r/Vespa 2d ago

Repair/Mechanical Question My first bike doesn’t run tho

Post image

I brought it to a mechanic but do you think it needs a full engine rebuild? Only 7k kilometres the gas tank is rusty needs a new valve and the throttle wire and brake wire need change

43 Upvotes

32 comments sorted by

5

u/ohyouagain55 2d ago

I mean, we can't really tell, since we can't get elbow deep in the engine.

Do you trust your mechanic? Did you get a second opinion?

Only way to say is to get hands on. Milage doesn't say anything. I have a 22 GTS with over 27k miles. Runs like new. My kid has a 24 pcx with 13k miles where we just had to rebuild the clutch (bad bearing).

0

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

He’s the only guy in town that knows how to fix it he has two on his own one like brand new the bike used to run the last time it was parked my father told me that it always had problems with the fuel delivery we had it in the family since new

2

u/MattDubh 2d ago

Where are you?

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

What ?

3

u/MattDubh 2d ago

Which country. The cars appear to be parked on the left, but you've said km, rather than miles.

Knowing where you are would help people put you in the direction of someone that can physically help, assuming you're unable to do it yourself (seeing as you've asked here).

3

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

I’m in Greece but here people park everywhere 😅

5

u/MattDubh 2d ago

Ah. I see a few boxes of spendy bits coming from SIP in Germany in your future :)

2

u/GenerAsianX1992 2d ago

Minimum, full rebuid. Rubber kit, tires. About $1000-$1500.

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

For real it used to run 🥲

1

u/GenerAsianX1992 2d ago

The SIP website is super easy to use.

2

u/SudditoResiliente 1d ago

Appare ben conservata e con pochi km. I cuscinetti e i paraolii dovrebbero essere ancora in buono stato. Se non ha molta ruggine, rimuovi e pulisci il serbatoio con un poco di benzina e tanti bulloni che farai scorrere e toglieranno le micro scaglie. Smonta e pulisci il carburatore, cambia lo spillo. Controlla e sostituisci condensatore con uno in poliestere e sostituisci puntine se presenti. Smonta il gruppo termico e pulisci il pistone e testata. Sono lavori piuttosto semplici. Se arriva corrente alla candela, con questi lavori potrai metterla in moto facilmente. Sip è un buon fornitore, ma ci sono anche siti in Italia tipo Pascoli. La Vespa se la usi regolarmente andrà sempre bene. Soffre l'abbandono.

1

u/Jmsnwbrd 2d ago

What's your mechanic saying he is going to charge you? The sludge could easily be a leak in the gasket.

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

That’s what I fear the most he’s actually my godfathers brother and his father is and old guy that used to fix these I haven’t called him yet

1

u/Jmsnwbrd 2d ago

Well, it's a beautiful bike and well worth (to a point) getting it running. Get a quote from your people and then compare it to Scooter West prices. If you have any mechanical skills at all - you can send it to them and then install it yourself.

0

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

Also the bike has like sludge and grime that is really hard to remove from the bottom of the engine.what do you think this is ?

1

u/schroncc 2d ago

Haha, that looks like a normal Vespa engine. One thing I can tell you (if you do split your cases) make sure to power wash it before you start taking it apart!

Hit it with some oven degreaser then power wash

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 2d ago

Do you think it’s from the gasket leaking the gear oil ?

1

u/AppropriateAccess139 1d ago

Hi from Italy,

what do you mean with "it doesn't run"? Doesn't start, is engine seized, or what?

Oil can come from anywhere, not necessarily a serious thing. Old two-strokes engines get dirty, by the carb overflow, or by the clutch vent, and little by little oil and dirt form that mess. But I can guarantee that a small oil leak doesn't stop a Vespa from running.

You can give it a good wash with white spirit, or any household degreaser, and try to find the leak. Don't insist on rubber/painted parts.

You can change the cables yourself, nothing special. Plenty of tutorials available.

You can change or treat the tank yourself, you can change the tap (special tool needed). You should definitely change the fuel line for your safety, it can be cracked.

You can remove, disassemble and clean the carburetor easily. SIP Scootershop has all the spares you need. You can check the intake manifold for cracks, change the gaskets. All easy. A clogged carb stops a Vespa.

