quadrcr87
Well-known member
Looks like a great space to work in. The outfeed table and cabinets will really help with your workflow. The wood risers on the table saw do make me a little nervous, might consider making this more secure.
Between 265 & 485 SQ/FT The Mary Kay Garage
- Thread starter pickles
- Start date
Workspaces sized between 265 and 485 squarefeet.
I agree. It’s my intention to build some sort of platform with adjustable feet, at least for the area under the table saw. I think blocks under the legs of the router table will be fine. I wouldn’t be surprised if I still have that same intention two years from now however.
Free Vespa Update
A number of months ago I mentioned in this thread that I was given a free Vespa LX 150 scoter by someone I didn’t know but that I happened to strike up a conversation with one morning while having my cup of coffee. Much to my wife’s delight it’s been sitting in my backyard ever since. Last weekend I decided to finally see if I could get it to run.
I changed to oil and filter, drained the gas and put in a gallon of fresh stuff and bought a new battery. Yesterday I was able to get it to start and idle. It would die however as soon as I tried to give it some gas. But I was happy to see the engine turn over and at least run.
The guy that gave it to me had it for three or four years but he had never used it , or even tried to start it. He had gotten it also as kin$ of a lark and did not know its history before him. The scoter had definitely been laid down at one point. It has a couple of dents on one side and the front plastic headlight cover is also banged up. My guess is that it had gotten into a minor accident by a previous owner who got scared as a result and just parked it afterwards. Here is its good side.
My assumption is that gummed up gas it’s the main thing that is keeping if from getting off idle. I’ve ordered a new fuel filter and am going to try to clean the carburetor. I’ve never taken apart a carburetor but I’m hoping YouTube can be me friend. If I get it running by cleaning the fuel system I’ll get new tires and maybe clean it up a bit and use it. Having something like this, and with a couple of dents already and at the few bucks I would have into it might be useful and fun to have in my urban neighborhood.
How hard can it be?
A number of months ago I mentioned in this thread that I was given a free Vespa LX 150 scoter by someone I didn’t know but that I happened to strike up a conversation with one morning while having my cup of coffee. Much to my wife’s delight it’s been sitting in my backyard ever since. Last weekend I decided to finally see if I could get it to run.
I changed to oil and filter, drained the gas and put in a gallon of fresh stuff and bought a new battery. Yesterday I was able to get it to start and idle. It would die however as soon as I tried to give it some gas. But I was happy to see the engine turn over and at least run.
The guy that gave it to me had it for three or four years but he had never used it , or even tried to start it. He had gotten it also as kin$ of a lark and did not know its history before him. The scoter had definitely been laid down at one point. It has a couple of dents on one side and the front plastic headlight cover is also banged up. My guess is that it had gotten into a minor accident by a previous owner who got scared as a result and just parked it afterwards. Here is its good side.
My assumption is that gummed up gas it’s the main thing that is keeping if from getting off idle. I’ve ordered a new fuel filter and am going to try to clean the carburetor. I’ve never taken apart a carburetor but I’m hoping YouTube can be me friend. If I get it running by cleaning the fuel system I’ll get new tires and maybe clean it up a bit and use it. Having something like this, and with a couple of dents already and at the few bucks I would have into it might be useful and fun to have in my urban neighborhood.
How hard can it be?
captain14
Well-known member
After you get it up and running, you can get a gig job delivering for all the stores. Around here they ride between two lanes of cars, along the shoulders and any bicycle trail they can get away with.
Geoff289
Well-known member
I think I said before, Springsteen in Mary Kay and The Who on the Vespa (but get more mirrors)
xtremek
Well-known member
Nice little scoot. Looks like some elbow grease and a few parts and it'll be a nice ride.
Hey, at least it will humble you while transporting you to the site of the accident. I'm kidding! "Lighten up Francis" (Stripes).Free Vespa Update
A number of months ago I mentioned in this thread that I was given a free Vespa LX 150 scoter by someone I didn’t know but that I happened to strike up a conversation with one morning while having my cup of coffee. Much to my wife’s delight it’s been sitting in my backyard ever since. Last weekend I decided to finally see if I could get it to run.
