The rusty old scooter.

[subforry]

Love it, very cool.

[Vmass]

I remember this scooter catching my eye a few years ago when you posted a picture of your GS. Very cool scoot! I would love to restore one, but it will be easier to just watch you do it!

[storm 64]

I have to admit I'm a closet scooter person. I'd love to have a vintage Vespa, or a newer one for that matter. They really hold there value (for some reason). However, I'd probably look goofy riding one... There's a young lady in my town that rides a Vespa scooter, she looks cute as a button riding it. Decked out with all the cool scooter gear. ☺

[dorkburger]

Thanks all for checking in. Rich, clearly this wont be nearly as nice as one of your gorgeous restos...

Roeme, yes, 6v as noted by you.
http://20170807_203713 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

I started going thru the wiring. Very simple until the switch cluster. I began checking / comparing clusters and their switches, checking for continuity to determine what does what. I'm having trouble and suspect dirt in the switches. I held my breath and disassembled the 50 year old part. It opened up with no flying or falling parts.
The new cluster, despite bearing the same p/n and looking the same, has an extra wire and its terminals are laid out a bit different. I wonder if its a US market / Euro market subelty. The replacement came from a Wards Riverside (US market) scoot. I quit before waning patience caused me to do dumb things...

Clusters. The crusty one on the right missing the horn button is original. I have no clue what the bottom switch is for.
http://20170807_211856 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[roeme]

Very simple until the switch cluster. I began checking / comparing clusters and their switches, checking for continuity to determine what does what. I'm having trouble and suspect dirt in the switches (...)I have no clue what the bottom switch is for.

How many positions do the switches have? If it's two each, then it could be lights on/off, and high/low beam select. If it's three and two, my bet would be "lights off/parking/on" and "high/low beam".

Though, come to think of it, you surely would've found that one out by yourself through trial and error...unless one of the filaments has burned out and hence one can't discern high/low beam?

That, or the thing had indicators at some point...?

[dorkburger]

I took a bit of a look last night. I think there are some unused switch positions, and if looks as though it's an on / off switch, high / low beam on the bottom triangular switch, and a high beam indicator. It's much easier to see whats going on with the cluster open.
Horn is easy. There's also a dedicated wire powering the coil hot, then traveling to the cluster. The killswitch simply grounds it out to chassis as far as I can tell.

The electric question was on my mind, so I started it and checked voltage. 7 VAC at idle up to 17 VAC when revved up. I had to keep reminding myself that I'm working on AC voltage when checking the switches.... as in not everything simply hits a switch then a load then goes to ground.

[dorkburger]

In order to help save a bit of confusion, I did testing on the original cluster. As suspected. Dirty, no continuity. I brushed it with some cleaner then dunked it in near boiling water. I then found this.

Rusted out spring preventing contact from contacting.
http://20170809_203306 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

I took the piece from the other cluster, and completed going thru the electrics. Probably a little more in depth then necessary, but I find that drawing out circuits helps me to understand them better.

http://20170809_215039-1 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Edit.....Theres a missing wire from my sketch, so all of you guys and gals restoring a Raleigh Roma / Wards Riverside / Bianchi Orsetto scooters standby.....

[AMK]

When I bought the Big Red and Aero 50 my immediate plan was to unload the scooter but when we got it started my wife and daughter thought the scooter was cool.
After riding it I found it pretty cool myself. I think now I'll restore it and give it to my daughter.
You have a cool project there.

[dorkburger]

Those silly little scooters are a hoot.

[dorkburger]

Did a little work last night. It was a minor project just taking off the hanblebars. 4 cables (throttle, clutch, push / pull shift cables) had to all be sorted and removed first. Intersting thing I found was that the shift detent live outside of the engine by where the cables attach. I couldn't get a good pic though.
I was a bit bummed to find the throttle cable with a fray - just 1 wire though. I have no spare. I may have to try to make something, or just completely unwind the single cable from top to bottom as I did with the clutch cable years ago.

Tonight I couldn't be bothered to work on it and took a ride on the GS instead.

[dorkburger]

More disassembly. I'm waiting to hear from my cousin. He has an old Ducati Monza 250 with a suspiciously similar tail light - which is available on ebay.
http://20170813_165235 by Glen

Brenner, on Flickr

Close ups of the engine.... its cute. It even comes with a carry handle disguised as a kick starter.

http://20170813_164808 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Top view with the external gear change and detent mechanisms.
http://20170813_164843 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Dry generator.
http://20170813_164826 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[Vmass]

Coming along nicely! Are you considering a full restoration at this point?

You got me searching for a scoot, I almost had a 1958 Tempo but was just a bit too late.

[dorkburger]

The plan is still the same - full tear down, clean up, inspection, detail the chassis. I was cleaning up the engine, and was tempted to open it up, and polish the cases - then I thought of the pain of locating or making gaskets and decided no.....

[dorkburger]

More disassembly. All thats left is to finish taking apart the front end. Had a couple of surpises. As I was loosening the front end I began hearing dink, dink, dink. I paid it no mind until I realized it was the steering stem bearings falling out. I then counted the number up top and searched the floor until all were accounted for. Then while removing the clamps holding the center stand, the last bolt came out and the stand and clamp flung off and nearly hit my GS - I forgot to remove the spring... While searching for the clamp, I noticed the oil plug on the GS was dripping.

Other then some rusted bolts on the front fender, the thing came apart shockingly easy, especially for its age.

A frame stiff enough to make a GSXR blush.... Dig the perfectly preserved paint on the shock mounts.
http://20170816_210156 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Swingarm with brass bushings - still tight and free from play. The bolt has grease fittings on both ends.
http://20170816_205506 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

Front end. Basically a bicycle fork. The slot inthe middle is for a lock, which I dont have.
http://20170816_214207 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

I literally laughed out loud when I opened the shock.
http://20170816_210730 by Glen Brenner, on Flickr

[Charlie G]

"A frame stiff enough to make a GSXR blush...."

Crotch rockets are easily impressed by Italian machinery.