1952 Vespa Allstate Restoration Blog

2012-01-28T06:34:00.000-08:00

2012-01-28T05:29:00.000-08:00

2012-01-28T05:21:00.000-08:00

Just did this for fun

2012-01-28T04:33:00.000-08:00

I tried to get this acessory on ebay but got outbid while I was at work

It fits over the fork link an allows for a damper

I have to admit my first ride was very scary with this front suspension

2011-06-30T08:44:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQFZCUfDUQM

Best day ever!

2011-06-30T08:40:00.000-07:00

2011-06-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxHRhFnrfwA

nice

2011-06-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

I just called the shop and heard my engine running.
So amazing- videos of me riding on the way

KISSING COUSINS

2011-06-21T06:19:00.000-07:00

Here is my Allstate at the shop where it is getting fixed and roadworthy.

The owner, Glen Beauchamp, just happens to have a Faro Basso there.

Soon it will be on the road !!!!

2011-06-17T04:39:00.000-07:00

Just heard back from the shop and my 52 is running!!!!!!

2011-05-19T04:15:00.001-07:00

I am taking my bike to a local shop here to get it running. I have no spark. When I have it running I will post a video. :)

The shop is ModBro

http://www.modbro.com/

Bummer

2011-04-19T11:47:00.001-07:00

I tried to start it today but no dice - oh well more work

2011-04-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

2011-04-19T08:25:00.003-07:00

I have two things to fiddle with then I can start it

2011-04-19T08:25:00.001-07:00

All together!!!!!!!

final assembly

2011-04-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

Putting it all together for real now

2011-04-04T07:43:00.001-07:00

Gear selector all done

Now the Handlebar is complete

2011-04-04T07:42:00.001-07:00

If you ever worked on one of these light switches then you know how frustrating it is.

2011-03-28T13:28:00.001-07:00

Rear liscense plate holder

2011-03-28T13:23:00.000-07:00

These bakelite terminals cost a fortune to replace. I waited till the end to put them in

2011-03-28T13:21:00.000-07:00

Throttle, front brake, light switch and grip all installed. This side is finished

2011-03-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

And the headlight. Nice thing about this bike is that the wiring is pretty simple.

2011-03-26T10:40:00.001-07:00

2011-03-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

Decided to see if my wiring was good and if the lights work

2011-03-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Carb and bellows under tank.The bellows was a mother to put in.

2011-03-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

Front liscence plate holder

2011-03-25T13:50:00.001-07:00

Got the throttle and brake lever sorted.

2011-03-25T13:46:00.000-07:00

These are the tank stabilizers. They are weirdand hard tofigureout photoshow they actually go on.

2011-03-21T19:21:00.001-07:00

It almost looks like it is running with the headlight on but it is just the camera flash.......soon though

2011-03-21T19:20:00.001-07:00

Before and after with a little bit of polish

2011-03-21T19:19:00.001-07:00

2011-03-21T19:18:00.001-07:00

Decided to do a quick mock up to see what it all looks like together

2011-03-21T19:17:00.001-07:00

Test fitted the handlebars

2011-03-14T05:53:00.001-07:00

2011-03-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

Got the bike upstairs with the help of Mark Birksted. With much swearing and paint scraping we struggled to get the engine mounted.........until Mark had a good idea - which obviously worked.

2011-03-07T05:51:00.001-08:00

I managed to finish putting in a new kitchen on my vacation so I will be bringing the bike upstairs to finish soon - Hold tight -almost done!!!

2011-02-16T11:29:00.001-08:00

2011-02-16T11:28:00.002-08:00

2011-02-16T11:28:00.000-08:00

These look better all repaired and polished

2011-02-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

I decided that my project for today was to properly fix and polish the floor runners.

I was just gonna leave them all beat up and dirty but decided against it.

You can see the difference - the old ones are all bend and deformed and crusty.

Working with old aluminum is hard and I wouldn't try this without having been schooled by some expert body guys and having read the metal bumping book.

I will get someone to put in the rivets at a later date as they require a skill level I don't have.

The art of working on really really old aluminum

2011-02-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

This book has really saved my bacon - see todays posts

2011-02-16T09:01:00.001-08:00

Right. I promised my wife I would gut the kitchen and install a new one while I'm on vacation from Feb 20th to MArch 6th. I am pretty much at the point where the bike has to go upstairs to mount the engine and finalize the assemble. Then I AM DONE!!!!!!!!

2011-02-14T16:06:00.001-08:00

A nice pair of Italian shoes.

2011-02-14T15:53:00.000-08:00

The fuel tap polished up nice - not bad for 59 year old aluminum

2011-02-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

Besides the origional tailight, I am most happy that the bike still had these little metal cable guides that go on the steering column. Their cool and I'm sure hard to replace.

2011-02-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

Got the tank buttoned up today too

2011-02-14T10:31:00.000-08:00

Okay this was my nightmare of the week. I had to drop the fork, remove the lower bearing race, keep track of all the loose bearings, Install this unit and put it all back by myself. And then..............................................