I changed to oil and filter, drained the gas and put in a gallon of fresh stuff and bought a new battery. Yesterday I was able to get it to start and idle. It would die however as soon as I tried to give it some gas. But I was happy to see the engine turn over and at least run.
The guy that gave it to me had it for three or four years but he had never used it , or even tried to start it. He had gotten it also as kin$ of a lark and did not know its history before him. The scoter had definitely been laid down at one point. It has a couple of dents on one side and the front plastic headlight cover is also banged up. My guess is that it had gotten into a minor accident by a previous owner who got scared as a result and just parked it afterwards. Here is its good side.
My assumption is that gummed up gas it’s the main thing that is keeping if from getting off idle. I’ve ordered a new fuel filter and am going to try to clean the carburetor. I’ve never taken apart a carburetor but I’m hoping YouTube can be me friend. If I get it running by cleaning the fuel system I’ll get new tires and maybe clean it up a bit and use it. Having something like this, and with a couple of dents already and at the few bucks I would have into it might be useful and fun to have in my urban neighborhood.
How hard can it be?
Happy (very belated) New Years everyone. Thiught I’d share some (also mostly belated) updates. First regarding my free Vespa:
It’s not that snowy today but it is five below. Either way the rebuilt carburetor sits in the garage. I am waiting for a break in the weather so I can install it and see if I have a free Vespa that also runns.
It’s not that snowy today but it is five below. Either way the rebuilt carburetor sits in the garage. I am waiting for a break in the weather so I can install it and see if I have a free Vespa that also runns.
But more than other stuff I’ve been working on a few updates on my basement home theater. I put in two pairs of sconces lights.
After two years I finally got around two making a cabinet door for the bookcase that sits just outside the theater and that surrounds the home theater rack.
I still need to buy a knob.
The biggest update to the theater is that I finally built a second set of 18 inch subs. Their kits from parts express and match the first set of subs I built two or three years ago. I highly recommend
After two years I finally got around two making a cabinet door for the bookcase that sits just outside the theater and that surrounds the home theater rack.I still need to buy a knob.
The biggest update to the theater is that I finally built a second set of 18 inch subs. Their kits from parts express and match the first set of subs I built two or three years ago. I highly recommend
Here they are in the theater, one fully assembled. 
And here in the home behind the screen
Four 18 inch subwoofers is way too much for my little room but it sure is fun. As soon as we got the screen hung back up and all the equipment hooked up My son and I watched the New Top gun movie with the volume way too loud. Both of us sat there and cackled as we shook the world around us. Fun.
And here in the home behind the screen
Four 18 inch subwoofers is way too much for my little room but it sure is fun. As soon as we got the screen hung back up and all the equipment hooked up My son and I watched the New Top gun movie with the volume way too loud. Both of us sat there and cackled as we shook the world around us. Fun.
pima67
Well-known member
That pic of the snow reminded me of a heavy snowfall in about 1953. I had a paper route and a WWII ammunition cart for the papers (C . Trib, Sun Times, Wall Street journal, Daily forward and on Thurs the Southtown Economist). Pushing the cart through all that snow at 6 AM wasn't a lot of fun.
xtremek
Well-known member
Looks like you've been busy. Bummer about the car. Some people have no class. And as for the temps, it was -21*F when we left the house yesterday. Don't know it we broke 0*F or not. It was 6*F at 9 this morning. I might plow the driveway tomorrow since it's supposed to get to downright balmy 16*F tomorrow.
captain14
Well-known member
People wonder why I park at the far end of the parking lot. Now I also know not to park at the far end of the parking lot and ITS DOWNHILL. When I came out of the store saw some kids playing with shopping carts and discovered a big dent in the front fender of my Tacoma. At the time Kmart was using a plastic basket not metal. Still left a big dent I can’t pull out with suction cups.
Free Vespa Success! 
Well, mostly.
For those just joining this thread I got this Vespa for free from a guy that I didn’t know after an early morning conversation at a coffee shop. It sat in my backyard for more than a year but last fall I started to trying to get it run run last fall. I changed the oil and bought a new battery and was able to get it started but just barely. It started and run but ran very roughly. It would die if I gave it throttle.
