Sometime the simplest things are the hardest. For example, when I was stripping off the old paint it came time to work on the front fender, which was still attached to the front fork assembly. Did you know that Vespas are cool because the aircraft engineer who designed them hated how hard it was to change a tire on a motorcycle? Have a look... the tire is entirely open on one side in the front and back, making changing the tire as easy as a car. And why yes, the front fork IS designed just like an airplane strut.
Ooops. ADHD kicking in again. Where was I... Okay, so in order to remove the fork assembly you have to loosen two nuts that ring the threaded fork at the top. They require a special tool as they are slotted about every 45 degrees and are other wise smooth rings that any normal wrench has nothing to grab onto. I managed to McGyver it with a hammer and flathead screwdriver. Hey, it worked. My reward was to watch about 27 small ball bearing skip across the floor and down into the chassis as I removed the ring that held them in place. Frak. I then pulled the fork out and was rewarded with the site of about 16 larger ball bearings from the lower bearing tray chasing the smaller ones that had previously escaped. FRAK FRAK FRAK. Add to list of things to buy. At least the fork was free! Long live the fork!
So, I had unbolted the fender from the fork assembly and for the life of me I could not get it to come off the fork. I stared at it and wiggled it this way and that but there was NO damn way it would fit over the little ball bearing trough around the bottom of the fork column. It was impossible. That should have been my hint. Many days later it struck me....Duh. The little trough appeared to be part of the fork but actually was just a tight fitted ring around it. Some gentle hammering and it came off and the fender was FREE! I peed a little! See photo. I think I heard it giggle with glee. Or maybe it was the paint stripper fumes again. And then I passed out.
Thud.
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