Piaggio Liberty 50 restoration

Thought I would start a thread on my Liberty. I will try to get the pictures in the correct order. Bought it as a non runner and was headed for the breakers I think.
first wash when I got it

looks ok with all the panels

but certainly doesn't without. No complaints though because I expected to do a lot of work on it.

 

time to start removing things

 

the exhaust was easily displaced from the factory preset position

 

decided to leave the engine cover covered in paint stripper while I checked over the engine

 

with all panels removed, flipped the scooter upside down to clean underneath, piston was original and some slight scoring on the barrel. decided to sand the barrel and get a new piston.
a rather manky engine in need of a clean

 

cleaned and painted underneath
new piston kit fitted
tested and fitted the starter motor and painted the stand, put the scooter upright and cleaned the engine ready for its final shot of the wire brush.
thanks to gogs (brother) for a loan of the socket set and some tools

 

sprayed the tailgate
sprayed the rear frame
cleaned up the rear shock, now time to work on the front end

 

removed the front end in need of a clean
also in need of a clean and new bearings

much better, ready to fit
ready to be fitted to

 

new steering bearings top and bottom, cleaned the raceways with a soft brass brush on a drill.

beginning to look like a scooter again

final spray on the frame and fitted the bars

a whole day spent on the fork legs bringing good results

look good fitted

 

painted all lower plastics and rear mudguards

CV cover turned out good

last photo I took before finishing the electrics and going for MOT

there was hardly any contacts I didn't need to clean, renewed all bolts and a lot of spring clips, washers. took me about a month. I could only work on it a few hours at a time for health reasons. but now I have transport again.

 

Good job, well done

 

thanks, was really worth the effort. still renewing parts as I go. the next step is to replace all bearings at the clutch/driveshaft end. they are ok but the same age as the scooter, so a cheap enough job to do but means heating the hub and clutch side casing, so no final finishing of the casings yet.

 

scooter is off the road for a few days and we have sunshine so decided to replace the rear wheel bearing and driveshaft bearing.

 

tried a few other methods first, but ended up with this as my home made bearing puller
used an M8 roofing bolt as the threaded rod. its went as far as the top of the socket on the mole grip side allowed, then changed to a socket which went right through.

 

home made bearing puller No1. got it moving and this far, used a camping cooker to heat the casing. a small piece at a time and some loosening taps with the hammer while using the puller.

 

time for home made bearing puller No.2 to go the rest of the way.
it was already moving so pulled out easily

 

cleaned out the bearing seating, fitted the new oil seal, then fitted the new bearing using much the same method with a large socket on either side, just make sure the ratchet end (top) of the socket is on the bearing and is about 1mm less diameter than the bearing. didn't take any photos of the wheel bearing, but it was pretty straight forward.

 

Thanks, first time I have replaced any bearings, I knew this one was going to be a long job so made sure to get a good quality branded bearing and a packet of new seals. Even with keeping the new bearing in the freezer overnight it was still tight to go in.

 

recently had some electrical faults which knacked the CDI and autochoke, so replaced the regulator, autochoke, CDI unit, and now have new ignition switch. the starter motor was shorting to the engine so took it out, and replaced it with a large rubber washer, a big steel washer either side and an M8 bolt with spring washers and nyloc nuts and removed the bendix.. it will certainly not move. starter motor is not a necessity but if is easy enough to fit one if I want. took all the insulation off the loom to check all the wires, and all is good. just waiting on the ignition switch to get things started again.

took out the stator to clean behind and replace the insulation. all wires are good and coils and earths check as good.