Yes I reckon the spacer isn't thick enough. I have tried putting a washer underneath (on the underside of the bus) just to prove to myself that a slightly thicker spacer would work. Putting inside under the spacer just makes the mounting wobbly.

We need someone to knock up a batch of 1mm shims to fine tune it.

Thanks for posting

Steve

wizard 1066 wrote:It's been in for a couple of years now and we have just renewed all the bushes and greased everything, to find it now stiff to use, it might be down to the spacer compressing or just the parts need wearing in, going to try to fit a couple of washers under the spacer to see if it makes any difference.

It'll be the spring ring that goes around the plastic bushing under the gear shift plate under the front floor. I had exactly the same issue with mine that i recently replaced.

Evening

Yesterday morning before work I tried something on the Vespa that I'd read about and it worked…I got a spark

Then I won at golf in the afternoon, beating 17 others and knocking it round in 8 over…so this morning I was excited….things were going well

We got the Vespa to run for about 5 seconds but have a couple of problems…so onto the bus. I tried the other flasher unit that I had ordered but that behaved in the same way. Good in one way but still not solved the problem. Indicators work fine on their own. Hazards work fine on their own….but only with ignition on….which I don't want. Bur when hazards and indicator both on, the indicators stay on permanently with no flashing. I can work with this but it ain't right. I'm still thinking…….

Onto the gearstick spacer. I might machine one out of nylon one day but this will do for now









I should get that done tomorrow and then onto the fuel tank testing……

Not much to show but a bit further along….

Cheers,

Steve

That fabricated spacer look wicked mate! Don't think you need to machine one.

Keep plodding, every job means your a step closer.

Evening all

Up at what I thought was early only to realise we'd lost an hour

After breakfast I decided to have another look at the flasher / hazard system, but first I got some paint on the gearstick spacer

With a bit of heat in the cave it soon dried. The hazards have got me flummoxed It's not a problem, everything works but I just wanted it modified a bit. I need to have a beer with an auto electrician into VW buses So, having failed, I put the gearstick in. I'm happy with it and it works well. What it's like to drive with, time will tell. Still, another job ticked off

Painted



Installed



Finished. Hopefully the carpets will cover most of the spacer anyway



Dad came around for an hour or two and he brought with him a woodruff key. We'd manage to shear a couple in the Vespa and I read on the 'net last night that this was probably due to not torquing up the flywheel enough. A possibility as I'd only used my hand to hold it. We made up a flywheel holding tool, torqued it up to setting FT and I kicked it over………….started first time I even had a little ride round the drive Dad disappeared for lunch with us both being fairly pleased with ourselves.

This, not running, wreck



to this working stable mate for Rusty. Nearly but not quite finished.



Next up wasRusty's petrol tank. We tested the sender unit, prior to fitting the tank in the bus

Sender unit not connected



and with the sender connected the gauge moved up to "zero." Something appears to be working I've fitted a voltage dropper from AHS at the moment but was able to buy from Peter Good his last electronic voltages dropper/stabiliser so I may fit that later on, depending on the performance of the gauge….



The outlet was sealed with the old outlet nut and a bit of fishpond rubber and then I poured in some fuel
I was going to use water but this would have meant draining and leaving for a day to dry out so we opened all the doors and stuck in 5 litres of petrol



The gauge moved a little, but then I had only put a little fuel in. Not wanting to decant 30 or so more litres of fuel in the cave I got the Sheila to help….



I turned the tank over. Bingo! The gauge went to full.



So with that test having been successful, I made some rubber mounting pads up for the tank….more fishpond rubber



All prepped for the install



Mary gave me a hand so that we didn't scratch anything and the tank went in reasonably easily after a little twisting and turning so I dug out the neck rubber…..but which way does it go????

Like this? I don't think that's right as it would collect the fuel…..



or like this? This was my bet…..but I'm not good at betting



I couldn't find it in Bentley



but C & C's exploded diagrams came to the rescue…….again….



Here's a little tip….put a washer with a big hole underneath the strap…..that way it won't chip the paint when it twists as it tightens….like it did on mine More touch up required…..



