Vespa on the way

[Old School]

So last night I made the deal. An old friend of mine in Idaho acquired a 78 or 79 Vespa 125(that's all the info I know so far) and I am buying it for $500. My Dad just happens to be going to ID this weekend and wil pick it up for me and take it to WA where a member of my scoot club will then pick it up and bring it to AK when she goes to WA in 2 weeks.,,,...
It was taken apart, painted apple green and never got put back together. The engine comes with 3 cylinder/piston sets. One is supposedly for a 178cc kit? Anyway, looks to be great fun! Finally a vintage to add to the collection. Now if only that local kid would stop being a putz and sell me his Chetak....

[mpathus]

Sound like a VERY interesting project - lucky you!

[hworkman]

Congrats!

Im betting you got a P125. Cool thing about them are that parts are easy to find and cheap.

Keep us posted!

[Old School]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/gokuboy26/061211111854.jpg
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http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/gokuboy26/061211111938.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/gokuboy26/061211112004.jpg

[hworkman]

You got a P series bike. Congrats! There awesome!

[Old School]

It was picked up by my brother in Boise today, and given to my parents who drove it to Washington tonight. In two weeks a fellow scooter club member will be in Washington to pick it up and bring it back up here. Then I get it running and ride it bare for the summer. This winter it will be stripped and repainted gloss black with a clear coat and lots of chrome accessories.

[mpathus]

Looks like 1970's Lime green and has got to be rare; looks in good condition too. Original color?

Two weeks should be enough time to read everything there is to know about your P125! I can hardly wait for the ROAD test...

[Old School]

It is actually a crappy rattle can paint job. I was told by the po(a friend of mine) that the guy he got it from took it apart 3 years ago and painted it without any prep work. I have had many people comment on the current color and that it looks good.

[Old School]

1979 Vespa P125X VIN VNX1T*****. That's all I know for now.

[Old School]

So I have a few options for painting it. Either green or green.(that's the color my wife likes)

I was thinking of doing it in Avacado(aka booger green) or dark BRG(British Racing Green) with a yellow racing stripe.

What do you guys think? I personally think it would be hilarious, yet somehow appropriate to paint the Italian scooter that rocked the UK in BRG.

[hworkman]

Id go BRG with a darker green racing strip and a darker green racing number

[mpathus]

BRG on a classic Italian scooter? Sacrilege!! But if the wife says so it's a done deal.

I'd try a variation on that theme, but "Italian primavera style": Pale yellow (pasta, wheat color or cream) with narrow green stripes (fresh basil, peas). You have chrome which looks great on lighter/off white and cream colored vehicles.

Even the apple green color looks good and would just need a proper prep this time around, with pale yellow stripes?

Alpha Romero might be a place to seek vintage paint ideas.

You have time...

[Old School]

There were 2 shades of BRG. One is darker than the other. Yeah, everyone that sees the apple green likes it. I'm just not sure about it.

[mpathus]

I saw some vintage BRG photos, and must admit that the dark BRG (almost black) does look classic. Chrome accents stand out nicely. Depends on what your sun light is like. Italian Mediterranean light is like California's. London's is like the Northeast US coast at times. The light makes a difference.

Thought of in the context of "Quadrophenia" (The Who), there might be references to that classic scooter vibe and culture done the British Union Jack way.

So many options!

[Old School]

Yeah, I get 14 feet of rain a year here in KTN. But lots of sunny days as well! I do plan on 'modding' this Veasp some. Not too much chrome, but some extra lights, stereo, flag pole, cup holder(very imporant!). I'll see when it gets here what exactly I want to do. I just don't want to overdo it. It'll be the only Vespa on the island. There are two Bajaj Chetaks it has to compete with, but they are both stock.

[Old School]

So only one more week till I get to finally see and touch the Vespa!!! Getting very impatient.

[Old School]

Friday morning(about 1am) I will finally get to see my Vespa!!! Turns out I get to go down that way for training for work.

[Old School]

Tomorrow is the day!!! Pics to come!

[hworkman]

woohoo!

[mpathus]

FRIDAY's here! Pictures near? :)

[Old School]

So Monday I put the Vespa on the barge in Seattle. I will have it next Monday. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera, but will get pics on Monday. Looks like I will need a new top end. I couldn't turn the magneto by hand or by kick start lever. I'm going to also get the cable kit and wiring harness for it. It comes with some extra parts and no seat. So a seat will have to be ordered as well. Odometer has 11k miles on it. It looks like all original.