I presumed (hoped) that the issue was a carburetor that was fumed up by old gas. I took it out and cleaned/ rebuilt it but by the time i got that done it winter had set in and it was too cold and snowy to bother putting it back in. Well today i finally got some fifty degree weather and I was also home early from work so I put the carburetor back in. I am really happy to say it started right up. Seemed to run fine and accelerated when I gave it throttle. I don’t know why I get so much thrill out of this but it’s definitely a kick for me.
I did have one setback however in the it was leaking a little gas. You can see the gs under the scatter in the photo above. I think it’s because I don’t have a hose clamp on the fuel line where it enters the carburetor. I didnt have one that small. I just ordered a hose clamp kit from Amazon and hope to try it again if the weather stays nice next weekend. There will definitely be some more work before I can have it roadworthy again but I’m confident that I will be able to,get it roadworthy this summer.
Well, mostly.
For those just joining this thread I got this Vespa for free from a guy that I didn’t know after an early morning conversation at a coffee shop. It sat in my backyard for more than a year but last fall I started to trying to get it run run last fall. I changed the oil and bought a new battery and was able to get it started but just barely. It started and run but ran very roughly. It would die if I gave it throttle.
I presumed (hoped) that the issue was a carburetor that was fumed up by old gas. I took it out and cleaned/ rebuilt it but by the time i got that done it winter had set in and it was too cold and snowy to bother putting it back in. Well today i finally got some fifty degree weather and I was also home early from work so I put the carburetor back in. I am really happy to say it started right up. Seemed to run fine and accelerated when I gave it throttle. I don’t know why I get so much thrill out of this but it’s definitely a kick for me.
I did have one setback however in the it was leaking a little gas. You can see the gs under the scatter in the photo above. I think it’s because I don’t have a hose clamp on the fuel line where it enters the carburetor. I didnt have one that small. I just ordered a hose clamp kit from Amazon and hope to try it again if the weather stays nice next weekend. There will definitely be some more work before I can have it roadworthy again but I’m confident that I will be able to,get it roadworthy this summer.
Geoff289
Well-known member
I can see how that jigger would be a lot of fun even if you had to pay for it, but a freebie just adds to the fun. What's the deal over there in terms of using it on public roads? Do you have to register it and put plates on it, and do you need a separate license from your car license to operate it?Free Vespa Success!
Well, mostly.
For those just joining this thread I got this Vespa for free from a guy that I didn’t know after an early morning conversation at a coffee shop. It sat in my backyard for more than a year but last fall I started to trying to get it run run last fall. I changed the oil and bought a new battery and was able to get it started but just barely. It started and run but ran very roughly. It would die if I gave it throttle.
I presumed (hoped) that the issue was a carburetor that was fumed up by old gas. I took it out and cleaned/ rebuilt it but by the time i got that done it winter had set in and it was too cold and snowy to bother putting it back in. Well today i finally got some fifty degree weather and I was also home early from work so I put the carburetor back in. I am really happy to say it started right up. Seemed to run fine and accelerated when I gave it throttle. I don’t know why I get so much thrill out of this but it’s definitely a kick for me.
I did have one setback however in the it was leaking a little gas. You can see the gs under the scatter in the photo above. I think it’s because I don’t have a hose clamp on the fuel line where it enters the carburetor. I didnt have one that small. I just ordered a hose clamp kit from Amazon and hope to try it again if the weather stays nice next weekend. There will definitely be some more work before I can have it roadworthy again but I’m confident that I will be able to,get it roadworthy this summer.
I believe that an LX50 (the next engine size down from mine) does not require a motorcycle license but the LX150s like mine (and the larger ones) do. I don’t have a motorcycle license so getting one is something I’d need to do I guess. All scoters need to be licensed and registered. I’ve already done that. I didn’t put the plate on the scooter yet. But I have it in the house
captain14
Well-known member
Will the scooter continue to live outside or can you keep it in the garage if there’s room?
As expected I finished the Lamborghini today. Here it is with the Ferrari that my son and I did before Christmas. 
