plugs

here are pics of the two plugs, the top is after 100 odd kms all styles of riding B6HS, the bottom is the B7HS after about 30kms, not much difference and I believe this is how they are supposed to look, I'm going to run with the B7 as the weather is starting to warm up.

A milestone, a victory, a problem.

I got out yesterday on what was a beautiful morning and put just over 100kms on the Sprint V, ticking over the 3000km mark as I went, some imports never make it this far, some not even a third, so I am happy about that.
Now to address the soft seize I had earlier in the week.
My plug was black and dry. I was running a 105 main jet, one size bigger than stock 102 as I changed to a Sito+ exhaust, a 160 main air bleed, which is what came with the scoot and is bigger than stock, 140, and a B7HS plug. Everything else is stock, Now I'm no expert and I consulted wiser folk than I and opinions differed and I realised that I just needed to try a few things and see what happened, I also read a few related posts on the Modern Vespa site, great info.
Firstly I increased the idle slightly as someone very experienced told me it was a bit slow, now this won't affect the running of the bike once you actually move off, but it did sound better, and I thought a hotter plug might not foul so much when I have it idling for some time
I'm not sure why but I thought I'd go up another size jet to a 108, and a slightly hotter plug B6HS, after the ride out the plug was clean, the ceramic was white with a tinge of brown, the little bit bent over at the top was the same brown. I did a lot of riding between 60-80, a few squirts above 90 but after the seize, I was reluctant to push it for a long period, I might throw the B7HS back in and see how it goes.
I gave the engine a clean and noticed that I had a drip of oil on the clutch arm and the hub had patches of oil in it too, this was probably one of the first things that happened when I first got the bike, I replaced the small o-ring back then and will do the same again if it gets worse, there hasn't been a drop on the floor yet.
My youngest son Merrick just loves "helping" when I do any work on the scooters, I'll have at least one riding buddy when he's big enough.

softly seizing in style

NOT.
Last night I had half a dozen guys from the Vespa Club of Melbourne, as well as the President of the Vespa riders Club of Australia and a fellow non Vespa rider, stop in town on their way back from the national scooter rally they had in Sydney over the weekend, it was good to catch up with the guys I had met before, as well as meeting the ones I hadn't, we had dinner at the pub and good conversation about all things Vespa and about the adventures on the road, good food, wine, beer and company. A good night all round.
Breakfast was also a fun and soon enough they were on their way, I led them out of town and to a back road that would get them off the highway for a bit and as we scooted along at about 80-85kms, Gloria decided enough was enough and bogged down and locked up for a split second before I clutched in and rolled off the road, Not sure who was behind me but within a minute I had six guys there wondering why I had stopped before I said I would. I kicked her just to make sure it would start and she did thankfully, I bid the guys farewell assuring them I'd be fine and would get home OK, did a u turn and did just that, except at about 60kmph instead. Now it's one thing to seize when your by yourself, it's just you and the machine, but when you are leading a group it's a little embarrassing, sorry guys. I received a message that they made it home safely later that day, well done.
Now what to do.
First thing I did was pull the plug, black but dry, pulled the jets and made sure they were clean. scratched the head and thought it better to do a bit of reading before I do anything. I don't think any damage was done, but its the third soft seize I have had in just under 3000kms. I'm having issues with my GT200 and I really need one running all the time so I might wait and just not do any WOT riding over long straights.
Update to come.

Checking in.

With some great weather for riding, cool but sunny, I have put another 200kms on the clock and everything is going great, I have not touched anything except checked the plug and to be honest I don't plan on doing anything until something starts to go wrong, I have found part of the source of the noise, the headlight. So when I get home I will be doing two things, packing the headlight out with something and installing my new Dr Pulley sliders in the GT200 and I'll be back to two scooters on the road.
The Sprint V still gets plenty of attention and makes me smile every time I see someone stop and look, or the school kids waving, although I can't honk back this time, must get to that horn one day. This evening on the way home I had stopped off for some supplies and parked in the mall behind a big arse Moto Guzzi, the rider was gearing up when I came out and was suitably impressed with Gloria, "is that original?", "yep" well sort of I thought, "it's great to see old things all restored and running, don't see many things like that these days" A smile and a shake of the head and a short conversation later I left him in a cloud of two stroke and went on my way.
I have gone and invested in a new jacket, which was kind of a birthday/fathers day gift, a new black Armadillo Parka, see pics attached, as you can see I'm missing my calling as a Parka model, I wore it for the first time today and was impressed at how warm it kept me compared to the old one I was using, its a lot longer and has some armour in the elbow and shoulder areas, with provision for a back plate if I want one. First thing I did was put my new Vespa Club of Melbourne Patch on it, and I was good to go.
My wife has finished up work now in preparation for the birth of our new baby in a few weeks, so I will have two days over the weekends now to get out there and ride, which I plan to take full advantage of when I can.