Recipe For Cleaning Parts

So the Vespa restoration piggy bank has run dry and I am diverting monies from my other hobbies to attempt to keep things moving forward, but often throughout this project I have had to ask myself, "isn't there something I can be doing for the bike that doesn't cost money?" The first time I asked myself this I cleaned parts to be powder coated. The second time I created my final parts list and questions for restoration. This time, I have a new solution.

Why don't I clean my parts so when I am ready to reassemble the bike I can, without slowing down for cleaning . . . all I need is an old 5-gallon bucket and a recipe of some dang strong cleaning solution.

There are a few recipes you can use according to my mentors:

1) Kerosene

2) Paint thinner (not lacquer thinner, which is just too damn toxic). Paint thinner is great stuff. But stinky. And dangerous.

AND FINALLY THE ENVIRONMENTALLY CORRECT SOLUTION

3) Orange cleaner followed by Purple cleaner. Do NOT use Purple cleaner on aluminum as it will ATTACK it

I like to consider myself "green" and will try to use the environmentally-friendly approach first.

I will contact my buddy with the bike at his shop and work with him to get this bath started.

Another thing I can do is get the front fork / hub assembled and then install the fork into the frame. I have some cash and can afford the ball-in-ring bearings (qty: 2) that will be needed for this job. Everything else I should have, I hope. I aim to get the part number for the bearings and go to my local SKF dealer within the next couple weeks.

I have a feeling that my nitro rc airplane (which I haven't bought yet and am stealing from its piggy bank) in now ticked at me.

Follow-up chats with Tom G.:

For the parts washer, I use a proprietary solvent I
found on mcmaster.com.  Who knows what is in it?

But it leaves a residue, so I always spray parts down
after cleaning with brake cleaner.

Sometimes I just use gasoline to clean bits.  It is
cheap (but smelly).  Again, spray down with brake
cleaner afterwards.

Sounds like you really need to start putting the bike
together, my friend!

How to break-in the engine after rebuild

I asked Christopher Markley "how he recommends we break-in the SS engine he rebuilt for us" and he responded:

Non-synthetic two-stroke oil for first 500 miles.
No wide open throttle for extended periods.
No two-up riding.
No lugging engine in too-high gear.
No long distance faster than maybe 40mph, and if that, then vary it up and down.
When riding, roll on and roll off throttle now and then.
Don't stay in mid-range too long.
Don't go down long steep hill with throttle off using
engine as brake.
Just sensible riding.
No need to baby it too much.
Just don't hot-dog.

Also, let her warm up a bit before laying into
the throttle. Many seizures come from people starting the engine and
immediately flying balls-to-the-wall down the road. The aluminum piston
expands much faster than the cast iron cylinder, and bang -- she seizes.

Note: crap! We're still broke. No progress. Got one quote back asking for $511 for 90% of everything. Not bad.

Time Capsule

Some guys get all the luck! Check out this SS in "original" condition. Ain't she a beaut? Congrads to Gary. We're envious.

Here's the history according Gary:

I've always wanted an SS, and it was really just a fluke finding this one, I was looking once in awhile for one or a GS160. Going over the classifieds on Craigslist, an older woman was selling an original SS and had it listed as a 64 which seemed odd since there were so few made, and this one had the round headlight and that tractor taillight. Fearing that it was some type of clone I held off on contacting her. I then visited javaspeed in RI to see if they could help me find a larger frame Vespa (I'm 6'1 and 200lbs), they are about an hour or so from me, and when I mentioned that "64" was available and I was considering it, they knew the bike since it had been on display there for awhile and also serviced there, but at the time it wasn't for sale, as the woman whom owned it was planning to retire and move to Italy with it (at the time).

The guys there told me if I passed on it to let them know, I had no idea these were so desireable until rather recently, and reading around the net, somewhere I guess there is a top 10 list for Vespas and the SS is on that list. I just never knew it seems everyone is looking for one. When I called around various shops looking for price points I couldn't believe the prices these things were fetching. From what your blog seems to be indicating, you will probably end up being ahead given their appreciation, hard to imagine in the vintage vehicle business, but that seems to be going on now.

Anyways, the woman I bought it from owned it in dry climate controlled storage for 30 years. She admitted to only driving it once for about a minute as it was to be her retirement vehicle. Took her the last 2 years to realize the dream wasn't practical I guess as she is rather comfortable here. A bunch of folks have tried to get it from her before, lowballed her on the price and such, and she wanted it to go the right person. I'm a very low pressure guy, I know its hard to let go of things that we bond to, like the VWs, everyone I've sold was hard to part with, when a person is ready they look for the right person to sell it to. So with some of that and a ton of luck this one came my way.

After looking it over I found out it was indeed a 67, no rust anywhere, all original paint, a few minor cowl dents and some scratches but very few, its literally a mini time capsule. I'm only upgrading a few things on it, and I'm taking off the perfect seat since I want it to stay perfect, getting an aftermarket from the Richmond scooter shop, that way I won't feel guilty sitting on it. I've only had it a few weeks, got it started finally this weekend, not idling, will only run partially when the choke is out. Carb was rebuilt 2 years ago but I have to pull it and rebuild again no doubt and double check all the jet sizes, as the idle adjust and mix adjust had no effect at all on the engine. There are a few other oddball things to do, and I've got problems in the gearbox maybe, but luckily here come winter time its something I can take my time on and know by spring it will all be rideable. I just found a local place that does midweek rides and such, apparently there is a rather big scooter scene in Boston, this place is called www.Bostonscoot.com, talked to him, so at least I've got someone that can help me dial it all in.

I love resto work too, so undoubtedly I will be looking for something rare to do myself someday, much like my early VWs, I can do just about all my own work, so something like a 160 project would be amazing to do at some point. I figure though I'm just lucky enough to have what I have now and probably spent my good luck points on finding this SS.

Anyways, heres some pics, if you want any closer up of something let me know, will try to help you with what I can. Its just incredible I thought that your SS was only the 48th after mine. Enjoy the pics!

THANX FOR SHARING GARY. THE PHOTOS WILL PROVE HELPFUL FOR RESTORERS, BECAUSE NOW THEY CAN SEE HOW THE SS180 LOOKS RIGHT OUT OF THE FACTORY.

REMEMBER, YOUR BEST BET IS TO CLEAN IT UP AND GET IT RUNNING. AVOID MODS. STAY ORIGINAL.

Restoration: Seat Foam

Many of you may need to restore/rebuild/re-foam or create from scratch an authentic SS180 seat. Note that this seat is unique and does not resemble other Vespa seats. Make sure to review previous posts on the subject on this blog since I BUTCHERED I original stock seat and I was so pist at myself for doing so.

The photos below were sent to me by Mark Lee and show you in detail the flip tail build up for the tail end of the seat. NOTE: my flip piece was actually black (very dense and stiff foam -- almost rubber like, but not quite) and looked like the skid plate used on skateboards in the late 1980s (remember those?). Mark believes he is missing that part and will therefore need to have one made.

What ever you do SAVE all of your original foam and try to re-use what you have and very CAREFULLY study what the stock seat looked like. See previous posts. Work from there when restoring your seat and be very specific with your reupholster. If you have the stock foam it will cost you about $150-$175 to have it recovered correctly.

Final Parts Request for Quote

Today, I sent out my parts list to be quoted by the shops I have had good experiences with and with any luck I should start getting quotes back within the next 30-60 days. At the moment, we don't have the necessary money, but hopefully we will soon.