture of the vehicle determines time. If a tech can do a job in 15 min that the books says takes two hours good for him. But a job can say it takes 1 hour and it ends up taking all day, he gets paid for 1 hour.

You want to be a tech go ahead. I hope you are fast and efficient or you are going to be getting really small pay checks. I have been a motorcycle and car tech. I was not fast enough to make a good living. There are guys out there making $100,000 a year working on cars, not bikes though. But they are good and fast.

You need to know what you are talking about before you start dissing techs. It's hard job and very dirty work.

You go buy a building that costs a few hundred thousand or million dollars pay a bunch of tech, sales man and office people and try and make a living I love people like you, it is VERY obvious you don't have a CLUE about this industry and trying to say dealers are ripping everyone off.
Yes you pushed one of my buttons here, but you go work on vehicles of any kind for a living and come back and make the statement you did. You WON'T!!

Wayne B

what is the latest on your repairs were they done & how did it turn out?

Hi Cajun & everyone!

Sorry I've not posted anything. There wasn't anything to post until tonite when Greasy came just 30 minutes ago and dropped off my bike. I just came back from a quick 6 mile test ride, and so far it's working great! He suggested I take it easy on the throttle and roll (not snap) it up or down when revving the throttle, and to be gentle on the variator.

Tomorrow I'll take it to work and see how those splines hold. Maybe I'll shoot and post a nicer photo of the bike too - since the photo of it on the tow truck was pretty bad.

I'm thinking of writing Vespa USA to complain about their dealer who recommended in their estimate that I replace the engine. That just doesn't seem right to me. Whatever....

Thank you Greasy for being honest, fair, and doing great work!

Great to hear that MV saved you some seriuuos coin.

Bet you are glad you paid your MV entrance fee and membership dues?

word, thanks for being paitent on the repair time.
anyway, let me know if you need anything at all!
ride safe out there.

best,
-greasy

Hope you got your beer, Greasy....

Hey DougL - we each had a Mission Street Pale Ale on his first visit as we looked over the bike. I think he'd rather have money, but next time I could pay him in beer if that's his preference. Thanks for your recommendation on Greasy - he's now my new mechanic.

Thank you JimC, DougL, Marc, Drew, Harvey, ScooterMarc69, genie, hr2lrn, cajun, WayneB, and Techguy9797 for your time, thoughts, and support in helping me fix the bike. I really appreciate you guys helping a fellow rider out.

As Techguy9707 said - ModernVespa.com helped me save serious coin and proved to be a valuable community that's saved me from selling this bike for a paltry $300 (ha)....Cheers everyone!!

Best,
Quito.

It's beautiful!