smoke
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 19
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Post by smoke on Jan 20, 2008 23:08:06 GMT
Hi all,
I joined up here a few months ago with the intention to buy a vespa and its taken till now to get the plan in action.
I have got one for 2 reasons....number 1 - they are pretty awesome!! Number 2 I really want to learn more about mechanics and thought it would be a fun thing to get to grips with!
I got a 1989 pk50 with a 125 engine in, I'll pop up some pictures when I get the chance, I had to walk it 4.5 miles home today and it was mainly uphill, i suddenly realised just how unfit I was!!
I am literally a complete beginner, I don't even know how to drive it yet, although I think I've worked it out now and will give it a proper go soon! But apologies in advance for the stupid questions I ask! (I almost posted to ask how to put it in gear earlier today, thankfully I managed to work it out and avoid that embarrasment! Lol)
Speak to you all soon!
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Post by Devo McDuff on Jan 21, 2008 10:08:32 GMT
Hello again. Will be interested to hear how you get on.
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Post by arabgaz on Jan 21, 2008 11:40:16 GMT
welcome m8, don't worry about being a novice or asking daft questions, everybody was a beginner at some point, the beauty of scooters is that you learn as you go, i know i did and still do. there are plenty people on here who are more than willing to give advice (i should know) enjoy scootering m8 and good luck with everything.  |
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smoke
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 19
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Post by smoke on Jan 21, 2008 19:44:28 GMT
OK, time for daft question no. 1!
Been riding my new Vespa around a bit and I think it has run out of petrol (I hope soo!) so that means I need to get under the seat to fill it up right?! Well I can't... Is there a certain knack to getting the seat up? as far as I can see the key can go in and turn round continuously... also the key socket seems to be able to push in and out, but I can't get the seat open at all? Is there a catch or something somewhere?
The guy I bought it off yesterday opened it up but I didn't watch him do it, so I don't think it is broken, unless I managed to break it on the way home!
Secondly, the guy I bought it off said to put 2 stroke oil in with every fill up?! He told me to put in about an aerosol cap full in, or a cap and a half... From what I read that seems like quite a lot? any advice would be much appreciated.
Sorry if I put this in the wrong section, I guess maybe its a technical discussion.
Smoke!
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Post by arabgaz on Jan 21, 2008 21:25:44 GMT
not to sure about your pk 50 m8, but with my T5 and px you just turn the key on the seat to get it up, the petrol and 2 stroke filler tube things are there, is the pk self mixing or do you have to do it like 50/1 ratio or something. what i do is look in where you put the 2 stroke if it looks as if it needs some i put it in. don't leave it to long tho. just fiddle about with your seat lock or go back to the guy and ask him. or do you not know anyone who has a scoot? good luck.
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Post by Spence on Jan 21, 2008 23:26:34 GMT
Sounds like the lock on your seat might be knackered Mike, not the end of the world.
Sometimes the seat can get stuck on the post if the bolts at the hinge end aren't quite tight enough. Try pushing the button in with your thumbs, and at the same time put your fingers under the seat edge and give it a jiggle as you pull upwards. That should shift it.
What arabgaz is describing there is a Vespa with autolube, which if I'm not sure if your PK is. If you have a 'sight glass' (basically a plastic bubble just near your fuel tap) and two tanks under your seat, then it's autolube. This needs topping up and should (but can fail) pre-mix your oil into your fuel at the correct ratio for you.
If your scooter hasn't got those features, it's not an autolube, and you have to put 2-stroke oil straight into the tank with the petrol. The ratio for a PK50 is 50:1 (ie 50 parts petrol, 1 part oil), but as you've got a 125 engine in it that might be different.
My Sprint has a PX125 engine in it and I use a pre-mix jug. This is a small plastic jug (available from most Vespa dealers/garages) with grades on the side that show you exactly how much oil to put in depending on how much petrol you've just put in the tank.
If you're not sure, go back to the bloke you bought it off. The only way he'll stop you pestering him is if he helps you, so he should be forthcoming.
Sorry to be a spoilsport - but don't forget you need to do a CBT before you can legally ride that thing on the road.
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smoke
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 19
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Post by smoke on Jan 22, 2008 0:03:34 GMT
Thanks a lot for your help! Will be trying it tomorrow evening.
Lol your not being a spoil sport, i hadn't forgotten about the cbt, or the need for a helmet, ability to drive a scooter, insurance, mot and tax.....
Luckily I have a fairly big drive on which I can go round and round in circles testing it still works!
Its going to have various bits taken off and (hopefully) put back on before it goes anywhere near a road!
I'll let you know I get on!
S
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Post by arabgaz on Jan 22, 2008 21:01:18 GMT
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smoke
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 19
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Post by smoke on Jan 22, 2008 23:06:07 GMT
Success guys, rang up the guy to confirm what I needed to do to get it open, anded up getting a mallet to it, but now I have it open, I have got the knack of opening it without a mallet!!!
In went some super unleaded, and some castrol T2 oil. got just under 5 litres in and put in about 100ml of oil, hope that has done the trick, I'm almost certain 50:1 is the right ratio.
It wasn't particularly cooperative with starting, do you think that may have been caused by running it completely dry?
Got it started with the help of the choke, and then tried it again a few hours later and it started a little bit easier...still took about 3/4 kicks though.
Thanks for your help folks!
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Post by arabgaz on Jan 23, 2008 8:04:10 GMT
well done, your on your way to becoming a fully fledged scooter mechanic ;D it'll be full resto jobs next.  |
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