Winter project....Vespa Sprint VLB

I really aught to get on with this. It won't take much I reckon and with a Vespa guru not a million miles away there are no excuses really...

 

It Looks Italian and Spanish..

 

Indeed
Built under license in Madrid by Moto Vespa.
Vespas were produced there since 1953 but no longer. Its owned by parent Piaggio I think now.

 

Muy bonita!

 

Gassy arse mi amigo

 

De nada!

 

Well the first step is to make it all accessible. The space in the 'clean' side of the workshop has become somewhat limited with the T3 interior and add-ons sort of growing arms and legs whilst the van has been away.
Loads of carp has been piled up on the err pile, so a bit of messing about this morning and I now have accessible projects....
I'm afraid I have to force myself to take away the excuses



It amazing what you can do with a bit of pallet wood and enthusiasm..

 

[QUOTE="theBusmonkey, post:

It amazing what you can do with a bit of pallet wood and enthusiasm..[/QUOTE]
Crikey… you building a sidecar too!

 

Stumbled over that video of Gem Booth the other day. Nah, think I'll leave that to the loons!

 

its good fun - believe me!

 

New Year's Day, how better than to spend it tinkering.
A little while ago I fitted a later PX125 engine for more modern reliability.
The original mid 60s Spanish unit was based on even earlier 1950s technology being made under licence and not actually by Piaggio, and there were bits missing etc.
The large frame Vespas are reasonably modular so a late 90s/early 2000s lump went in with no bother.
I hadn't opened the motor, just fitted a new clutch which was giving problems, so I decided to pull the head in order to send it away for skimming.
2 strokes are tuned by altering port timings and an easy old skool method is to raise the cylinder with a thicker base gasket and zero deck the head. 125s are weedy and I want it to be a bit safer.

Later PX125E engine in mid 60s frame..


Head off, but all is not as it seems...


The DR denotes it's an aftermarket one...


..and a quick measure confirms it's a 63mm bore as opposed to standard 125 which is 52.5

Result, it turns out this motor already has a 177cc conversion with additional porting.


It had been blowing a little around the head so I got out the glass and grinding paste and lapped it smooth..


And threw it all back together.

Next stop, find out what's wrong with the clutch. The reason I threw it into the back of the workshop in the first place

 

Clutching at stuff...

Around the other side today.


The clutch is cable operated and is simply a lever, pushing on a basket of alternating steel and cork plates which is either driven by the crank, or not!


Once the cable and cover are off, the clutch is exposed.


So I wrestled it on to a bench and stripped it down.


Nothing obviously wrong, so it got thrown back together and stuffed back on to the end of the crank.


Next step is to run the engine and see if it all works. Need fuel for that so called it a day for today

 

Good work...

nice pics n write up too..

 

Noticed this on ebay - looks a solid Primmy for the current prices and open to offers.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/324936872638

 

This PK started at 500. Not as pretty but a potentially good entry to small frames and their tuning.



Already got a 130 conversion but clutch issues and a bit of welding required apparently

 

Thats already on my watch list......


And this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/284592278009

I had an auto a few years but stupidly sold it along with a 50 Special.......

It was odd sitting on a Vespa with no foot brake.

 

And off we go again.....

 

Happy with it?

 

Well, as far as my project is concerned the clutch still doesn't operate properly. Hours of reading through forums has led to the possibility that I need a shim or two between the crank and the clutch gear.
They'll have to come from Germany.
So yesterday's fettling finished with a scoot that starts first kick, idles nicely, goes like sh1t off a shovel but with clutch-less changes and has all lights and horn working.
I consoled myself over the clutch shenanigans by fitting the rear lamp and the panel trims.

Late finish


Nice ass...well I think so


Timing disc arrived today so I get to play a bit more before the shims arrive!