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Jun 16, 2009 13:49:51 GMT
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I've been offered a cheap 1960 Vespa VBA or VBB and was thinking about taking it apart and restoring it. Anybody had experience? Got any thoughts or suggestions?
Cheers,
Charlie
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Jun 16, 2009 15:05:24 GMT
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my dads done one, he hates the different approach to thing, (like the fuel tank is an  pain to work with and the weird gear change and so on) have you done anything like this before? (two wheeled?) |
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Jun 16, 2009 15:50:03 GMT
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No, not two wheeled. I have regularly worked on my racing car - a Cosworth - and mechanically the Vespa doesn't look too challenging. Some of the bits look fiddly and annoying but it's all accessible.
Charlie
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Jun 16, 2009 16:30:07 GMT
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Spares may be a problem.
Other than that, toomany people have and continue to do it.... so just go on, do it.
Oh, and I love Vespa's.
If you decide against it, please let me know, I may be interested if the price etc is right.
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Jun 16, 2009 17:08:12 GMT
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i'd be interested to know how you get on,pitfalls etc.i'm planning to get a resto project vespa when my imp is finished ,and a bit of a heads up would be great.readers rides thread?
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timmy
Part of things
Posts: 77
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Jun 16, 2009 18:08:41 GMT
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I'm currently doing a 1970 vespa.
if its standard then they're really simple to work on. original parts are hard to find but are out there.
if you need any help with anything feel free to pm me and ill see what i can do
tim
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Jun 16, 2009 18:44:35 GMT
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OK then, I think I'll go for it. Readers Rides thread it is.
Charlie
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Jun 16, 2009 18:51:35 GMT
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Yea! the difference in engineering between a normal bike and a vespa won't make a difference to you since you haven't worked on any bike before, so like you won't have any prejudice's and hopefully this build will be fun for you. (did that come out right?)
i'l get some notes from the old man, all i can remember is that there is a pin in the gearbox which is cheap but hard to get to (right buried in there) this breaks and you have no gears.
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Jun 16, 2009 22:58:28 GMT
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 do it ;D |
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2001 HONDA CT110 (NOT RCV)
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i havent worked on a vespa so old but i did have a hand in restoring a late 70s p125x.
as said above, theres nothing thats hard to do, but there are some things which are fiddly and therefore tricky.
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jonw
Part of things
Can open a Mouse with a File
Posts: 768
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Do it!!!
As far as I'm aware parts aren't an issue. There are plenty of Vespa enthusiasts out there!!
These are odd but fairly simple machines. It may still run.... you never know....
Have a look on the forums... there is generally some good advise there.
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Suzuki SV650R The good
Triumph T20 The Bad
BMW G650GS The Ugly
Matchless G12CSR The Smokey
Toyota Hybrid One pint or Two?
Ingredients of this post
Spam
Drunken Rambling of author
Bad spelling
Drunken ramblings of inner voices
Occasional pointless comments
Vile beef trimming they won't even use in stock cubes
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Jun 17, 2009 11:14:11 GMT
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Thanks all. That pic is about the same condition as the one I'm looking at I think.
Bits seem to be available but I'm not sure which is the most useful classic Vespa forum.
Charlie
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joda
Part of things
Posts: 675
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Jun 17, 2009 11:44:00 GMT
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scootererotica is a good forum, and plenty of tuning options on there
also scooterboyworld.com, plenty of banter and abuse, stay away from the mod forums, they for gayers!
best bet if you want speed, is get a px motor, 125 or 200, stay away from t5 they a nightmare, with the px motor you can tune till the cows come home, reedvalves, big borre kits, lage exspansions etc
ive done plenty vespa work, and have just aquired a similar scooter, and plan is a 208cc reedvalve screemer with big carb and pipe!!
anyhelp required, just ask
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joda
Part of things
Posts: 675
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Jun 17, 2009 11:44:27 GMT
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and try and stay away from vietnam curse word as much as possable
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Jun 23, 2009 15:55:51 GMT
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Picking up the Vespa this eve. So be prepared for lots of pictures of pieces of Vespa.
Had to pay £250 for a 1960 VBB that was recently working as a daily runaround in London. No idea of condition or mechanical state but it should be a fun project.
Any sympathetic south London spray paint experts out there? I plan to strip and prep most of it for baby blue paint.
And suggestions for mediablasting places in south London?
Charlie
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Jun 26, 2009 14:50:33 GMT
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Started stripping the Vespa last night. Joda, or anybody else, can you tell me how I get the throttle and gear selector controls - basically the metal inserts in the ends of the handlebar out? I have the lever cables still in place. Do I need to remove these? Do I pull them out of the holes where the levers are fixed?
I'll post pics tonight.
Charlie
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joda
Part of things
Posts: 675
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Jun 26, 2009 15:01:45 GMT
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a great and very helpful website is: www.scooterhelp.com an endless sorce of info! but on the vbb the headset is cast as one piece, to get into the pullys where the cables are you need to take out the headlight, and work from there, also if you take out the speedo this helps also! if not try google "scooter erotica" a helpfull forum with great tuning info or also www.scooterboyworld.com another helpful forum |
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Jun 26, 2009 15:10:49 GMT
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Thanks mate. I took out the headlight and speedo, have taken out all the cables and brackets but can;t work out how to pull the handles out of the bars.
Charlie
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Jun 26, 2009 15:11:29 GMT
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I've not worked with many vespas but I've done easily 20-30 lambrettas when I was younger. from what I remember, they're not hugely dissimilar and thus, very simple.
One main piece of advice isto catalogue EVERYTHING as you strip down...it'll save you the mother of all headaches in the long run
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Your car is not 'epic', this thread is not 'epic'....the OCEAN is epic, the UNIVERSE is epic.... please stop misusing this word!! It would appear Hotrods are the new VWs - aint fashion funny! '69 BUICK LESABRE 350 |
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Jun 26, 2009 16:14:54 GMT
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Yes, taking photos of everything, putting nuts and bolts back into the holes they came out of etc etc.
Because there is so much dirt and grime on everything I have decided on a complete stripdown and rebuild.
Pics later!
Charlie
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