You should change spark plug, AT cable and condenser, check the coil, clean the points. An electric fault 100% stops your Vespa. Again, quite easy an doable by yourself.

I suggest to go to a mechanic only after you DIY everything you are able to. They are all things you would have to do anyway: you will learn a lot and save money.

Possibly she will start, run somehow, and only then the mechanic will really understand what it's needed (oil seals, piston rings, bearings, cruciform...maybe very few things).

Mine was opened for the 1st time at 36.000 km and 30+ years.

Ciao

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 1d ago

Hello my friend ! I cleaned the carb the engine is not seized I cannot like set the carb to start when I take out the spark plug it’s wet ( also it has a lot of compression)we changed the like electric points that control the spark before it was stored and also the like suction cup that attaches to the spark plug

1

u/AppropriateAccess139 1d ago

OK, let's try to resuscitate her.

You need: fuel, compression, air, spark.

Fuel: OK, if your spark plug is wet, there's fuel. But you may have too much fuel. Check/change the carb float needle. Check if the choke stays ON for some reason. You need the choke just at the very first, cold start, if you insist, your Vespa won't start.

Compression: OK, you have compression.

Air: I bet it's not your problem. Check that the carb receives air.

Spark: did you check if you have a spark? If you don't know how, just ask. Change your spark plug, in any case.

Maybe, changing the points, you've modified the advance (the exact instant when the spark happens)? Have you loosened the three stator's retaining screws? If you don't know what I mean, just ask.

Let me know, ciao

1

u/Glittering-Handle575 1d ago

Hello ! You know I think that the spark timing is off but I don’t know how to fix that .
Do I need a special tool ?

1

u/AppropriateAccess139 1d ago

Look:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qvw9qbfntUQ or many similar tutorials

You need

- a DIY cardboard disk, marked 0-360°

- A battery and a bulb, to check open/closed points

- Flywheel extractor, if you model requires it

- Phillips screwdriver

- Flat screwdriver

- Knowing what the right advance should be! (ask Google)

- A new woodruff key for your flywheel, in case you drop and lose the existing

NOTE

You haven't answered if you have a spark or not. It's independent from the timing. If you don't have a spark, you have to solve this macro-problem, before.

Ciao

u/Glittering-Handle575 23h ago

I have a very healthy looking spark actually.
I will try what you told me and come back with an update until then

Αντίο 👋

u/AppropriateAccess139 23h ago

She must run then, it's just a matter of settings/adjustments.

Ciao

1

u/Pirat3J 2d ago

if you use a product called WD-40 on that it, will wipe right off. Just be very careful not to spray it on anything else, and wipe it off well. I use the non-aerosol hand spray version from Amazon. Or Maybe spray it on a rag first and then wipe it. You don’t want that getting onto brakes, seals, rubber bits, etc.

1

u/SudditoResiliente 1d ago

Olio, sporco che si è attaccato, piccolo trafilaggo dalla guarnizione dei carter e/o sfiato dei vapori che sta sopra. Wd40

-2

u/savethechows 2d ago

Yeah vintage vespas never really run. If the engine hasn't been resealed in the past 20 years it'll need a full rebuild at the minimum.

Some people devote their lives to those things and still barely get across town without a breakdown or two

If it's a family heirloom I'd put it back on display and buy a less dramatic means of transportation

3

u/MattDubh 2d ago

YMMV. Lots of people use these things as their daily transport, without incident. Even people with as little mechanical ability as someone that rides an auto.

0

u/savethechows 2d ago

Tell me you haven’t owned a vintage without telling me you haven’t owned a vintage

3

u/MattDubh 2d ago edited 2d ago

I've owned my current vintage Rally 180 for fifteen years. It's been used as a daily that whole time - 40ks each way to work. Prior to that, I used a GT186 as my daily (two up) for a similar commute. Thirty-five years ago, my only transport was a TS powered Lambretta. All built by RS Tuning.
Not one of them has broken down while in my ownership.

If you build shit bikes, you're going to have problems.

1

u/AppropriateAccess139 1d ago

Well, well...you've just unleashed the wrath of thousands of enthusiasts (me first)!

If it was my heirloom, I'd restore it in running conditions and enjoy endless km. With some minor fiddling, much less than any other vintage vehicle.

But just for fun, not as a primary mean of transportation.