Sing the Vespa Mechanic Blues
It was time to remove the Tucano Urbano apron and bar muffs and prepare for the spring riding season. The one with warm rains, flowers, blossoming trees, and no need for the heavy winter riding gear. But before that happens I need to do a little spring Vespa tune-up.
I pushed the scooter out of the garage during a break in the rain to start the engine and make sure the COVID19 pandemic induced operational hiatus did not adversely affect the scooter. The engine jumped to life immediately and a spin around the block did not reveal any outstanding issues. As soon as things dry off and I don’t mind laying on the driveway I’ll begin my spring Vespa tune-up
Simple Start to the Spring Mechanical Season
I tolerate doing maintenance on the scooter. I wish I could say I enjoy it, find some deep spiritual satisfaction in handling tools and working with my hands. But I can’t. I tolerate it but remain hopeful that one of these times I’ll find some hidden joy in the process.
So I keep things simple.
My list is simple — change the engine oil and filter, clean the screen, check the O-rings, change the transmission oil, clean and re-oil the air filter, check the spark plug and wire connections, examine the exhaust system, re-glue a loose heated grip onto the handlebar, check the tires and lights, check the coolant and brake fluid levels, and wash and wax the scooter. The drive belt and rollers are still fine so that should bring everything up to snuff for some soon to happen riding.
The stay-at-home order in Pennsylvania expires on May 8th. At that point I’ll likely begin riding the scooter again.
I’m ready.
He ! It’s a French Oil !!!
Hé ! C’est de l’huile Française !!!
Laurent.
A package arrived today containing more French oil and some French coolant for the Vespa as well!
Un colis est arrivé aujourd’hui contenant plus d’huile française et du liquide de refroidissement français pour la Vespa également!
When was the break fluid changed? It absorbs water out of the atmosphere and can corrode internal workings of both the master cylinder and calipers.
The brake fluid was last changed two or three years ago. I’ll have to call the dealer to get the exact date from their records. Some coolant arrived today from ScooterWest so I’ll be changing that right away.
Somehow, just before the Great Global Unpleasantness, I managed to book an appointment for Melody at my local dealer (different, and considerably nicer, than the now-defunct dealer I bought the bike from in late 2015). Since this was the 12k service, I had them drop the engine to check the valves (probably the only real Achilles’ heel of the Vespa’s overall design), which led to a rather hefty tab by the time they were through. But, they also installed a new battery (necessary) anda handy battery charging/tender harness, and fixed a sticking brake-light switch, along with all the usual service stuff, including flushing and replacing all vital fluids. Te timing of this (late-February) worked out well, since I’d already started riding straight into NYC for my tech gigs, initially to cut my travel time in half compared to doing the park-n-ride routine, but later on account of COVID-19 paranoia in terms of taking public transit; my last trip into Gotham was March 18th, when the city was already close to lockdown status (and the streets around Lincoln Center, where my last client visit was, looked like a ghost town in mid-afternoon…which literally never happens there.
SInce then, all my rides have been relatively short: I’ve had lots of calls from NYC clients about when I’ll be back in town: I always say “call the Mayor and give him my number, he can tell me when it’s safe.” I’m as frustrated as they are, but also need to use my head right now, as do we all.
I’ve never had the valves checked on my scooter. Twice I requested that service be done and both times the technicians said not to do it unless I was having some problem. I’ve heard the same from a small handful of BMW mechanics concerning valve adjustments for the K75.
Just put a new battery in the scooter a couple months ago. Have had a Tender now for a long time. Essential for through the winter riding.
I’ve been lucky that almost all my service needs on the scooter have been wear related. As I pile up the miles though I have begun to wonder when the major engine problems will surface. I’ve already started to squirrel away cash for my next machine.
Safe. I don’t even know what that means in regard to the pandemic. Everyone seems anxious to get things open and moving again but it seems to me we are in worse shape today than we were 8 weeks ago. At least in terms of how many people may be out there with the virus. Some seem to think it will magically go away. Sadly for me, I don’t believe in magic.
So like you say, regardless of what the government decides, it behooves each of us to use our heads.