Vespa crank

[rosscla]

I've just acquired a vespa, the engine is in boxes.

I've been taking a look at the parts as its been a long time since I had one in bits. The crank has me a little foxed. I know some of the later PX models had cosa type clutches and a normal nut instead of the castellated nut / tab washer arrangement but was the crank revised for this as well?

The crank I have has 'Made in Italy' on the conrod but no other markings the bit that has me wondering is that I have an old style 7 spring clutch and a shouldered nut on the end of the crank, but the thread on the clutch end of the crank does not have a keyway for a tab washer. Is this a later style crank or a pattern one designed for the cosa style clutch nut??

[Yanker]

Is this a later style crank or a pattern one designed for the cosa style clutch nut??

Hi, yes it will be a Piaggio (genuine) crank simply doing away with the clutch nut tab washer location slot. I think Piaggio realised the error of their ways after a while (the crank was not suitable as a spare for older machines) and re-deployed the slot/keyway on new cranks after a while.

The 'DRT' Cosa style clutch nut for older clutches should get you out of trouble and save the hassle of cutting a slot/keyway, or the expense of a Cosa clutch

[rosscla]

Perfect, thanks. The casings are LML, 5 port reed but all the internals seem to be Italian / Piaggio stamped.

[Yanker]

Many genuine Piaggio PX spares are manufactured in India these days.

But worry not, LMLs do not have Cosa clutches...yet as far as I know.

Ironic that the last geared Vespas two stroke are being fitted with increasingly more Indian bits, whilst the ammount of Lambretta spares made in India is decreasing at the same rate in favour of Europe, Taiwan......oh and not forgetting VN and China innit?

[rosscla]

Yes, the previous owner claimed to have put all Italian internals in the casing which broadly seems to be borne out.