He is about half way done with a McLaren in the same scale. We have a Bugatti too that we will get to at some point .
He is about half way done with a McLaren in the same scale. We have a Bugatti too that we will get to at some point .
After a few weeks of really tough winter weather in Chicago this weekend was a beautiful break in the cold. It was almost 60 degrees. So I decided to get Mary Kay out of storage. It’s been in a classic car storage facility about two miles away. I drove the 911 over there and Mary Kay is going to take its place in the garage for a couple of weeks
My son is hoping that I can drive him and his date to his winter formal next weekend. We had some work to day. We spent a couple of hours replacing the alternator today. I Also need to do an oil change.
Also the weather was nice enough that I could wash a car. The BMW. Definitely needed it.
My son is hoping that I can drive him and his date to his winter formal next weekend. We had some work to day. We spent a couple of hours replacing the alternator today. I Also need to do an oil change.Also the weather was nice enough that I could wash a car. The BMW. Definitely needed it.
Horror Business
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2014
- Messages
- 504
I saw a modern Cadillac Mary Kay SUV in the wild in FL today, and it made me think of this thread. Cool that Mark Kay Cadillacs still exist.
A fun piece of Americana. My wife and I often see one street parked on our morning walks.
Uofime
Well-known member
Check out an MSF (motorcycle safety foundation) class, they’re free and assuming you pass the written and practical tests you get a certificate that you can take to the DMV and get an “M” stamped on your license. They’re fun, you get to abuse someone else’s equipment and learn in a very safe environment. It is overkill for that scooter, all the bikes there will have clutches, but most of the skills translate and you can get a taste of slightly larger (250cc) bikes.
Illinois also does have a scooter certification (L, maybe) for I think 150cc and less with lower requirements, written only I think.
Uofime
Well-known member
The fuel lines might be getting old and benefit from replacement. As they get old they harden, don’t seal well and eventually will crack.Free Vespa Success!
Well, mostly.
For those just joining this thread I got this Vespa for free from a guy that I didn’t know after an early morning conversation at a coffee shop. It sat in my backyard for more than a year but last fall I started to trying to get it run run last fall. I changed the oil and bought a new battery and was able to get it started but just barely. It started and run but ran very roughly. It would die if I gave it throttle.
I presumed (hoped) that the issue was a carburetor that was fumed up by old gas. I took it out and cleaned/ rebuilt it but by the time i got that done it winter had set in and it was too cold and snowy to bother putting it back in. Well today i finally got some fifty degree weather and I was also home early from work so I put the carburetor back in. I am really happy to say it started right up. Seemed to run fine and accelerated when I gave it throttle. I don’t know why I get so much thrill out of this but it’s definitely a kick for me.
I did have one setback however in the it was leaking a little gas. You can see the gs under the scatter in the photo above. I think it’s because I don’t have a hose clamp on the fuel line where it enters the carburetor. I didnt have one that small. I just ordered a hose clamp kit from Amazon and hope to try it again if the weather stays nice next weekend. There will definitely be some more work before I can have it roadworthy again but I’m confident that I will be able to,get it roadworthy this summer.
You can just get universal fuel line from your local auto parts store, unless it has a weird transition or molded tight bend. Do get it from a real store, it should have an SAE Jsomething something certification printed on it. I do not trust Amazon for this.
Uofime, Funny you mention the fuel lines. I actually bought these a couple of weeks go. 
That said they are the cheap stuff from Amazon.
Also, thanks for the info on the scooter licenses in Chicago. I’ll look into that.
That said they are the cheap stuff from Amazon.
Also, thanks for the info on the scooter licenses in Chicago. I’ll look into that.
Trapps
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I’ll second the MSF recommendation. Even if you already know how to ride, the class is a a great refresher and it is then painless with the DMV.
Uofime
Well-known member
It does have the SAE J cert number on it, it’s probably OK. Once it’s had fuel in it for a few weeks just feel the lines and make sure they don’t feel weirdly soft.Uofime, Funny you mention the fuel lines. I actually bought these a couple of weeks go.
That said they are the cheap stuff from Amazon.
