>> how to prepare for spring

Riding in the spring is one of the most wonderful feelings!

Your scooter has sat under a tarp in the garage for several months collecting dust and feelings of neglect. Dust and bad feelings aren't the only things it may have collected.

Gear Oil

The first thing I do is change my gear oil. Oil is designed to lubricate moving parts and wash away debris and objects that can damage moving parts. Once oil in your transmission has sat for a long period of time the debris and oil has all collected in the bottom of the motor. Put your collection pan under the drain plug at the bottom of the motor and undo the plug. If it's cold the oil will take up to an hour to drain. Once the oil had drained, replace the drain plug and undo the oil fill plug next to the gear selector box. Using a funnel or oil gun add the oil as recommended in your owners annual. Vespa recommends Z90 gear oil filled up to the fill plug.

2-Stroke Oil

If you have an oil injector scooter like the "P" series make sure the oil is at a sufficient level so that no white is seen in the sight glass (under your fuel Tap). If you don't have an oil injector, skip this section.

Battery

If your scooter has a battery you should check to the acid level and the charge. Over time, evaporation will occur and your battery will begin to dry out. It's best to top your battery off with distilled water. Make sure your battery has a full charge before starting your scooter.

Lights

Test all your lights. Make sure your taillight and brake light work, as well as the high and low beam of your headlight. If you have turn signals, check them as well. It's also a good idea to make sure your speedometer bulb is working so at night. You may need to replace one or more bulbs in your scooter or clean some dirty contacts.

Tires

When tires sit for an extended period of time they will lose some air. So make sure that you check the pressure before you ride. Make sure the wheel nuts are tight and that the tire is in overall good condition. If you see any cracks in the sidewall or in the spaces between the tread, replacement is necessary.

Brakes

Make sure your brakes are in working order before you go riding on the street. Sometimes when a scooter sits for a long period of time you can get rust on the brake drums or disks, this will cause the brakes to grip poorly, making it harder to stop. Work the brakes a few times to make sure you can stop reliably.

Cables

Lastly it is very important to inspect the cables to make sure they are adjusted and in good working order. The most common cable ailment is after a long period of inactivity the cable will rust, crimp or fray against the inner wall of the housing. Some of the time cable lubrication will be necessary. However replacing a cable in the comfort of your garage is infinitely preferable to changing it on the side of the road. Make sure you test and adjust (if necessary) front and rear brakes, clutch, throttle and gear shift before setting out.

Spark Plug

Install a fresh spark plug on your scooter. I do this every month, whether I drive a little or a lot. Vespa's and Lambretta's have only one spark plug and it's one of the most common problems of hard starting and poor running. Replace it often and you'll suffer significantly less problems.

Gasoline

Get a fresh tank of Super Unleaded (92 octane) gasoline. Nothing will give you (and people behind you) the blues like an old tank of gas.

Enjoy!

>> If you have any questions about this or any other topic, please don't hesitate to contact us: 206.763.0160 or info@bigpeoplescooters.com