Post by benb on Aug 12, 2014 21:01:08 GMT
Hello all. I shall make a short introduction before I start with the point of this thread since I've yet to make a post yet.
I was a member of this forum a few years back when I first got a PK when I was 15. I sold it a few years ago, bought a PX 177, blew it up, sold it on, got into bikes and bought a Suzuki SV650. However, I had regretted selling my first Vespa for quite a while, so one evening alone with some left over Sailor Jerry's I drunkenly emailed the person I sold it to and asked them to get in contact with me if they ever wanted to sell it. Fast forward one year to now and I've got the little shit bag back. I won't be letting it go again.
As the title suggests this will be a long term project with sparse thread updates since I pretty much dropped out of uni to do as much traveling as I can, so that will continue to soak up most of the finances. I've taken apart and rebuilt a PX engine with a friend before, but this will be the biggest project I've done so far, which means I will probably be asking for advice from you all as I go along. I'll try not to ask too much, I know it can get annoying.
The plan is as follows:
Engine:
136 malossi, pm40 pipe, malossi carb kit with reed valve, I'm unsure what crank I need to go with that?, upgraded clutch (again not sure which would be the best option), all new bearings, seals, and gaskets, new exhaust manifold as it's severely rusted, probably a new gearbox kit, plus all the machining needed. I've probably forgotten a lot of other required parts...
Chassis/frame:
Most likely a new floor pan as it is quite the patchwork underneath the mats, remove and weld up and fill the indicators - partly for looks, partly to reduce the amount of maintenance needed for the MOT. I think I'm right in saying pre 1986 bikes/scooters don't need indicators unless they are attached, in which case they need to work. of course I will be clarifying this with my MOT guy before carrying it out. Deseaming the frame, replacing the mudguard and deseaming that, removing the toolbox once the indicators have been removed.
Suspension:
SIP Performance shocks front and rear (unless anyone highly recommends an alternative similarly priced option), new engine mount bushings as they are completely shot.
Brakes:
A disk conversion in the far future.
Paint:
I'm not fussed about show winning paint jobs, I quite like tatty looking scooters so I will not be getting it professionally sprayed, however I am wanting the colour changed to a sort of gloss grey but with a hint of blue. I might even consider slapping on some brushable RAF blue grey. I'm rather indecisive when it comes to paint colour though, so this could change.
And of course any bits and bobs that need replacing on further inspection, and the various parts I've probably missed out. Anyway, here are some pictures:
How it was when I originally acquired it about 5 years ago:
Attachment Deleted
The owner after myself hardly changed it, so this is how it looked when I sold it and when I bought it back:
Attachment Deleted
How it looks currently. I know it wasn't a priority but I changed the seat straight away as I have always hated the yankee style seat.
Attachment Deleted
I will begin stripping it down shortly with the engine taking priority before I even touch the rest. The engine bushings are so bad I could feel the back end move when I had a quick ride up and down my backstreet, so that will be the first job.
I was a member of this forum a few years back when I first got a PK when I was 15. I sold it a few years ago, bought a PX 177, blew it up, sold it on, got into bikes and bought a Suzuki SV650. However, I had regretted selling my first Vespa for quite a while, so one evening alone with some left over Sailor Jerry's I drunkenly emailed the person I sold it to and asked them to get in contact with me if they ever wanted to sell it. Fast forward one year to now and I've got the little shit bag back. I won't be letting it go again.
As the title suggests this will be a long term project with sparse thread updates since I pretty much dropped out of uni to do as much traveling as I can, so that will continue to soak up most of the finances. I've taken apart and rebuilt a PX engine with a friend before, but this will be the biggest project I've done so far, which means I will probably be asking for advice from you all as I go along. I'll try not to ask too much, I know it can get annoying.
The plan is as follows:
Engine:
136 malossi, pm40 pipe, malossi carb kit with reed valve, I'm unsure what crank I need to go with that?, upgraded clutch (again not sure which would be the best option), all new bearings, seals, and gaskets, new exhaust manifold as it's severely rusted, probably a new gearbox kit, plus all the machining needed. I've probably forgotten a lot of other required parts...
Chassis/frame:
Most likely a new floor pan as it is quite the patchwork underneath the mats, remove and weld up and fill the indicators - partly for looks, partly to reduce the amount of maintenance needed for the MOT. I think I'm right in saying pre 1986 bikes/scooters don't need indicators unless they are attached, in which case they need to work. of course I will be clarifying this with my MOT guy before carrying it out. Deseaming the frame, replacing the mudguard and deseaming that, removing the toolbox once the indicators have been removed.
Suspension:
SIP Performance shocks front and rear (unless anyone highly recommends an alternative similarly priced option), new engine mount bushings as they are completely shot.
Brakes:
A disk conversion in the far future.
Paint:
I'm not fussed about show winning paint jobs, I quite like tatty looking scooters so I will not be getting it professionally sprayed, however I am wanting the colour changed to a sort of gloss grey but with a hint of blue. I might even consider slapping on some brushable RAF blue grey. I'm rather indecisive when it comes to paint colour though, so this could change.
And of course any bits and bobs that need replacing on further inspection, and the various parts I've probably missed out. Anyway, here are some pictures:
How it was when I originally acquired it about 5 years ago:
Attachment Deleted
The owner after myself hardly changed it, so this is how it looked when I sold it and when I bought it back:
Attachment Deleted
How it looks currently. I know it wasn't a priority but I changed the seat straight away as I have always hated the yankee style seat.
Attachment Deleted
I will begin stripping it down shortly with the engine taking priority before I even touch the rest. The engine bushings are so bad I could feel the back end move when I had a quick ride up and down my backstreet, so that will be the first job.
Also what reason would a previous owner have to tamper with the frame numbers?
