Vespa Sprint 150 clutch & gear problems

[Mark Stallard]

hi,

I have just bought a restored vespa sprint 150, which is fantastic,
what fun machine!! I have problem with the clutch and gearing though.

1. when i come to a stop i cnnot engage neutral either from 2nd or
1st. At junctions i have to leave it in 1st with eh clutch engaged,
but the scoot is lurching forward so i have to kill the engine shift
into neutral and start again. I can then shift into 1st and move off.

2. sometimes i can shift thorugh 2nd, 3rd into 4th, it seems to miss
gears almost too sensitive with the selction. i can shift without the
clutch in which is a bit freaky and catches me out occasionally.

can anyone help?

[tony kettle]

Clutch cable needs adjusting or gear cables if this don't work new
clutch/cruciform

"Mark Stallard" <eggze...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1170515415....@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com...

[Paul Sack]

"Mark Stallard" <eggze...@gmail.com> writes:

> I have just bought a restored vespa sprint 150, which is fantastic,
> what fun machine!! I have problem with the clutch and gearing though.

Where did you get this "restored" vespa? If you bought it from a
reputable shop, this probably would not have happened. There are a lot
of Asian companies, especially Vietnamese, selling awful Vesps that
superficially look nice--structurally they are often 2 or 3 frames
welded together, and mechanically they are often worse than that.

See vespatude.com .

A lot of them have nice websites and good feedback, too. At least try
to find a mechanic to split the cases and make sure everything is in
order. There are plenty of stories of coke cans used for shims,
homemade bushings used for bearings, etc., and if one of those parts
comes loose while you are on the road, you could land up in the
hospital or worse.

If this is the case, the smartest thing would be to try to get your
money back and buy a scooter locally in good mechanical condition with
a bad paint job.

[Mark Stallard]

On Feb 4, 7:37 pm, Paul Sack <paulsac...@SPAMcs.uiuc.edu> wrote:

Hi,

Thanks for the help guys i will try the clutch cable adjustment.

> Where did you get this "restored" vespa?

I got it fomrthe harrington group, outside of ebay or their website.

I bought the machine following a visit to the goodwood festival of
spped, where harrington had a stand with scoots on display.

I did have some issues with registereing the machine as the frame
number was in dispute. However i luckily live close the registration
expert for the vespa owners club. He very kindly came to my house and
inspected the vehicle. He like you told me of the bad stories coming
from asia with these "restored" stoots. THankfully he provided a reg
cert based on his inspection. HE said i was one of the lucky ones too,
the machine is the machine i have paid for.

I feel very lucky! i have had the scooter checked over as well for
saftery and it all seems to be ok. Just this clutch problem left!!

mark

[neon]

Please let us know how it worked out... if it was Just the clutch cable
as ive seen some of their scooters and some problems though hopefully
yours is cool

[Mike Lynch]

Vespa's will not change gear easily when stationary.
You should be able to go 1st or 2nd to neutral. Try
changing to neutral just before you stop. Yes do
change the clutch cable.

Mick L

"neon" <t...@ot.com> wrote in message
news:IeWGh.134902$gM1....@fe04.news.easynews.com...

[Molesworth]

In article <1170515415....@j27g2000cwj.googlegroups.com>,
"Mark Stallard" <eggze...@gmail.com> wrote:

I have a '69 Sprint too.

The clutch cable is a very fine adjustment between clutch-slip and
disengaging properly. I have it set so that a split-pin shoved between
the clutch arm and the brass cable-clamp (put over the cable) will
enable me to change easily. It is a matter of less than 2mm difference!
Trying to adjust the brass clamp is difficult as it has been in that
position for years and doen't want to sit anywhere else..

--
Molesworth