[Old School]

Original color I assume was blue.

So should I get a Malosi or Polini BBK?(or other brand)
I want max cc without doing any case work. I plan on making this a touring bike. I ultimately want to ride it next year in the Scooter Cannonball Run! 2500 miles in 8 days.

[hworkman]

Polini is more low end, Malossi is more top end.
Most people get a Malossi 166 and then a decent pipe, Id recommend a Prima Pipe there loud but great performance. For a quieter pipe, get a Sito Plus, not much louder than OEM but better performance. With a Malossi and a pipe you should be good to rumble. May want to replace the seals and bearing, and the cruciform if you plan on doing the CBR.

[Old School]

Good info to have. Thanks. It did come with a stock looking pipe and a tuned pipe and 2 chromed mufflers. More details when they arrive. Definitely will need to reseal the thing. Seen too many posts on MV regarding tuning issues because of leaking/worn crank seals. I am still debating as to getting a new 200 for it this winter...then I could have electric start, add a sidecar and pull a trailer(I plan on being my own recovery/support vehicle in the CBR)

[Old School]

I'd upload pics, but Provoscooter keeps saying the upload failed....

[Old School]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/Scooters/CIMG2867.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/Scooters/CIMG2853.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/Scooters/CIMG2852.jpg

[mpathus]

NICE! Now the fun begins...

[Old School]

Started her tonight...sounds good so far.

[Old School]

So I guess she came with two exhausts. A stock exhaust and a Polini pipe. Should I keep the pipe on, or change to the stock exhaust? Also, It has a 150 top end on her.

[hworkman]

id go polini

[Old School]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/CIMG2969.jpg
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[Old School]

Any help hooking up the shifter cables in the right places would be appreciated.

[Old School]

Installed the fuel tank last night. Tonight I am hoping to put a little fuel and oil in her to see if she runs continuously.

[Old School]

Well, the fuel and oil tanks do not leak(yet). Started on the second kick and idled just fine. Hooked up the gear selector. Now I just need to get the clutch cable adjusted, the rear brake and accelerator cable hooked up and attach the headset cover so I can ride her around the block.

[hworkman]

Nice!! Id recommend a 4th hand tool. Will make the cable adjustments a breeze.

[Old School]

Nice!! Id recommend a 4th hand tool. Will make the cable adjustments a breeze.

Yeah, unfortunately right now we are low on funds due to my 8 month old son needing surgery and dental stuff on my 6 year old son.:angry: But that will be paid off by the end of September...dance.. So my plan is to get it going to do a victory lap and ride it to the scooter club meeting in 2 Saturdayso_o, then tear it back down and replace the wiring harness, cables, body rubber and tear into the engine case to do seals and the shift crucifix over the winter.

[hworkman]

Your going to hate life when it comes to that harness swap. Its a lot easier if you drop the forks, but still its pure hell.

[hworkman]

also, let the harness sit stretched out in the sun for a day or to before you install it, makes its easier to "faness" in there.

[Old School]

also, let the harness sit stretched out in the sun for a day or to before you install it, makes its easier to "faness" in there.

Yeah, I had to do that to my VW bug the three times I rewired it..._o

[Old School]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/CIMG3023.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/CIMG3025.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/CIMG3021.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/CIMG3022.jpg

[Old School]

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v668/cj_barry/?action=view&current=1979VespaP125X.mp4

[Old School]

Have the pipe at work with me. A weld is cracked. Gonna fix that and repack the silencer so I can put the pipe back on tonight.

[Old School]

So I have the engine cowling on finally. Charged the new battery last night. I will install it tonight and put the left cowling on. Last night I also installed the horn cast, glove box, headset, clutch cable correctly, and changed the rear tire. Just need to figure out how to hook up the center stand spring with the polini pipe installed...

[mpathus]

Bear and bird feeder... OMG!

Great looking scoot, will clean up VERY nicely... couldn't get the vid to run though.

[Old School]

It's mostly together. Only things needed are the handlebar switches(I can ride without those) ans the front brake. Was going to ride her today, but it was raining cats and elephants all day.

[hworkman]

Honestly, I would even bother with the front brake, my P never had it and ones that are hooked up give piss pore breaking. There was a guy on another forum who took the cam and ground it down so it gave a higher angle but even with that it was not impressive. Vespa front brakes are just there for looks lol

Just a heads up, with out the switches, I dont think any of your electrical will work. Im pretty positive that the kill switch wont work because there is a weird circuit in the switch or so I was told by a local Iranian guy.Its idiotic. I just killed mine by either pulling the choke or turning off the fuel tap.
just my experience.

