Nov 25, 2005

The 58 VNA is finished, now just waiting on a last part to keep the gas from leaking at the fuel tap. The scooter ran when I started this project, I knew because I could start it. But little did I realize that just because an engine starts doesn't mean it's going to run well, or keep running. Getting this scooter to idle, and not blow seals made at least several grown men believe this scooter to be posessed. Joe chased down one problem after another (each being fixed revealing some other problem) for some time and when all was said and done the engine casing was replaced as well as the carburetor, some of the wiring, and now this is a starts-on-first-kick scooter. For anyone taking on a first project - make sure the scooter really runs, and runs well, and idles, etc. before you dive in - unless you either know what you are doing, or know someone who does and you have the money for parts. In the end, as I was told by the people I first talked to, I put far more into the scooter than it will ever be worth monetarily. Thing is, it's not something I did to make a profit, it was something that I wanted to do, and I am very pleased with the results.

Many pictures will be missing for a bit, I've just put in placeholders for this weekend when I take the VNA for it's inagural ride.

--Scott.

October, 2005

I had been checking craigslist regularly for some time thinking about a 150 or a 200, and a P200E came up for sale and I dove on it. It had a bit of surface rust but nothing structural, it runs fine, idles fine, just isn't cosmetically wonderful as it's seen a few fender dings, etc. I have ground off about half of the rust and rattle canned it white - which is its original color. I added an Oogah! horn so I can make some stupid loud noise if I want or need to. Over the winter I'll work on the rest of the rust and then make a call on how I want to either paint or airbrush it. I figure the VNA is my pretty scooter, and the P200E doesn't need to be torn down to the frame if it's mechanically sound.

--Scott.

April 13, 2005

My 1958 VNA has been 99.5% complete for about a month now. I finally sent it off to Joe at Sound Speed Scooters - (a new shop in the neighborhood) to do the brakes properly, get the shift cables set up (I lost the end bits that hook them into the shift selector) - and to generally make sure I didn't make any bonehead mistakes. (There are bound to be one or two :-). Sounds like it'll be ready in a few days & I'm really looking forward to riding it.

I probably shouldn't be thinking about a next scooter project at this point - but I would like to do this again, knowing a little more now than I did before about what I can do myself and what parts I enjoyed doing, and what to farm out to others. I'd like to find a PAV trailer for this scooter. Contact me if you have one to sell. I'm thinking a 150 or a 200 for the next scooter project... and something with better parts availability.

--Scott.

January 23, 2005

I have made some good progress this week.

Big People Scooters did the wiring pull-through for me, as well as the cables that go through the frame. So that's done.

I brought my seat and cheap seat cover to Rich's Upholstry on Aurora and he did a most excellent job on creating a custom leather cover for me that includes a little padding and a double-stitched 58. See picture.

I've been using the dremel tool quite a bit on cleanup of little parts. Made a trip to the hardware store to replace some regular nuts and bolts and grease - and have now installed the steering column lock and the front forks.

The only broken part in the forks is the speedometer drive gear, which is good - and means the speedometer is likely OK and was the reason it wasn't working before. I figured the cable was broken, but then the cable was fine when I pulled it. See in picture - it's pretty stripped.

I received my "Horseless Carriage" license plate in the mail. They sent a car one first and I had to return it so they could put in the correct code.

Knock wood, I may be riding this by summer of 2005 - or at least pushing it :-)

--Scott.

January 6, 2005

The scooter is back from the painter. Harry (from Maharaja Motors and Scooters of Seattle) found a replacement painter and he did a stellar job in my uneducated but biased humble opinion. The silver looks great, it's super shiny and the frame looks new if you don't look too close. If you look close you'll see the age - because I wasn't planning on being a perfectionist about every little ripple. Still, you wouldn't guess it was the same rusty spraypainted body. The painter did a little extra bodywork so I can't take full credit for all of the improvements - but I can take credit for most of it :-)

I stared at the wiring for a few weeks and have given up and will take it to Big People Scooters to have the wiring pulled through so I don't mess that up.

In the mean time, I put on the legshield trim (harder than I imagined - since the legshield was not perfectly straight and the chrome trim does not give easily - which is good, it will make the frame more rigid) and the nifty chrome jet fender ornament.

This evening I finished installing the floor rails and rubber. I got some good advice from the International Scooterist forum as well as nice info from "How to restore and maintain your Vespa Motorscooter" which I received as an xmas gift.

