The rain has stopped & the parts are here-Let's Go!

October 3rd 2007

My last (*crosses fingers*) box of parts arrived this morning in order for me to finish my scooter off, clutch cover, brake shoe clips, D clips, carby retaining bolts and some nice legshield trim as a treat. I bought a clutch cover from a shop in Melbourne and they have sent me a 2nd hand one when I thought I'd bought a new one? Anyhoo wasn't too peeved as it's an original Piaggio one and in way better nic than my old one, gave it a polish on Higgo's buffing wheel this morning.

It's like a mirror,

shame no-one will see it when it's on!!

I have some muscle coming to help with slipping the engine back in, then it's just the gear wires and CDI wiring and we'll almost be there. I'm hoping for the first kick over tonight maybe??

New Seals

New Clutch

Piston on and Crank back in

It's a good idea to wrap your piston to protect it from knocks at this point

By golly, I think we're ready.

Time for tyres

Make sure the inner area of the new tyre is clean from debris etc. Pump the new tube up a bit and ensure it fits snuggly within the tyre.

Ensure the valve stem is inserted s shown, turn over the tyre, add the other rim making sure you don't pinch the tube

Tighten all wheel nuts & do not add more air until this step is complete!!

Make sure the tyre is fitted properly as per the rubber fitting mark around the rim, the tyre should show the same gap or pattern all the way around on both sides. You can see the fitting mark in the picture above, it's a ridge of rubber forming a line, a few millimetres from the rim edge circling the whole tyre.

Almost, but not quite.

Just when you think you can see that dim light in the tunnel, it's a long way in the distance but at least you can see it, something comes along to snuff it out.

Last night I decided to get a head start on the clutch cable renewal. I needed to wait for the D clips to arrive the next day to put it back together but at least I could get a start on the process of getting into the headset. So I managed to remove the cut off roofing nails used to secure the handlebar rods,

and then as I removed the old clutch inner wire the outer tried to follow within in headset. I gave it another wiggle as I leaned over to look at the rear of the cable-no movement! Great! The outer is in 2 pieces and from what I can feel, the piece at the handlebar end isn't that long.
Replacing outers is my pet peeve, especially if there is no existing cable to use as a guide!! Grrr.
There was only one thing to do, the cable had to come out and I'd have to try to wriggle a new one in on its own. Time check, 11.23pm, time for bed. A job for tomorrow.

So I was up at the crack to get this job done and wait for the parts to arrive. The clutch cable just wouldn't bloody go where I wanted it to, I fiddled and poked it all morning. There's so much going on in the wiring and cable space it's all getting a bit bogged. There's a very specific hole for this cable to travel through and all I need to do it get it up the other side of the steering column and I'll be set.

.....Patience Grasshopper....

Doh!

whoo hoo!

Now to make sure it doesn't go down the steering column again...

Finally I get it to where it needs to go!

Vespa Gang Mod Club no Whisper's - Nem sabem o que perderam...

Mas quem lá esteve não se esqueçe, e foram quase duas centenas de pessoas, na festa
que foi marcada por três destaques e novidades ousadas do gang, a saber;
local fora do roteiro nocturno arriscando nas modernas avenidas novas,
o lançamento do fanzine "O Modernista", cada festa novo número, e a execução
de um grafiti com um corvo lisboeta mod à entrada da festa da autoria
do artista urbano Rufia. O grafiti depois de finalizado foi ao meio da noite
levado para ao pé da mesa dos dj's. O corvo vestido com uma parka e montado numa vespa ficou
então a controlar a pista como podem ver numa das fotos abaixo.
Noutra foto podem ver o Miguel Angêlo numa leitura transversal do "O Modernista".
Este foi uma criação conjunta do Vespa Gang Mod Club e do Driving Beat, estando aberto a quem queira
colaborar numa criação colectiva. Quanto ao local todos adoraram a ideia de irem
a uma festa dentro de um Centro Comercial vintage anos 70´s/ 80´s.
Muitas caras novas e algumas habituais como os The Poppers e outros
que já começam a ser habituais os The Profilers. Dançou-se até ás seis da manhã ao
som do Professor X, Mr.Dorian e Milkshake e muitas perguntas para quando será a próxima.
Em breve e com novidades.
Segue as fotos para quem não foi roer-se de inveja. O Rapaz do Chapéu.