Modern Buddy

Idea borrowed from Modern Vespa's Not So Modern subforum, where I hang out alot. http://modernvespa.com/forum/topic109742

Post any tips or tricks you have for working on the Stella 2T, 4T or Auto.

Mine are:

3/8" OD x 1/4" ID vinyl tubing works well for the rear cowl peg buffers. A little stiffer than the stock rubber tubing buffers, so it's easier to use the whole roll to push it on, then cut to size. Seems tougher then the rubber tubing, too.

Silicone spray lubricant, silicone oil, silicone grease, and dielectric grease all "rehydrate" old, dry rubber parts and o-rings. Works especially well on old, compacted o-rings or rubber gaskets that aren't sealing, it will cause them to swell. Also work great for water proofing electrical stuff, the spary lubricant and oil will penetrate down wire and insulation, while grease water proofs connectors and inside switches.

Someone else on this forum came up with this one.

Built-in helmet lock!
Open seat. Hook helmet ring on cowl lever. Close & lock seat. Bob's your uncle!



EDIT - just re-read the OP where it said "…for working on…" Oh well sorry. Still a neat trick.

caffeine65 wrote:EDIT - just re-read the OP where it said "…for working on…" Oh well sorry. Still a neat trick.

Don't worry about it. As long as it's a Stella related tip or trick.

Neurotic-Hapi-Snak wrote:

caffeine65 wrote:EDIT - just re-read the OP where it said "…for working on…" Oh well sorry. Still a neat trick.

Don't worry about it. As long as it's a Stella related tip or trick.

For this, be careful on which way your helmet visor faces (if you have one). It might hurt the cowl

(not that I would know or anything....)

To refill after gearbox oil changes, I use a squeezy condiment bottle--the kind with the pointy tip. Found it at my local supermarket with the kitchen utensils for $1. Way faster/easier than messing with a syringe, which I see a lot of people doing.

CountryJustice wrote:To refill after gearbox oil changes, I use a squeezy condiment bottle--the kind with the pointy tip. Found it at my local supermarket with the kitchen utensils for $1. Way faster/easier than messing with a syringe, which I see a lot of people doing.

+1


get a spare clutch inner and a cable clamp.. grease it up and coil it into a baggie. keep it in your glove box for roadside fix... no more riding home clutchless!!!

All the stuff I have in my tool bag, I never thought of that one. I like it!

Speaking of toolbag, I found a canvas men's toiletries travel bag at Target for something like $5. All my essential spanners, sockets, hexes, and screwdrivers fit with plenty of room to spare, and the whole bag fits up right in the glovebox. Awesome, cheap way to stay organized and prepared for any situation.

Why did I forget this one:

MAGNETS. Your glovebox is metal. Use it!

I have an air pressure gauge with a magnet, my insurance card/registration are in a bag with a small magnet to keep them out of the way and hidden unless I need them...

jimmbomb wrote:

CountryJustice wrote:To refill after gearbox oil changes, I use a squeezy condiment bottle--the kind with the pointy tip. Found it at my local supermarket with the kitchen utensils for $1. Way faster/easier than messing with a syringe, which I see a lot of people doing.

+1


get a spare clutch inner and a cable clamp.. grease it up and coil it into a baggie. keep it in your glove box for roadside fix... no more riding home clutchless!!!

If it's not greased shove it into your bottle of 2T oil before installing

I made a jack for the Stella today. I wanted something to replace the bulky piece of 2x4 I had been using and figured making a jack was only a little more work than a stand. Breaks down nicely to fit into a tool kit. Directions on how to make here: http://modernvespa.com/forum/post1918223#1918223

Neurotic-Hapi-Snak wrote:I made a jack for the Stella today. I wanted something to replace the bulky piece of 2x4 I had been using and figured making a jack was only a little more work than a stand. Breaks down nicely to fit into a tool kit. Directions on how to make here: http://modernvespa.com/forum/post1918223#1918223

Awesome, thanks man.

I use a paint brush (2" ) to brush out the dirt and grit that always seems to accumulates along the floorboard rails.

I use a paint brush (2" ) to brush out the dirt and grit that always seems to accumulates along the floorboard rails.

I don't know if everybody knows, but Hiflo filter #HF167 is an equivalent to the OEM filter for the 4T and Auto. I've been using them since the first oil change.



http://www.hiflofiltro.com/catalogue/filter/HF167

These are called 3/4" button/clearance/side marker lights, they're made for trailers and found at auto parts stores or stores that have a large selection of trailer parts like farm stores. Super easy to install as bar ends, cut or drill (using a spade or corkscrew bit) a 3/4" hole into the ends of your grips, run a length of wire down the tubes, splice the leads to the wire, and simply pop the lights into the holes. You can either splice the lights into a DC source like the horn wire (I spliced into the parking lamp wire since I switched it to DC) for side marker lights, or splice each respective light into the turn signal wires for auxiliary turn signals. Although they are really bright and have good rear and side visibility, they have poor front visibility since the handlebars sweep back, so I wouldn't use them as the sole turn signals.


Two of them could light up quite a bit of my garage for how small they are.

Has anyone put effect lighting inside the cowels to give a downward glow? I was thinking on the 4T with the side grills a blue or green would look...interesting.

Inside the cowls... interesting... I was thinking of doing some ground lighting for visibility purposes, using LED strips under the floorboard, but mounting a fixture under the cowls sure sounds easier to wire, and opens up a myriad of possibilities...

Yea...red lighting under my cowls...I dig it.

I went to Pep Boys and Auto Zone today just to see what they had, there are a number of different LED accessory lights available: strips, bars, blinking/flashing lights. Lots of possibilities.

Yea I am thinking of it more and more. Under cowls and front fender....

I have a 2005 2t Black Stella. Would I need to convert anything to add something like that?

As long as the lights are 12v, you are OK.

yeah, put them inside and get the ground effect and a glow from the cowel slots too...give the machine an eerie reactor/alien glow.

Ground effect! Just like aircraft and race cars!
Love it!

A clutch holder tool works as a flywheel holder for the Stella 4T

A 1/2x1/8" rare earth magnet fits into the small recess on the inside of the oil strainer cap. Rough up the magnet and cap, and use epoxy to hold the magnet. Even if the magnet comes loose, the strainer will keep it from being sucked up by the oil pump and the spring will keep it from traveling back into the sump. Great for a 4T to keep all the transmission and clutch filings out of the oil.

any one tell me if there are direct turn signal bulb swop for LEDs? (with balast/resistor built in)