Jimmy PX125

[jimmywilky77]

Hi everyone

I'm Jimmy and after never even riding a bike before, 2 weeks ago i did my CBT and on tuesday i picked up my first Vespa.  It's a 2008 PX125 in black, I'll put it as my avatar at some point.  On only my third go on a bike of any description and on my way to work, a 20 mile trip, I fell off.  Luckily I only bruised myself and a few scratches, also the helmet did it's job!!  From what i remember, i was braking and accelorating at the same time, so maybe i forgot to put my clutch in, stupid i know.  It's not going to deter me though, I am going to invest in some proper wear though.
I just wanted to ask a few questions if anyone can help.  Since my little incident at low revs it's cutting out, it does this even in neutral, but stands fine?
Next question is, when i bought it i was told to mix oil with the petrol.  After looking on the internet, i see old models seem to need this but not newer ones, can anyone tell me why i have to do this?
Final question, when putting it in gear it can be a bit tough, especially 1st, can something be done about this, or is it just the way they are made?
I did have a 4th question, but it was answered on another thread i read, about the fuel switch, now i know why it was a bitch to start!!!

Thanks in advance for any help and guidance you can give
Jimmy

[L12ARD]

Under the seat next to the petrol cap there's the 2 stroke oil filler cap ... fill that up and check it regular , I top mine up every couple of days after 50 miles or so , there's also a oil glass (viewer) next to the (on/off) fuel tap you've found , better to check under the seat than notice a low level in the oil viewer ( or whatever it's called )...
Use quality 2-stroke oil ...
The 1st gear is always notchy and jumps into place it's natural my new px is crunchy into 3rd too , but I've had the cable adjusted at dealer and it's as good as it'll get lol , after all it's eons old technology and that's the beauty of them ...
Enjoy

Steve

[sime66]

I reckon part of learning to respect the ride is falling off and remembering not to do it like that again. I came off the day after my CBT; wet muddy country roads in the Spring sunshine, buzzing round enjoying my new freedom, hit the brakes when I saw a van coming the other way, and before I even realized I was skidding, I was on my back up the road in a ditch. Me and me scoot scraped and dented.

Cutting out at low revs could be a number of things, which you’d have to work through systematically if it persists. If it were mine, bearing in mind it is probably the result of a bang, I’d start with the simple checks:
- I’d check the HT wiring from CDI to spark cap – pull the plug and refit it and cap (just ‘cos it’s simple to do)
- I’d have a look at the carb to see if it is secure, and I’d check the jets are clear by pulling them out and blowing through.
- You might just have knocked/loosened the screws on the carb, (idle and mix), but you need a bit of knowledge before adjusting them.
More experienced people than me will add to this; I’m pretty new too, so don’t want to lead you off the track, or list things that are probably too complicated/unnecessary.

Is it stalling when you select a gear, or just cutting out from no spark, fuel or air – each of those three can be checked systematically. Is it otherwise running fine? Have you ridden it? Have you checked wheels, tyres, brakes, cables? You haven’t just lost your fuel or got air or crud up your line? If the simple things don’t solve it you’ll have to come back with a bit more detail – what do you mean ‘even in neutral, but stands fine’?

You might not know what I mean about those jobs, in which case it’s time to get Haynes etc. and learn your scooter for preventative maintenance and trouble shooting.
(See here)

vespa.proboards.com/thread/3999/engine-rebuild-literature

(You need to start with the basic 'know your scoot/maintenance' at the bottom of the thread)

You’ll enjoy it all the more when you understand it better, and can pick yourself up and get her running if/when these things happen.

If you're trying to select 1st when standing, it sometimes helps to rock the bike back and forth a bit when finding it. They do feel dodgy, you will get used to it.

Us chaps without autolube have to actually add 2-stroke to each top-up of fuel at 2% mix. With autolube (sightglass and second filler cap under seat) you just keep that oil tank topped up with good 2-stroke oil as L12ARD says. It is crucial that you do it; your fuel is also your crank/barrel lubrication. - Very bad things will happen if you forget. Check your oil line into carb too after your bang?

You probably don’t need telling now about the importance of proper, good protective bike gear; it’s tempting in the summer to leave it off, but simply it ain’t worth it – get good gear and wear it – always! Helmet, gloves, boots, armoured jacket and trousers – you’ve just done your CBT, so you know what’s advised and what’s absolute minimum.