I picked up an airbrush and am learning to do graphics in my spare time... which means it'll be a looong time before I am ready to paint anything on top of this paintjob. Hopefully I won't chicken out - but I can always do vinyl...though I have decided really painting the designs is my first preference after seeing some great paintjobs at the International Cycle Show in Seattle this December.

--Scott.

November 10, 2004

The scooter should be back from painting from Maharaja Motors/Scooters of Seattle on Lake City Way any day now. It's a bit overdue - but I found out the painter was in an accident (not his fault) and broke several limbs, which is certainly a reasonable excuse for their needing more time! Crazy thing is - the first person who was going to paint the scooter broke several limbs, also an accident. Lets hope there isn't some sort of curse here...cross your fingers for the next painter! It is amazingly hard to find a painter for a decent price and I'm glad I have this step moving now.

I opted for the base color to be Jaguar Silver. I'm leanding toward doing the graphics as printed/cut vinyl rather than painting - at least until I do all the research. I still want the Tin Toy Atomic Racer Ray Gun Robot theme. Primary task now will be to put it together, and get it running first though.

It was a nice ride to/from work today on the 200GT. Wearing wind breaking pants and a tall neck sweater help with the commute that is growing colder daily. Still a blast to ride across 520.

I joined VCOS and have gone on a few rides now. Most recently was Octoberscoot #13.

--Scott.

September 21, 2004

The scooter is back from sandblasting. Looks great, except for the bondo it uncovered. I guess I should have exepected some.

Painting hasn't happened yet. I need to find a painter, Guraranteed AutoBody closed shop. Bummer. But Rick did the welding, which I could not have done myself and he recommended the sandblaster which worked out great.

I decided to do the primering and re-bondoing and sanding work myself. As I said, I'm no longer in a rush :-)

Cool thing that the sandblaster uncovered is some letters on the frame. Until I figure out what they mean, I will assume (for fun) that the initials VDC are from the italian dude who made or painted the frame.

Dad and I painted a first coat on last weekend. I just need to set aside some time now....and also find a painter.

I'm up to 2200 miles on my GT200 now and have been using it to commute all year. I have been able to put off my 60K mile car tuneup since it just isn't being driven much at all.

--Scott.

May 12 , 2004

Picked up the parts that I took to Art Brass in Georgetown. They look great, those guys do really nice work. Still waiting on paintjob - but I have some things to do yet...so really I'm not being completely held up.

I need to spray the insides of these so they do not rust out later.

I need to do some work on the speedometer - I opened it up and it is going to need some cleaning and I need a cable to see if it works or is jammed.

I need to do work on the taillight or give up and get a new one.

Adding more pictures - and still have more to add.

Sent in my VCOS membership after going to a meeting.

Oh, and the title finally came in the mail.

I'm up to 570 miles on my GT200 now. Having a blast, sure is fun to ride. Really looking forward to having two to choose from :-)

--Scott.

April 6 , 2004

As these things often go, the painting stage is taking a bit longer than we guessed - because the body is still waiting to be blasted. Rick says "soon" - it'll be worth the wait.

The wait just got easier because I got my Vespa 200GT about a week ago. Good fun! I have had a few nice days and have had a few long rides and many short ones. Have about 230 miles on the 200GT now and really like it. It's even fun to ride on crummy rainy days. Pictures coming soon. Need to get links going too - this page is still pretty lame.

I went to one of those Meetup.com meetings and met some nice folks from VCOS (vespa club of seattle) and will hopefully go on some of their rides soon. Looking forward to riding the '58 - but won't be putting pressure on the body guy because I want it to look great and not be rushed.

I spent about 2 minutes looking at the '58's speedometer and left it on the bench. Gotta figure out if it is toast or not, just wasn't ready to open it up. Also need to decide what to do about the taillight - it's either in need of a lot of work or replacing.

--Scott.

Feb 16 , 2004

Decided this project was worth a web page. Below is what I recall - above will be reported a bit closer to real-time.

I have decided the reanimation team needs official t-shirts. Gotta come up with some ideas. "I reanimated this Vespa" or "Vespa Reanimation Team" or something.

Oh, and because I really want to get riding again... and this is taking a while, I am on a waiting list at Seattle Vespa for a new 2004 Vespa Granturismo :-) Steve at Seattle Vespa was a great help.

--Scott.

