Modern Vespa

I've tried to run down the source of an aggravating oil leak on my 2005 Serie America PX 150 E for a few months. The leak only appears on the ground as a quarter or a bit larger spot after the scoot has been ridden a while. I had PTown Scooters look at it while it was being serviced for other things, and they didn't find the source either.
The leak appears on the engine side, in front of the engine and almost below the engine stand and muffler almost where the cowl pins attach. It seems to be oil and not a mix or gas, so I'm thinking clutch or transmission oil because it is clear.
Oil is cheap though, and I don't want to pay someone to split the cases or rebuild the scoot just for this problem if it isn't a major problem.
I do have a Malossi 166 kit, and a Sito plus and the carb has been up-jetted.

Do these scoots just always leak? Should I just live with it and put oil in occassionally? My'63 GS never did leak. Thanks for your time.

You say almost where the cowl pins attach....that's about where the oil tank is. I'd pull the fuel/oil tank and check the oil line clamp at the tank, the tank to nipple connection, and the sight glass to tank connections, any of those could be leaking

Thanks gogogordy, How tough a job is it to pull the oil and gas tank? I'm not very mechanical. Steve

Well the seat unbolts and comes off, and the tank is bolted to the frame underneath the seat. You'll need disconnect the fuel gauge sender wire, and finesse the tanks out watching the site glass and the fuel tap rod as you bring the tanks out upward. You may need to remove the fuel tap rod from the outside first, depending on the type. It's a bit of an obstacle course getting the sight glass in from it's hole in the frame, but take your time.

When you get the tank up and out, you wont have much freedom until the fuel and oil lines are disconnected....probably the trickiest part of the job without spilling either out. That said, If it were me, I'd free the tanks except the fuel and oil lines and peer in there with a flashlight light looking for evidence at the bottom and near the oil tank of a leak, before committing to a full tank removal. If it's clean and dry, you've saved yourself some work, if there's oil in there" you've got to go in"!

It sounds harder than it is....but a basic familiarity with what's in there is
helpful. Do you have a Haynes manual or the like to familiarize yourself?

The leaks on the 2005 PX's come from the rubber gasket that is at the bottom of the tank. I have 6 PX's and they all developed that leak. Pulling the tank isn't hard, but you need to make sure you have the right tools to replace the gasket. Its messy if the tanks are filled with gas and oil as they come out in one pull. Once out and replaced, the leak goes away. It will get worse over time.

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Oil Leak Help

Hardest part is trying to align the site glass and the fuel switch to make sure it all lines up and works well on installation. Use a lamp cord or string to tie to the fuel switch to help pull it through when you are lowering the tank. Thread it through the hole. and pull it while lowering the tank. Otherwise, you will be inserting the tank multiple times to try to line it up.

Would recommend disconnecting the oil line at the Carb and putting a bolt in it. Same for the Fuel line. Its easier to connect at the carb.

Also, make sure you get some new clamps for the lines. The lines are clamped with twisted wire and to remove them most likely will render them unusable.

Yes.

The 99% answer has been covered, but you could definitely crack that glass or make it worse by trying to "fix" it. Personally I'd live with it until you can meet up with some other scooterists for a garage day or something, have the parts ready, and have someone help you removing that tank and doing the repair. It would suck to try to fix a tiny oil leak only to crack the glass removing it and render the scoot unrideable.

Thanks all for your responses. I agree that it would be best for me to leave it alone until I can get help with it. I learned that lesson the hard and expensive way 40 years ago with my GS. THe oil leaking isn't blue like the Belray Si-7 I use in the tank, but clear like the 30 wt. used in the gearbox. The site of the leak is where you indicated the clamps should be tho, and not back where the gears are. Does dripping oil lose it's color?
I live on the Oregon coast that is beautiful, but 150 miles away from a competent shop.
I'd love to have a scooter repair day and would be glad to offer reasonable transportation costs(not Europe or way far away!) dinner, a refreshing beverage or several, and even a spare room if necessary to anyone with the knowlege and expertise to help me with a fix. I have a few tools, but none of the specialized Vespa ones. I'm in my 60's so even getting a look underneath the scoot is a major undertaking for me.
I love the shifties though, and couldn't be happy with the more modern twist and go's even though they may not need the mechanical work that the oldies do. I'm hooked and have been for 50 years now!

I've had all kinds of fun with dripping oil lately, but I think I've gotten it under control.

The location you are describing sounds like where oil drip out, after it first pools up at the bottom inside the frame, in the darkest, most remote corner of your scooter. Eventually you may also start seeing it seep through along the rear of your floor boards.

In my case, I had a cracked sight glass. Actually, I had it twice - the first time I replaced it I overtightened it, which made it crack over the next month. The second one I simply finger tightened as far as I could. They are pretty brittle. Don't forget the gasket.

The second time I had it open, I accidentally wiggled off the fuel line without noticing, so when I opened the fuel shutoff I started pouring fuel on the ground. When I fixed that problem, I wiped around down there in the frame, to clean up best I could. This time I accidentally unplugged on of the electrical spade connectors to the turn signals, so I had to get in there again.

In other words, I've been in there a lot lately. It's really simple. Three bolts for the seat, and two more on the back of the tank. Two screws and some rubber for the fuel shutoff (make sure it's off, in case you accidentally loosen the fuel line it won't spill much). You can leave the rubber for the sight glass in place. Then the tank just wiggles out, no problem. Being a PX, you might have to unplug the fuel level sensor too.

The only tricky bit is dealing with the fuel and oil lines. You can't lift the tank very far up (6-8" or so) without disconnecting them (either at the tank, or at the carb), but you will at least be able to stick your hand in there to check for the source of the leak.

The color of the oil may not show much when it's a thin layer. I'd go by smell.

Post something clear in the Rallies and Events section about your location and what you're looking for, etc...could be others out there who would see it and be willing to help.

Thanks Typewritist, I'll give that a try. I think it would be good to watch and learn how to work on the scoot rather than just paying someone to do it.