[NMBR] A New Vintage Vespa in the Morris Garage! - MORE PICS

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smorris
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[NMBR] A New Vintage Vespa in the Morris Garage! - MORE PICS

Post by smorris »

I picked up a new scooter last night. I am now the custodian of a 1965 Vespa 180 Super Sport. It is in very good original condition. There are no dents or dings whatsoever. The stainless trim is unblemished. Not a dent or scrape on it. The trim around the floorboards shows indication of 40 years of feet, but isn't too bad. At some point, someone slathered some white paint on the floorboards to protect them from rust, so that's not particularly pretty. It currently has a poor fitting rubber floormat covering it.

The paint has a fair number of stone chips and scratches, but the integrity of the paint is still good. There is no paint checking, orange peel, crazing, etc. Where the paint is good, it is real good. I bought it in the process of being touched up, so it has what I call "black measles." All of the stone chips have been generously coated with Permatex rust killer. This is good to stop any rust, but doesn't particularly look attractive. I need to clean the excess off with carb cleaner, and then I'll clean everything up and go over it with 3M hand glaze. At that point I'll have to decide whether to get some color-matched touch-up and go after the spots with the air brush, or have it professionally taken care of. I don't want to repaint it, because it is in such good overall original condition.

Mechanically it is sound. The engine has recently had new bearings, seals, and rings, as well as the cylinder honed. The clutch has been gone through, and shifting seems smooth to my inexperienced eye. It has a deep, throaty sound, thanks to a period correct '60s aftermarket exhaust. I still have the stocker if I need it. I need to get in and clean the cables. The throttle seems stiff, and brake might need some adjustment. The engine needs a good cleaning. Some of the rubber boots are pretty much shot. I don't know how many of these are available for replacement, but I don't want to overdo the new stuff for fear of making the original parts look bad.

For the most part, it is a clean 'er up and ride it sort of purchase. Not pretty, but certainly presentable.

Check out www.morrisgarage.com/ss180 for the one photo I have up so far. You know me... more to come!

Image
Last edited by smorris on Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:13 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve - Avon, Ohio
The Morris Garage

2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 ____ 2006 Vespa LX150 ____ 1965 Vespa 180 SS
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon ____ 1958 MGA Roadster
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peabody99
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Post by peabody99 »

congrats steve! I really thought your next bike would be a Buddy for your wife. Maybe the next one! will he/she be up and running for a Cleveland spring ride?
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smorris
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Post by smorris »

peabody99 wrote:congrats steve! I really thought your next bike would be a Buddy for your wife. Maybe the next one! will he/she be up and running for a Cleveland spring ride?
Nah, Deb loves the Met, and doesn't aspire to riding too far or fast on it. We did, however, go look at the 2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 a few weeks ago, and she likes it. That would be something we could both go on, for longer distances, and in more comfort. Besides, I've got room for more! :)

It runs now! :D
Last edited by smorris on Fri Oct 27, 2006 2:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Steve - Avon, Ohio
The Morris Garage

2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 ____ 2006 Vespa LX150 ____ 1965 Vespa 180 SS
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon ____ 1958 MGA Roadster
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smorris
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Post by smorris »

OK, I took some photos last night when we got home, and more tonight. I just put them in the computer, and uploaded them to the gallery. The unblinking bright light of the camera shows more than my blindered eyes saw at the time... Not quite the pretty thing I expected, but as I said, tons of potential.

The headlamp lens is plastic, but I have the glass Heim one here wrapped up safe and sound. That can't be a 41 year old saddle. It has to have been covered or replaced at some time. Under the headset, the paint has chipped off , there's some rust, and it has been touched up with mis-matched paint. I still can't see any signs that the whole scooter has ever been repainted. No spare or spare cover. I wonder if the exhaust interfered with it?

I took it for a first ride tonight. :shock: That clutch comes on *right now*. It's been a long time since I pulled an unintentional wheelie. :D Hey, these things lean to the right! I said I need to clean the cables, but I might just replace them. I've never ridden a shifter scooter before, but I've ridden a lot of motorcycles. I don't ever remember having to turn the throttle back toward idle rather than having spring pressure pull it back. I'm going to practice a bit before I ride it in traffic, too. Shifting and clutching with the same hand is definitely odd to me. The front brake doesn't do much, either. Don't know if that's cable or shoe. The rear works pretty good.

