Modern Vespa

does anyone have any advice, tricks or good insight? I am going to be installing my px200 motor this week and will be doing it by myself. everyone who was gonna help me has bailed because of work. I know its possible but seems like its gonna be a big job for little ole me. im putting the 200 motor in my 150, so i have to drop the 150 motor and instal the 200.

sure but its gonna be real hard holding the engine in place while pushing the holding bolt into place.

if you are working on your bike you really should have someone else around for safety's sake.

besides, with a buddy there you can shoot the breeze and have someone to bounce ideas off.

Installed an engine by myself no problem: just lay the scoot on its side so you're not fighting the weight of the engine as you're trying to get the swing arm bolt through. Put it down on its left side so you have full access to the engine side.

Make sure you've drained the gas tank first, and then run the scoot with the old engine until it sucks the carb dry of gas and the engine dies. Make sure any loose stuff (battery?) mirrors, etc., don't move around or will get damaged.

It takes patience, but I've done it more than once in my backyard on grass and with a blanket down so dirt doesn't get caught in places.

Cheers,
phaetn

i agree ....get the blankets out ... lay scooter down and itll be alot easier

Real men do it standing up, not on your hands and knees.

I prop up the scooter with wood blocks under the center stand feet, then pull down the front fork and use tie downs at the headset to keep the front wheel against my work table. This allows the motor to be dropped from the rear shock with stability, then after removing all the connections, you push the swing arm bolt through with blows from a rubber mallet. You can also use wood blocks to prop up the bottom of the motor at this point.
To instal the 200, place it on the same blocks and tilt it up, it can be done alone. It's not easy, but it beats doing it on its side, and its safer and less damaging to the scooter.

I have had no problems swapping engines alone.

I keep the scoot upright, leave the wheel on, and the exhaust off.

I lift the engine up and insert a large screwdriver from the left side.

it basically holds the engine enough to go around and insert the bolt from the right.

Then just wriggle it in and use the screwdriver as a lever to hold the engine up.

Use a rubber mallet to push the bolt in and push the screwdriver out.

I've used this method too. Works fine. Great minds think alike.

Times three. Even if all you do is barely attach the rear wheel, it really helps to have it on the hub. It serves as a pivot. You can easily use one hand to lift the swingarm into place and use the screwdriver method...

Ditto. The only issues I have run into is having the rear shock mount on the engine too low relative to the swingarm , and the airbox not clearing the body when trying to pivot the engine into position to attach the shock. Easily solved by getting the airbox in position prior to raising up the swingarm.

I usually have the airbox removed when I am doing this.

i put the bike on jackstands. you can use the hub as a pivot its not hard. swaping vw engines alone was alot more difficult. if you do it a lot you can drop a vespa really quick. i usually take off the carb box and selector box and leave them connected. put the jackstands as close to the engine as possible and you can rock the bike back and forth that helps too.

I'm in the process of doing that now. I'm putting the LML engine in my VLB. If you can support the engine at the right height, it won't be bad.
DAve