The 2211 Daily

by Eric Dregni

Scooter Tool Kit For Mechnically Uninclined – In the 1950s both Piaggio and Innocenti marketed the idea of “trouble free scootering” with there service shops around Europe to help scooterists in need. Innocenti upped the ante against Piaggio by forming the “Blue Angels” a sort of scooter AAA that would zoom out to help broken down Lambrettas.
Many scooter riders, on the other hand, knew how temperamental their zippy two-strokes could be and scoffed at the idea of “trouble free scootering.” They valued a rider’s ability to maintain his or her own scooter, and to this day this ability retains a good deal of value.
Motorscooter maintenance is a form of meditation in which you discover how your vehicle – and yourself, by default – function and fit into this world. Any scooter club will recommend you stuff your glove box full of helpful tools and ignore the optimist who says you’ll have no problems.
After years of pushing my Labretta Li 125 Slimline as much as I rode it, I offer my advice and recommend you keep these tools in the glove box:

– Socket wrench, rag and wire brush. This is especially important when riding a two-stroke, old or new; not only does that smokey blue exhaust pollute the air, but it also pollutes the engine’s combustion chamber. No matter how careful you are about mixing the proper ratio of oil to gas, sooner or latter your spark plug will become fouled with carbon. When this becomes severe enough, eventually your scooter won’t start. When this damn Lammie won’t fire, I pull the plug and wipe off the soot from the tip. As a last resort, I use a wire brush to clean it, but this will wear down the plug.
– Spark plug gapper. Checking and setting the gap for the spark plug is essential for smooth scooting, especially after you’ve cleaned the tip of the spark plug with a wire brush. Simply pull off the plug with the socket wrench, and slip the gapper in the end to get the proper measurement (as shown in your repair manual).
– Repair manual. Unsympathetic publishers print oversized books that don’t fit in the glove box. Either editors haven’t been stranded on a date with a broken down scooter or they can afford to pay a mechanic to tune their ride (Usually a motorcycle) perfectly.
– Extra cable and Allen wrenches. Nothing stops a rally than a snap cable. Make sure the spare cable is long enough for every application (in a pinch, tandem bike cables might work). Lambrettas require an Allen wrench to tighten the gear shifting cables (an excruciating task).

– Swiss army knife, pliers and crescent wrenches. Sure, you should bring all sorts of proper wrenches and screwdrivers, but you won’t have room. Pliers will eventually strip nuts and bolts, as will adjustable wrenches like a crescent wrench, but you won’t care when you’re stuck on the side of the road.
– Plastic measuring cup and little funnel. This only applies to vintage scooters, since all modern two-stroke scooters automatically mixes gas and oil. If you ride one of this antiques, you’ll have to make certain your tank contains the proper ratio of oil to gas. Look in your repair manual for the proper mix. If you have to much oil, the scooter will have trouble starting and the plug could foul up. If you don’t have enough, the engine will burn hot and could seize. Some gas stations have proper funnels so you don’t spill gas all over your ride. If you’re fastidious, though, bring your own funnel. Spilled gas cracks paint.
Taken from the MOTORBOOKS’ Everything You Need To Know – SCOOTERS by Eric Dregni

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