So, here it is in all its black-measled, grimy glory. Comments/critique not only welcome, but encouraged.

http://smorris.smugmug.com/gallery/2054703

Thanks,
Steve
Steve - Avon, Ohio
The Morris Garage

2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 ____ 2006 Vespa LX150 ____ 1965 Vespa 180 SS
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon ____ 1958 MGA Roadster
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Elm Creek Smith
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Post by Elm Creek Smith »

Hate to say it, but with that kind of surface rust in the areas you can't see, I'd probably go for a total paint job, inside and out. Either that or buy stock in Rustoleum.

I'd also go for new cables, inspect/replace brakes as necessary, and new wiring. (I'm not a big fan of electrical tape as repair.)

Restoration.

ECS
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Post by ericalm »

Hey, Steve... Beautiful scoot! Congrats.
To take this further away from the Buddy discussion ( :) ), I also have an LX150 and am dreaming of a vintage Vespa for my next scoot. I'd love to hear your comparisons between the LX and the SS180, but maybe you could PM me with it so we don't go too far afield. Last shifter I rode was a P200; that was quite a few yars ago, though.
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Post by Keys »

Actually, a number of vintage bikes didn't have a carburetor return spring including Harley-Davidsons. I believe my old '63 V90 Vespa had no return spring. I currently have a '66 Sears "Blue Badge" 125...basically a 125 Primavera with a crappy front end. Hasn't been run in 24 years and is currently in pieces all over my garage awaiting restoration...

--Keys 8)
"Life without music would Bb"
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smorris
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Post by smorris »

Thanks guys.

ECS: I may end up there, but I think I'm going to clean it up, touch it up, and ride it for now.

Eric, I'll PM you after I ride it a bit and get used to it. Right now it is like night and day! If I forget, PM me to remind me.

I'm going at it with some grease remover this weekend, and see if the cables clean up a bit. I'll get in there and see if there is even a throttle return spring.

Thanks
Steve
Steve - Avon, Ohio
The Morris Garage

2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 ____ 2006 Vespa LX150 ____ 1965 Vespa 180 SS
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon ____ 1958 MGA Roadster
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xkennx
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Post by xkennx »

If you plan on riding the SS180 alot you might want to upgrade to electric ignition and get rid of the old points system. Probly the best think you could ever do to an old scooter.

Also one of my scooters have the same headset, word of advice if you ever see any more glass or rings "BUY THEM" they are a pain in the butt to get when you actually need one.
06 Gen Scooters Buddy 125 (sold)
05 Gen Scooters Stella w/sidecar (sold)
05 Vespa ET8
80 Vespa P200 w/ Polini 208
80 Vespa P200 w/ Malossi 210
74 Vespa Sprint 125
74 Vespa Primaveria 125 (broke)
56 Labretta LD 125 (sold)
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smorris
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Post by smorris »

xkennx wrote:If you plan on riding the SS180 alot you might want to upgrade to electric ignition and get rid of the old points system. Probly the best think you could ever do to an old scooter.

Also one of my scooters have the same headset, word of advice if you ever see any more glass or rings "BUY THEM" they are a pain in the butt to get when you actually need one.
Thanks for the pointers. I have an original glass and reflector, but have the repro in now. I'll probably just get another repro lens and keep the glass back for a keeper.

After running points on the MGA, and even carrying a spare dizzy plate with pre-set points and condensor on it, I finally bought a Pertronix Ignitor. (Not a fully electronic ignition, but basically a set of optical points using a Hall effect pick-up.) The cheap Chinese point sets have a plastic follower that melts faster than most points normally need reset! So instead of adjusting them, you drove till it ran crappy and then tossed them.

I'll eventually see what is available for the SS. I kept the MGA absolutely 1958 original (except for 1959-60 front disk brakes and windscreen top header) for about 4 years before I decided to be more practical. Now I have the Pertronix, I replaced the two dead 6v batteries (in series) with one 12v, and am considering replacing my ailing 1500cc engine w/3-sychro box with an MGB 1800cc w/Euro Ford full synchro 5-speed. :) That and there's a 190cc kit for my LX 150 on my workbench. :twisted:
Steve - Avon, Ohio
The Morris Garage

2007 Suzuki Burgman 400 ____ 2006 Vespa LX150 ____ 1965 Vespa 180 SS
2002 Subaru WRX Wagon ____ 1958 MGA Roadster
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