After a while it was done. I used some rubber to soften the corners a little but it also hides the fact that the paint chipped off in layers where the straps are bent. Probably better to pre bend the straps prior to painting Oh well, next time



Sender wires all clipped in……



and fuel cap fitted



What next????? Suggestions…. I'm thinking the fuel pump and solenoid fit…

Over and out.

Steve

Oooooooooo
Exciting...
Lovely detail n tips...
Another Steve's tip...to add to the list..
G

.....now about that small frame 50cc....still not seen one...
G

Evening all

I've been trying to shift a headache all day and it's now a sore throat I've also had a day when progress has been painfully slow, but the project has moved forward a bit more Here's what I've done today.

Finished off fitting the hard fuel lines and replaced all the clips with those supplied by VW aircooledworks. The thinner clips get a better grip



Old on the left replaced by the type on the right



Next job, mount the fuel pump and cut off solenoid. There is a handy looking hole in the chassis, near the cradle, crying out for a rivnut



I couldn't get the rivnut tool in so had to improvise with a nut and bolt. Laying on my back wasn't helping the headache much



All done but the seam seal has got a bit grubby



I've got to fit this in without it getting in the way of anything



I couldn't see the point of putting in the solenoid (which has a filter) and another filter (which came attached to the rotary pump) so I did away with the separate one and fitted them both to the one rivnut. Then I fitted the tank outlet and connected the tank to the solenoid.



Fed up with laying down, I decided to do the heat exchanger controllers. One of the bags was split and there were a couple of bits missing so I laid all the parts out to try to make head and tail of it all



There should have been little circlips to go on these pins but one was missing. I decided I liked the split pin method and drilled holes through them both



Now I'm stuck and don't have anything to copy. I think it goes like this, but where do the springs and the other pluggy bits in this photo go? Does anything attach to the lever at the top of the heat exchanger? You can see the bracket at the top in the initial photo of this post.

Any advice/photos/help gratefully received peeps



I've gone as far as I can with that job so decided to fit my Fireboy so that I could think about wiring everything together. I drilled a guide hole from underneath and then marked up the other three holes in comparative comfort



Didn't like drilling but it's fairly neat and will never be seen anyway



I fitted the nuts and washers and tightened them on so that they would act as a "standoff" rather than having the plate tight against the underside of the shelf which could trap condensation and other crap.


and then fitted the cradle with some second nuts



so that's done. Just needs wiring now….



I basically pfaffed about with wiring for the rest of the day, soldering and thinking about the best and neatest way to go about things. A warning light goes in the cab which means running two wires to the front. Luckily (or was it good planning?) I have several spare cables running front to back.

Nothing much more to show so that's that for today.

Cheers

Steve

All those little jobs take ages Steve, looking ace and making great progress.

Coming along nicely Steve , don't forget to renew the fibre washers on the fuel banjo connections on your carbs

...or on thr elbow out of your fuel tank.
I bought a larger elbow from my tank so I had 8mm diameter through as far as I could....
But checked the filter and replaced the elbow at 8mm...
Maybe another top tip...!!!

type21f wrote:...or on thr elbow out of your fuel tank.
I bought a larger elbow from my tank so I had 8mm diameter through as far as I could....
But checked the filter and replaced the elbow at 8mm...
Maybe another top tip...!!!

Elbow on fuel outlet doesn't have one……….I think it seals on the plastic base of the filter……….or is mine missing? Mine is 8mm too.

readyboy61 wrote:Coming along nicely Steve , don't forget to renew the fibre washers on the fuel banjo connections on your carbs

No got that in mind to do but should have been tested at engine builders. Hopefully the carb folks will be at VoWo this weekend. Another item on the "to do" list

Evening all

Just a quickie as wiring and soldering isn't very photogenic. I redid bits of wiring for the warning lights to the fuel pump/solenoid and warning lights

I've been mulling something over in my head for a few days and tonight I fabbed this up.

So folks…….it's


****COMPETITION TIME ****

A free beer at VF to the first person that guesses what it is. All will be revealed later in the week

Mystery item displayed in vice



Mystery item painted



I also had a little play with the Vespa. It still runs and very well too. I'm amazed at how well it runs, considering what its been through. But it cuts out when I turn the headlights on. I'll have to collect the chips in the daylight

Cheers

Steve

Is it a lamp shade for your engine bay lighting that swivels into place when required??