Scooter in the Sticks

Exploring life on a Vespa, Royal Enfield Himalayan, Honda Trail 125, and a Kawasaki W650

When the Vespa Won’t Start

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shadow of Vespa scooter and rider

After weeks of grey, gloomy skies, the return of the sun and the thermometer soaring to 39F could only mean a wonderful opportunity to go for a ride.  And with the recent addition of heated grips and Tucano Urbano muffs there would be a cosmic alignment of solar and electric heat to produce the coziest of rides. With an entire day open the last thing on my mind was what to do when the Vespa won’t start.

farm landscape near Pennsylvania Furnace, PA

After weighing geographic options I headed south towards breakfast at the Spruce Creek Bakery.  The light was dazzling and the air seemed swept clear of any dense or negative energy.  Gazing into the distance I entertained a rush towards the Maryland border and on into Virginia — just because I could and because I haven’t gone for a long ride in awhile.

Vespa GTS 250ie scooter in cornfield

The Vespa now has Koso heated grips and Tucano muffs installed to keep my hands warm.  Usually at this temperature I would have my electric gloves on but instead opted for my LL Bean deerskin field gloves — light, supple, and comfortable.  They’re similar to the Aerostich elkskin ropers that I wrecked in the garden.

While it wasn’t that cold (39F) it was obvious that the muffs did a great job offering protection from the wind.  The heated grips weren’t warm, they were HOT.  So hot that I had to run them on half power.  As the weather gets colder I’ll experiment with the need for heavier gloves.

I was also surprised how quickly I adapted to my hands being inside the muffs.  No issues at all save for a need to be deliberate with any thumb actions — starter, kill switch, horn, turn signals — since your hands are inside these big, fixed muffs.

The bakery was closed so I continued on towards Sinking Valley and another place to eat.  Twenty-six miles from home and the scooter died.

Vespa GTS scooter at railroad underpass

This is as far as I got.  Stopped to make a picture inside the underpass, got back on the scooter, started the engine, it ran for a few seconds and it died.  I’ve been here before and some will probably say I should have gotten it fixed already.  Try again, runs for a second and dies.

My best guess is the fuel pump is failing.  When I turn on the ignition I don’t hear the pump running which is a bad sign.  It’s done this twice in the past year.  Each time I’d wait a minute or so, try again and it would start right up and run all day.

After about a half-hour I decide it’s time to get someone to fetch the scooter.

iPhone showing No Service

It’s always something when the Vespa won’t start.  Having no cell coverage doesn’t help.  At least the sun was shining and the temperature was in the low forties as I started pushing the scooter back towards Spruce Creek, Pennsylvania in hopes of a cell signal.  It’s less than a mile.

A half-dozen vehicles stopped to ask if I needed help.  Not a single Vespa technician among them.  Nice to know that people care about an old man pushing a Vespa along a road.

Spruce Creek, PA church

In the parking lot of the Spruce Creek United Methodist Church I was able to get one bar of AT&T coverage to reach out to my friend Paul.  He was available and would bring his truck to haul the dead scooter to Kissell Motorsports and most likely a new fuel pump.

trout fisherman on spruce creek

While I waited I watched the fisherman work their way along the Little Juniata River just a few hundred yards from where Spruce Creek dumps its water and fish into the river.  This is a popular spot for fly fishing.  Not far from here is the club where President Jimmy Carter was a frequent fishing visitor.

Now, on to the dead scooter.  I wish it would stay dead because it would be easier to diagnose and fix.  As luck (bad) would have it the Vespa started.  And more bad luck showed no cell signal again.  So off I went with an eye open for Paul’s big blue truck.

About five miles up the road I saw him, we coordinated plans, and headed to Kissell’s to drop on the scooter.

Moto Guzzi V7 Racer at Kissell Motorsports

After checking the Vespa in for repairs Craig Kissell showed us a 2012 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer that was just traded.  Amazing bit of engineering and I could see Paul wanted it.  Craig was ready to make it happen but Paul was too close to a recent Ducati acquisition.  The more amazing part of the story was what the owner traded this motorcycle for — a new Vespa Sprint 150.

Go figure.

Anyways, I won’t see the Vespa again until after the new year.  Until then I can focus on other projects like getting my darkroom rolling again or clearing the basement so a new gas fired boiler can be installed and the smelly old oil fired one (and the storage tank) can be carted away.

Always things to do, especially when the Vespa won’t start…

Installing Heated Grips

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Devil's Walking Stick at the Arboretum at Penn StateAny maintenance work on the Vespa puts my head in a mental jungle.  This picture of Devil’s Walking Stick I made last night while Kim and I were on a walk does a good job illustrating the jagged tangle of thoughts that I have to wade through.  Came close to just handing off the scooter to a professional to do the install but decided to take the plunge and embrace the installing of heated grips.

Before starting I reviewed two resources to help reduce the chances of disaster — a blog post by David Masse on Life on Two Wheels: The Scoot Commute that details installation of another brand of grips on a Vespa GTS300. Figured it would be similar.

And a video produced by Scooterwest.com showing the installation of my grips on a Vespa S150.  Again, has to be of some help.


So this evening I started even though I knew I wouldn’t have a lot of time. Made pretty good progress considering I was diverted to transplant a shrub and repair a garden hose.

Vespa GTS scooter parts in a boxThe dismantling was quick and easy.  Had the windscreen, front rack, mirrors and headset off in 15 minutes or so.  David’s post pointed out a possible problem with a headset screen that could be dropped down into the bodywork and recommended a magnetic screwdriver.  I don’t have any such things so I went to Sears to buy tools.  Unfortunately there were no Craftsman brand screwdrivers in stock so I had to go with a cheap knockoff brand they had.  Says “magnetic” on the packaging but I found no evidence of magnetism.  I did get the screw out without any problems.  Getting it back in will be another challenge.