[Old School]

I can kill it by turning off the ignition switch. I did wire the headlight to be on low beam when the engine is running. But no turn signals and I don't have the correct horn yet.

[hworkman]

Ahhh, I forgot about the key (my P never had one). What wire did you use to the headlight? If you did like I did, wire it directly off the hot wire on the ignition, you'll blow out bulbs like crazy.

Turn signals? Thats what you got your arms for! haha

[Old School]

I just bypassed the switch for the headlamp.

[Old School]

Okay, finally got to ride her up and down the street. Ran fine for the most part. At one point she wanted to die on me, but then picked back up and was fine after babying her for a minute. Next month will have more money. So will be ordering all them parts I need to get her running properly and reliably!

[Old School]

http://trailtech.net/voyager.html
Think this would work fine on the Vespa?
http://trailtech.net/media/computers/voyager/voyager_main_w1000.jpg

[hworkman]

Hows it coming?

[Old School]

Well, it was everything except the turn signal and headlamp switches. Still waiting on funds for those. But it does run up and down the street nicely.

[Robertskappasig]

This bike looks amazing! I have a vino125, but dream of a vintage vespa one day! Building my own, like you are doing, is def my dream! Good luck, and keep posting!

[Old School]

Thanks. Still on hold until after the first week of Nov.(Hunting trip). Then I'll be getting the electrical sorted out.

[hworkman]

Are you going to run a battery?

[Old School]

Yes, I already have the battery, new and fully charged. As for the electrical, I may have missed something, but it looked all intact with the exception of the headlamp and winker switches.

[Old School]

Okay, I was bored, so I went into the basement and fired up the Vespa. Filled the basement with smoke and went back upstairs happy to have a scoot that fires on the 2nd or 3rd kick. I do have a fuel delivery issue to work out. So I am ordering a rebuild kit and new fuel valve.

[Robertskappasig]

Thanks for the update! Sometimes lots of smoke is a great thing!

[Old School]

So I replaced the winker and headlamp switches last night. Also the front brake and clutch cable. That 4th hand tool works great, I just don't like the way it pinches the cable. Tonight I pull the carb to rebuild it and the tank to install the new fuel rod and hook up the choke. I also need to start replacing the rubber as I go along.

[Robertskappasig]

Sounds great, keep it goin!

[Old School]

Wire wheeled one of the spare wheels and painted it gloss black. I'll post a pic later.

[Old School]

http://www.ephotobay.com/share/100-0752.html
http://www.ephotobay.com/share/100-0754.html

[Robertskappasig]

Beautiful man! Well done!

[Old School]

I decided I'm going to paint a red stripe along the lip of the wheel. Figured, Why Not?!, since it is merely a spare.

[Robertskappasig]

I like it.

[Old School]

Update time. I did paint the red stripe on the spare spare wheel. I also powder coated the other spare wheel battleship gray. Looks good. Pics to follow. I had some issues with the electrical, so far I now have tail lamp, brake light from front and rear brake switches. Picking up bulbs for the instrument lights today. I realized the 2 horns I have are not the correct horns...they are too big for the horncast. I have the new cables installed, but need to adjust the shifter cables. Too much slop. I did rebuild the carb and install the euro fuel selector(my American one was broken, of course). I also installed a new headlamp assembly(the PX version with replaceable bulb). The wife and kids leave town this Saturday for a visit to Boise, so I should have lots of spare time to get it finished as well as some other scooter projects. Riding season is just around the corner.

[Robertskappasig]

I'm excited to see the video of it running and riding!

[Old School]

Well, she idles great with the choke pulled out. But bogs when the throttle is used and dies when the choke is pushed in. Either need to lap the head, or replace the clutch seal. Lapping the head is the first thing I'll try. If that doesn't work, I'll have to pull the engine and split the case to replace the seals. Don't want to go that far because I don't have extra cash for a complete rebuild. No point in pulling the whole thing apart and not replacing components while in there. Hopefully the seals are fine and it's just the head/cylinder mating surface.

Oh, and the headlamp and winkers still don't work. Gotta figure that out.

[Robertskappasig]

Good luck buddy, I hope the easy fix is what you need!