Jan (look this date up sometime), 2004

Went sledding with my cousins and their kids. We stayed with Rick. Rick has the killer ski condo with an igloo outside that you can enter and go through a window into the condo through. Pure fun. Turns out Rick runs Guaranteed Auto Body - does custom paint - and was into the idea of doing a custom paintjob. We talk about doing a Ukulele theme. Rick talks about doing custom metalwork as well - maybe mirrors and/or saddlebags. I come up with some other weird ideas I later abandon. Rebecca suggests Robots because of some of the prints I have done. I decide to go with a spaceship/robot theme. I dig out two books I have, one on Robot/Spaceship tin toys. One on rayguns. Decide big fake rivets are cool. Decide it's basically a big tin toy.

Two weeks later, I bring parts and idea books to Rick.
I'm really looking forward to what he dreams up.

--Scott.

Jan-Feb (four sundays in the harley room), 2003

Dick gets the scooter running the very first Sunday. After it belches out the decade old goo for a while, we put new wheels and tires on it and I take it for a ride. My stupid grin lasts about a week. I'm hooked, and I turn up the spending on chrome stuff.

The scooter looks funny with the big bikes. My mom suggests it be called whatever Italian for "little pig" would be, since it is pink and sitting with the "'Hogs" in the "Harley Room". I make a mental note to check out vanity plates.

Dick, Dan, Noelle, Claire, and I start taking the scooter apart. Much to do.
I break the front brake handle. We lose bearings from the front forks all over the floor. A few cuts here and there. But we get it all apart.

We discover that simple household degreaser works better than engine cleaner for 50 year old grime.

We hope that we can get all new cables and rewiring back in the old holes. I take a lot of pictures as we disassemble it, just in case.

I take the Reanimation team out for brunch. I bring home Pie :-).

--Scott.

Dec 28 or so, 2003

I made a visit to Victor at Big People Scooters in the very cool Georgetown neighborhood. Home of the Hat & Boot, and the Eagles #1 amongst other interesting places. I asked Victor about what it'll cost to get this up and running. In retrospect I shouldn't have been surprised to find out that it's going to cost about what buying one that's already in good shape would cost - and I'd still need to get it painted.

--Scott.

Dec 24-25, 2003

Rebecca gives me the bill of sale from her purchase, and a 1959 Haynes manual and some old catalog of parts (I should scan in some of this).

I start hunting ebay for pictures of 58s to see what it should look like and figure out what model I have from the serial#. Turns out it is a 58 VNA1T.

I find tons of info, though most not on my model, but it seems close enough. I do manage to locate a wiring diagram for my model - which makes me feel like I'll find enough info to make this happen correctly.

I show the scooter to Dick and Dan when they come over on xmas day. Dick points out he has all the tools in the 'harley room' (Dick has two bikes - soon to be three) and says I ought to do the work there in a warm dry place. I take him up on it, and he becomes the de-facto head mechanic. It becomes a sunday project for 2 months.

--Scott.

Dec 20 or so, 2003

I made a visit to Victor at Big People Scooters in the very cool Georgetown neighborhood. Home of the Hat & Boot, and the Eagles #1 amongst other interesting places. I asked Victor about what it'll cost to get this up and running. In retrospect I shouldn't have been surprised to find out that it's going to cost about what buying one that's already restored would cost. I also should.

I bring the scooter home instead of bringing it to Victor. I decide to do the work myself (with much help of course).

--Scott.

Dec, must have been about the first week, 2003

So. My my sister decides to give me a very cool xmas gift. OK, I might have hinted a bit enthusiastically that this was what I wanted, but she did ask. You wish your sister was this nice. She rocks!

Noelle doesn't say I'm nuts for wanting to fix it up, or ride it, or warn me I'll die on it. She rocks! You wish you had a wife who understood the need for a person to have way too many projects/hobbies/whatever going on at one time.

I decide to check with some local shops to find out what they'll charge to get it up and running and maybe do the painting for me too. I didn't plan to do the work myself.

--Scott.

1993 or 1994 or something like that...

My my sister buys a sort of running Vespa that is spraypainted salmon pink, has some rust damage, has been dumped or crashed probably more than once, and basically needs some work. Still, you could ride it if it had a license. This is Portland, OR. It eventually comes home when she moves back to WA, and sits in the parental garage for something nearing a decade. During this time, I try to start it once with Dad - I manage to break the choke cable. Oops. We feel bad, then we go eat turkey or something. I tell Rebecca I'll get her a new seat, since the thing doesn't have anything but springs. I never do. Lame brother.

Italy, 1958...

Vespa VNA1T 025845 rolls off the assembly line somewhere in Italy. Cue the Godfather soundtrack.