I did find some issues with the headset though.  Three screws hold it on but only one was in place.  One screw just was gone, probably fell out or was never replaced during some past service, and the other side the plastic was broken.  Oh well.

exposed handlebar on Vespa scooter

Once the headset was off all that was left in the dismantling actions was to remove the bar end weights and the stock grips.  David’s post talks about using a heat gun to get them off.  I opted for the less nuanced approach and cut them away with a utility knife.

electrical connector on Vespa GTS scooterI quit after that because I’m not at the harder part of prepping things and figuring out how to wire the grips to a power source on the scooter.  Wires are wires to me so i’ll have to concentrate.  Saw this connecter.  Wonder what it does.

More to come in the continuing saga of idiot meets heated grips.

Reluctant Vespa Mechanic

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Front of Vespa GTS scooter

Soon, perhaps this evening, I’ll start removing things from the Vespa; front rack, windscreen, mirrors, and more in order to install heated grips.  The task has been postponed a number of times since the accessories arrived due to the flimsiest of excuses.  Too cold, too tired, Leonids meteor showers, hangnail, dog ate the instructions, possible plague, the usual things.

I’ll say it though, or write it actually, I HATE WORKING ON THE VESPA.  Hate may be too strong.  Loathe could be more accurate.  Maybe even despise.  Regardless, I’m not one of the scooter or motorcycle owners who thrives on the prospect of servicing the machine.  And it extends beyond the scooter.  I don’t like mowing the lawn, paying bills, doing laundry, washing cars, and on and on.

Maybe it’s the weather that’s got me worked up.  Regardless, there are just some things in life you have to do and the less time complaining and the more time doing then things will get done and a person can move on.

I keep telling myself that.

Vespa at the Pump Station Cafe in Boalsburg, PA.

Late this afternoon I rode down the street to the Pump Station Cafe for a few treats.  Seeing the scooter standing alone in the parking lot triggered some tiny desire in me that I should do more work myself.  Not just maintenance on the Vespa either.  Things like remodeling the bathroom or repainting the inside of the house.  If people actually turn over in their graves my father has had to do so many times watching me reject the kinds of things he loved doing, and taught me to do.

Unfortunately whatever gene or DNA sequence that programmed my father into a maintenance/remodeling/building machine was not passed on to me.  He provided me with the knowledge, information and training to do an awful lot of stuff.  I just don’t like doing it.  And the older I get the more I dislike doing a lot of things.

Still I’m going to install the heated grips despite my strong resistance.  Perhaps I’ll find some serenity in the process much like I do washing dishes by hand.

I’m stretching.

Stay tuned for news from the reluctant Vespa mechanic.

14:25

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Time is at a premium always and lately even more so.  Facing a long list of non-riding Vespa chores every minute counts.  With the iPhone stopwatch at hand and a few open minutes while Kim was on the phone I decided what I might accomplish.  When the counter stopped 14:25 had elapsed.

The rear tire came off last but I’m showing it first because it’s a better picture.  Not a whisper in me wants to employ the Harbor Freight Tire Changer to swap these tires.  I’ll drop them off at the neighborhood service station to be mounted and balanced.  My rims are so beat up that I have no fear of what might happen on those big hydraulic changing machines.

The new tire is a Kenda K413.  Inexpensive, wears well, and performs well for me.  I’ll pull the front tire on another evening.

The exhaust comes off first.  One bolt to loosen on the header pipe and three bolts holding the muffler to the scooter.  In slightly less than five minutes I’ve wiggled the muffler free and determined the filthy beast has a few appointments with a wire brush.

Wish I had a sandblaster.  Am grateful for a little progress…

Vespa Service

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With the arrival of warm weather comes the spring Vespa service event made more noxious by the corrosive effects of winter riding coupled with a reckless disregard for all things mechanical.  The garage is a disaster, toolbox a jumble, and the Vespa resembles some of the heaps I used to covet as a teenager with dreams of the Baja 1000 spinning in my head.

Those dreams have faded into distant memory along with the youthful thrills of wrench turning and trips to the parts store.  The Vespa service list is a torture of task and lack of riding.

1.  Remove snow tires, mount new set of warm weather tires.
2.  Remove exhaust system, remove rust from muffler, repaint with high temperature black paint.
3.  Repair seat latch system.
4.  Remove seat, clean rusty hinge, repaint.
5.  Repair rust on front body panel joint.
6.  Replace battery.
7.  Wash, clean and wax scooter.
9.  Replace air filter.
10.  Replace front left reflector.

Looking at my work schedule it will be snowing again before I get this done…

Rode into town this morning to talk about photography with Paul Ruby.  The single cup of tea tastes different when it comes after a ride.  Took time to savor that hot brew…

As the days warm the world begins to grow green as does my desire to ride.  Better planning would have finished spring service sooner but my distaste for working in an unheated garage slowed things down.

Hoped to actually get some work finished today but instead kept wandering and postponing the mechanical activity for another day.  Part of me wishes I had the love of tinkering I see in other scooter and motorcycle riders.  Most of me doesn’t.  So strong is my distaste for fixing things that I almost pulled the trigger on a new scooter.  A sort of Vespa equivalent of trading a car in because the ashtray is full.

A quick stop after exiting the expressway and I was reminded of how versatile the Vespa GTS 250ie really is.  It goes fast, goes far, and functions fine in town and on the road.  Every time I think about buying a bigger motorcycle or scooter I end up asking the same question, “Why?”.

Can’t seem to come up with a good answer EXCEPT it would be nice to have something to ride while the scooter is under repair.  But then upon further evaluation I would probably choose another Vespa.  And it would probably be silver — for photographic reasons.

Maybe tomorrow I’ll pull the exhaust and the tires…