Fix my Vespa

still have a few things that need sorting. there is a gas leak due to some old gaskets. easy some details to figure out in terms of the throttle cable because of the engine conversion but yeah. its done. of all the bikes that are in one piece everything is running at this point. registered, insured and running on their own power. crazy.

my bike was moving on its own accord down the street yesterday. I wont say this project is done yet due to some issues with the engine which was rebuilt and supposedly ready to go…. nasty emails to shop owner to follow…. but amazingly I think were in the home stretch.

weird

last night. The new engine is in. The frame rolled for clearance. the only things left are figuring out the wiring, swapping out the throttle cable and replacing a gasket or two. Dare I say we are nearly finished. I may head over to AAA to get the registration sorted.

I’m not taking this off the list until i’ve ridden it down the street.

I picked up the bracket last sunday. Today I have an engine sitting in my bike. There were a couple road bumps. 1 being that the shock needed to be swapped out and was too short. I’ve got another new replacement sitting idle waiting to see if it will solve the problem. Otherwise the Air Filter will hit the frame and I’m not willing to cut anything on the bike. If that works its just a matter of hooking up cables, running fuel line and getting electrical worked out. It sounds simple enough but I’m not that naive. Fingers crossed.

So because we sold a bike for a friend we are about $600 richer. I decided it would be ok to take some of that cash and buy the bracket I needed for my Allstate. We went to pick it up last night and low and behold Dare I say it may actually work. I’ll know for sure later this week when we get some more time. Some modification will be necessary of course. The electrical system for one is gonna have to be swapped from 6 to 12 volt. bUt I have to say I do actually have hope again. I hope it is real this time.

until i can pay my credit card balance down more. I’m not sure what an acceptable level is yet but i think i’ll know when i get there… like $0 ;)

this is also is in line of priority after my car so. i’m not sure if i’ll hit 2 rallys this year either but hey.. i’ll try.

I went to the local scooter shop yesterday. One of my friends opened it a few months ago. I think this was a major step. My husband got excited about fixing his lambretta and that will carry over into my project(s) too. They also offer paint and body work.

I may just drop off my cushman vespa there and say dont call me until its done. The engine is already done. It just needs to be painted and assmebled. which of course means all new rubber cables etc. A lot of work but if I dont just make it happen it never will. Perhaps I should just get a quote from them and do it.

projects be GONE!

I’ve got more info on the bracket for the engine conversion.

$170 will get it shipped to my door. I need a couple more checks to come before I purchase it. I’m still reeling from paying my tax billl… gasp. The guys SAYS that no body modification will be required and considering the bike thats a priority for me. We will have to figure out how to convert the 6 volt system to 12 for the engine swap. Fortunately we’ve got a friend trying to figure the same thign out now. I hope that means tips and an easier time for us.

wish me luck.. i’m gonna need it.

this was last year when I drove my bike down to get fixed at a shop. You can see the hope still in my eyes… haha.

I’ll get that bastard running yet. Mark my words.

My scooter has been broken for——ever. Nearly every bike I’ve owned has had a major issue with it or has been sitting in pieces waiting for the time and money to get it done. I’m sick of projects.

My allstate was gotten on a trade. I had a 74 Rally that I traded away for it. Looking back I may have gotten the bad side of that deal. The Rally was running although there was an issue with a warped clutch and some stripped bolts. I never rode it because the clutch was so stiff. Even my husband had problems with it. When I got the allstate I was told it was in a better state then it actually was. It needed work before it was rideable. When I finally got it going I realized it was dangerously slow. Especially in LA traffic. On consulting a supposed expert on the subject we tried doing a simple 125 to a 150 upgrade on the engine. I was told I would take a bore job and a new piston and I’d be done. WELLL, I’ll leave out all the boring details but that in fact was NOT the case.

As a consolation I got a story saying… wow well it worked on mine. I dont know why youre having so many problems. The expert then totally walked away from my situation. My bikes been collecting dust for over 2 years now.

I had a glimmer of hope last Feb. I took it to a shop some 2.5 hours south of me and was told that they’d have it up and running in about 2 weeks. I was ecstatic… long story short. They were full of shit too.

The thing that sucks about old quirky bikes is the odd quirky people that try to make a living off of them/work on them. I hate to say it but most of them are either super flakey, have absolutely no people skills, are complete crooks and hacks or a combination of the above. I think I’ve finally found someone that will help me out if I can get all the parts together.

TODAY, I emailed someone that may actually be the first step in getting my graveyard rolling again. I am making no statements of promise. I’ve been let down SO many times before I am not going to get my hopes up on this one.

I’ll let you know what becomes of this.