.........................................wait for it..........................................................................................

it doesn't work because of the position of the tabs on the forks - crickets and muted trombone - wa wa w a wa.

;(

2011-02-09T05:18:00.001-08:00

I have updated my priorities.

2011-02-09T05:17:00.000-08:00

I probably should have decided to get a steering column key before I put the fork in but oh well.

Time to drop the fork I guess.

2011-02-09T05:14:00.001-08:00

New Spare

2011-02-09T05:05:00.001-08:00

Grey cowl rubber

2011-02-09T05:04:00.001-08:00

New boot feet

2011-02-09T05:03:00.000-08:00

Air bellows for carb

2011-02-09T05:02:00.000-08:00

I just got the rest of the bits I need to finish so here we go!. New footbreak rubber.

2011-01-27T11:53:00.001-08:00

2011-01-27T11:50:00.000-08:00

2011-01-27T11:49:00.000-08:00

Test fitting the Gullwing

2011-01-27T11:48:00.000-08:00

Found a nice little rubber gasket to fit the fuel lever

2011-01-27T08:31:00.001-08:00

I have just ordered the very last of the bits I need to finish. When they arrive this shit is gonna get done.

2011-01-27T07:59:00.000-08:00

Soooooooooooo close

2011-01-27T07:52:00.000-08:00

Tight!

2011-01-27T07:49:00.000-08:00

2011-01-27T07:36:00.000-08:00

Motor all assembled and ready to go in frame

2011-01-27T07:34:00.000-08:00

It now has legs

2011-01-23T09:02:00.001-08:00

Okay I am starting to get scared cause there is not much left to do?

2011-01-23T08:56:00.000-08:00

Trying to remember how this swingarm and rear suspension goes back together sure is fun.
:(

2011-01-23T07:37:00.001-08:00

Wheels ready to go in

2011-01-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

cleaned,sanded,primed painted and installed.

BTW these springs - complete nightmare to install until you see how it works and then not so bad.

2011-01-23T07:30:00.000-08:00

Nasty dirty job cleaninf it up this way in the dining room but it's -22 outside and the beadblaster doesn't work in those temperatures

2011-01-04T09:56:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to mount the center stand and then the engine is going in!!!!

2011-01-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

All together

Engine comes in two pieces - separate from swingarm.

2011-01-04T09:52:00.001-08:00

They look nice on the wheel hubs

2011-01-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

Wheel nuts getting done

2011-01-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

Now thats a nice clean swingarm

2011-01-04T09:46:00.000-08:00

These are the coolest brake pads I've ever seen. The copper rivets create holes in the pad where dust collects.

2011-01-04T09:43:00.000-08:00

Found this awesome U model diagram so I ripped out the harness I bought and made one myself BTW -homemade wiring harnesses are waaaay easier to install

2011-01-03T08:50:00.001-08:00

Getting the tailight ready. This will be among the last things to go on - anything that can be damaged will go on last

2010-12-15T19:49:00.000-08:00

2010-12-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

cables and wires done!

2010-12-13T13:58:00.000-08:00

Cables are run!
now on to wiring harness

2010-12-13T10:30:00.000-08:00

As she sits

2010-12-13T10:29:00.000-08:00

2010-12-13T09:59:00.000-08:00

Got the floor rails done today.
Onto the cables and wiring, then the swingarm and rear suspension

2010-11-30T07:48:00.001-08:00

2010-11-30T07:47:00.000-08:00

mocked up floor rails

2010-11-30T07:14:00.000-08:00

I installed the legshield badge and did an "OK" job and I managed to ding the paint

2010-11-30T07:11:00.000-08:00

Floor rails just sandblasted to clean the blue paint off. Now I have to straighten them out and polish them and install them(uggh)

2010-10-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

More mocking up

2010-10-27T17:25:00.000-07:00

Now I can start the final fit and finish

2010-10-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Got the Front fork with the help of a very strange man.

2010-09-07T09:37:00.001-07:00

Yes I am using some old hardware even though it is rust and shitty looking. At the end of the day this is NOT going to be a concours restoration even though I have done a shit tonne of work to make it close. IT's just gonna be my bike and it will have farts and dings despite the work I've done.

And I am totally okay with that

2010-09-07T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here is the rear suspension and swingarm almost ready to go

2010-09-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have started to re-assemble the suspension

2010-08-30T09:54:00.002-07:00

2010-08-30T09:54:00.001-07:00

2010-08-30T09:53:00.001-07:00

2010-08-30T09:51:00.000-07:00

More painting of bits

2010-08-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

I had spray bombs made of the body colour and I am doing all the small bits

2010-08-26T08:39:00.000-07:00

Just got a coat on

2010-08-26T07:23:00.000-07:00

Taped off and primed the bottom and wheel well today - will paint later today or tomorrow