[henri]

hi n welcome ,youv'e taken ya first step in becoming a "real scooterist" ,fallen off , an started the second ,fixing ya scoot, weve all done it,some more than others ,an for the forum youve learnt the best trick before asking a question ,check the other threads as most have been asked before,some repeatedly ,an the only stupid question is the 1 ya didnt ask but should ov,
remember tho ,we are the boys ya mum warned you about playing with,an now ya 1 off us, but dont worry we play nice on here,or teacher tells us off, cheers Henri

[mickingle]

I'm liking this advice....

'If you're trying to select 1st when standing, it sometimes helps to rock the bike back and forth a bit when finding it. They do feel dodgy, you will get used to it.'

I'm also finding my way back riding on my new vespa, and have to admit living where i do, at the top of every hill i often struggle to get her back into 1st if i have to stop at a junction.

[jimmywilky77]

Thanks guys, great advice from you all.
I invested in a Haynes manual, so will look into your suggestions sime66. That was why i bought a scooter as I was after a hobby, not just the riding but the overall maintenence. As i've never been that technical, a scooter seemed a less daunting way of doing this. I'm an IT person in my job, so am used to looking for problems in a logical way and working my way through.
Sime66, what i meant by it stalls 'even in neutral, but stands fine' is that it starts fine and will not cut out even when standing with the engine running, but when i rev it just a little bit it cuts out. It does this whether i'm in gear and trying to start to move or in neutral. It means i'm having to rev it a fair bit to start, which because i'm a novice, means i'm starting a bit quick and often pulling wheelies which sounds cool but as i'm a complete newbie is completely frightening ha ha.
Although my bike does have the autolube, i was told to add 2% to the petrol. The guy i bought it off seemed to know his stuff, as he bought and sold vespa's. It's not a major thing just wandering why i had to do it.

I'm going to have a good look through the forum, see if there is anything that can help me when i come to have a good look at it.
Thanks for all the advice. I plan to get some proper wear next time i go out on it, my parka didn't give me much protection at all, but i just wanted to get out on it! I'm also going to do some shorter trips to get used to it before i start longer journeys.

[sime66]

I'm also more technical than practical by nature, tend to sort stuff out on paper beforehand, rather than dive in and fire-fight.
As you've got Haynes, and are methodical then you'd be best to go through the Fault Diagnosis near the beginning.
It's much easier to do your own scoot, starting with the simpler jobs that fit the description, working through, discounting stuff and moving on until you find it, than it is to get an accurate diagnosis on the Internet. What are you doing with your choke when you first start?
It is quite important that you get your knowledge of your autolube sorted. Is it still connected and working? It's odd that the seller said to add 2% if your autolube is OK? Can you check with him? Not a good plan to do both - I think you should find out why he said that. Can you see/find the oil tube at the carb? is is full of oil? Worth investigating a bit.
I've got to get on with other stuff now, so that'll have to do.

[henri]

you need to find out the crack with auto-lube ,as if its still working adding extra oil to ya petrol will damage ya scoot ,its a common misconception that if a little oil is good then a little more is better,especially when running in a new engine .actually its a really bad idea ,as more oil means less petrol in the mixture =lean mixture leading to overheating an seizure ,the one thing people think it prevents,
it is a major thing, an just coz the guy ya bought it from "seemed to know his stuff" an buys/sells a few scoots ,well its ya first scoot so anybodys going to sound more knowledgeable than you, not slagging you ,weve all started there an youve taken the first sensible step in asking on this forum as ya want to learn ,its regrettable but theres a lot of scooter "mechanics/restorers" and owners who shouldnt be trusted to butter bread with a blunt knife never mind fix/sell scooters, the forums are littered with tales of butchery an scamming , especially about parts/flea bay. my local piaggio dealer boasts he's fixed scoots for a living for 18 years an been a piaggio dealer for 14 ,an he charges for work not done an sends scoots back unfixed or wrongly done,last instance was changing the locks on a gt coz of lost keys ,an he sent it back with only 2 out of 16 screws holding the bodywork on ,an then tried to charge the hours for putting right ,you have been warned ,H