Essentially, the spring is so weak that the strain on the damper is too much. You can probably just make out that the rod screws into the top, however, the thread in the top is broken causing it to separate like this. I tried fixing it once, to no lasting avail.
The plus is that this finally prompted me to invest in a new 25% stiffer spring and a Carbone "Hi Tech" damper:
I suspected this was going to show up my original rear shock absorber as being ineffectual but, so far, I'd have to say the upgrade is a big success. It certainly gives you a lot more confidence in throwing the scoot around and braking quickly.
The downside is that the more I use this original Femsatronic scoot, the more things need replacing. What was initially a new carb and clutch to get it running a few years ago, has since become a new loom, light switch, exhaust and now this. Ah well, at least the old girl is getting used these days after spending many years hibernating in a shed
