Modern Vespa

Hey gang. Haven't been around much, since things are going a bit slowly with Sunny here recently. Still waiting on our welder to be both in the shop and free at the same time. Things are so slow around here that most of the guys in these places have taken to only coming in once or twice a week and doing all the work that's come in since last time all at once. Since my dad is bringing it to him and getting it done at a semi-"buddy price", it's one of those things where it's last on the list for the day, and if he's not going to stick around and wait on extra work when he's done with the stuff he's already got, he doesn't really "have extra time". In other words, he's not making enough money off us to justify not just going home for the day.

Other than that, I'm also waiting on Scooter Mercato to restock my wiring harness.

Anyway, the question I wanted to ask is about my gas tank. I pulled this out of my '74 Super 150 to get it ready to go to the body shop. My bike is premix, and that sure looks like an oil tank to me. It's also go two holes on the top. One of the caps says OIL, as seen in the blurry picture. Do I have the wrong tank, or am I missing something?

Most U.S. market large frames in 1974 Supers were injected. Are you sure your motor hasn't been replaced? Or is it not a U.S. market bike?

Do you have a hole for a sight glass in the frame of your scooter?

If it's truly a non-injected motor, then you definitely have the wrong tank. Just take the sight glass off the oil tank and don't put any oil in there.

looking at your "sunny" project thread I see an oil pump on your motor as well as the hole for the sight glass on the frame.

That would be autolube sir.

Sounds like a previous owner decided to disable or bypass your autolube system. Too bad, its a great system. You could look into restoring its usefullness if it interests you, or premixing works just fine.

Dully!

Rumor had it you bought a Russian scooter or something.....

Okay, so now I'm extra confused. I've always had the understanding that my bike is premix. Would the hole for the sight glass and injection engine have been a mod from a previous owner/abuser? Maybe I've got this all wrong, but I looked up my parts manual for my bike again (I have a copy printed out, but don't have it on hand) and I'm not seeing this oil globe on the bottom of the tank in there either. I probably just have no idea what I'm talking about though. Don't worry, I'm used to it. It happens all the time.

Unfortunately, that engine fat mike mentioned has gone on to the next life (in a scrap heap), and I've picked up a replacement. I'll probably have to take more pictures for help identifying whether or not I've picked up something that can take advantage of this. It's supposed to be an engine for the same year and model though (confirmed with serial), so hopefully I can land in whichever boat ends up being the correct one. Luckily, if it can't, it seems I can always go with the bypass option.

And no, nigel, I didn't buy a Russian scooter. We went over there (not for a scooter) but when I saw how those jokers drive, I wasn't interested in ANYTHING with wheels over there.

A lot of the documentation you find online is for the european/rest of the world versions of the vintage scooters. Are you sure you are using a US Spec parts manual?

Good question. Ummm...I'm not sure? I'm using this one: http://scooterhelp.com/serial/VBC.VLB.VNC.parts.book.html. How can I tell?

The 150 super along with the Rally 180 and I think the Rally 200 mostly had oil injection for the US market. Check the carp box for the oil mixture pump. It's great to not have to mix the oil, but you will need to check your engine to see if it has the mechanism for auto lube. I just rebuilt a Rally 180 and decided to fit auto lube as have a p200e engine fitted and I just drilled out for the sighting glass. looks and drives great
Picture not great but shows the oil sighting glass.

Rich

We could probably solve the mystery pretty quickly if you posted some photos of the bike.

I agree. it would help to post pictures of your bike in this thread.

there are bunches of pictures of his bike in this thread,

Sunny - Dullivan's Super 150 Project Thread

and its very obvious that his bike is... errr was.. auto-lube.

of course none of that accounts for the 'new' motor he got.

Cool. Glad to see that you are back Dully! Keep the dream alive!

This is definitely true. Unfortunately, the bike stays at dad's house, because he's the one with all the tools (and know-how), and he lives an hour away. I've only got this one one crappy picture since I've been waiting to get all gung ho on here again to see if the thing actually cranks. I got all worked up before and it was a huge disappointment. I was thinking we'd be getting close to trying to fire the thing off, but maybe not. I dunno.

Anyway, I thought I had more, but obviously not. I'll have to wait till next weekend (this Saturday = wedding, Sunday = church and school) to see if we can go over there and I'll take more shots.

Thanks for the assistance so far. I guess everything I've looked at so far has been Euro spec. I'm glad I (hopefully) am oil injected though.

Hey Dully,
It looks like you are all set. I drew a red circle in the picture around the input tube to the oil metering device. Provided all the parts are there and it's working, you've got autolube when you get your scooter put together

Ironically, that carb is the only thing that didn't survive from the new engine. Luckily, I that was one of the few things that did survive the old engine, so it sounds like I'm doing good.

I'd have paid more attention if I'd known it was supposed to be there. That explains why dad wasn't sure what some of the stuff in there was when we rebuilt the thing.

Thanks again to everyone for piecing this together for me. Now, once we can get this thing to crank, I'll be even happier with it than I thought I was going to be to begin with!

EDIT: Side note, does anyone know where I can find a US spec parts book? The stuff for the fuel tap may be the same, but now I've got parts for the oil that definitely aren't listed in mine!

Good question. Ummm...I'm not sure? I'm using this one: http://scooterhelp.com/serial/VBC.VLB.VNC.parts.book.html. How can I tell?[/quote]

Pages 12&14 of the Scooterworks reproduction of the "catalogue of spare parts" for the Vespa 90-Rally 200
http://www.scooterworks.com/Parts-Manual-70s-90-Rally200-P2514C339.aspx has the oil mixer unit depicted.