Also, thanks for the info on the scooter licenses in Chicago. I’ll look into that.
I finished the Bugatti today. Here it is with the other three cars of this size. 
There was also a Porsche 911 too but it’s no longer available. Rumor is that Lego is going to come out with another car in this same scale this year. No confirmation of what car that will be but I’m sure we will get it when it becomes available.
There was also a Porsche 911 too but it’s no longer available. Rumor is that Lego is going to come out with another car in this same scale this year. No confirmation of what car that will be but I’m sure we will get it when it becomes available.
Horror Business
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2014
- Messages
- 504
That looks awesome! I did not realize how big they are, until this photo.
My garage is in desperate need of a good spring cleaning. Today’s high of 86 degrees tells me that I don’t have a lot of spring left. It will be full on summer soon so I better get at it.
The first project is to clean my floors. I put down Swiss Trac plastic tile flooring four or five years ago. I like them a lot. Usually a few minutes with a leaf blower and a pressure washer is enough to keep the tiles clean. One of the key advantages of these tiles is that the slots in the tiles allows bitter pieces of dirt or **** to fall through the tile where it largely disappears. If you look closely You can see dirt but mostly it is hidden. It is still there, however.
You can try to vacuum up lose dirt but to really get it clean you should pick up the tiles and sweep or mop or pressure washer under them to get rid of the dirt that is hidden by the tile. I had never done that. I wanted too long and my floor was a mess under the tiles. Here is what my floors looked like under the tiles after I gave them a wash with car shampoo. Lots of dirt.
After a good sweep and a pressure was the floor was back to normal.
Since I already had to pick up all the tiles to clean the floor I decided to recut and refit them. Normally you cut the tiles around the edges or obstructions to fit them precisely. When I installed them in my garage I didn’t really do that. I cut them around my lift and some other items but i did not bother to fit them side to side. My garage happen to be be a dimension where whole tiles fit pretty close. But not precisely. I did not cut them in that dimension so there was a 3/8th or so gap on between the tiles on each edge and the wall of the garage on each side. It has always kinda bugged me. It looked unfinished and the gap was a trap for leaves and all sorts of other dirt.
I decided that since I was picking up all the tiles anyway I would refit the tiles on each side shifting all of them over about half of the width of one tile and cutting the edge tiles precisely. The look is much better now.
And along the side
These tiles also had a number of small pebbles trapped in the groves. I used a small screw driver pop each one of them out before laying the tiles down again.
It was a lot of work. Like I said I had to cut the tiles on each side of the garage . I also needed to recut the tiles that I had previously fitted around my lift. Finally I also needed to move my tool boxes so that I could shift the tiles under them too. Thankfully I had enough spare tiles left in my basement that I did not need to buy any new tiles. I had enough of the grey tiles. Just enough. I used every single one of them.
The first project is to clean my floors. I put down Swiss Trac plastic tile flooring four or five years ago. I like them a lot. Usually a few minutes with a leaf blower and a pressure washer is enough to keep the tiles clean. One of the key advantages of these tiles is that the slots in the tiles allows bitter pieces of dirt or **** to fall through the tile where it largely disappears. If you look closely You can see dirt but mostly it is hidden. It is still there, however.
You can try to vacuum up lose dirt but to really get it clean you should pick up the tiles and sweep or mop or pressure washer under them to get rid of the dirt that is hidden by the tile. I had never done that. I wanted too long and my floor was a mess under the tiles. Here is what my floors looked like under the tiles after I gave them a wash with car shampoo. Lots of dirt.
After a good sweep and a pressure was the floor was back to normal.
Since I already had to pick up all the tiles to clean the floor I decided to recut and refit them. Normally you cut the tiles around the edges or obstructions to fit them precisely. When I installed them in my garage I didn’t really do that. I cut them around my lift and some other items but i did not bother to fit them side to side. My garage happen to be be a dimension where whole tiles fit pretty close. But not precisely. I did not cut them in that dimension so there was a 3/8th or so gap on between the tiles on each edge and the wall of the garage on each side. It has always kinda bugged me. It looked unfinished and the gap was a trap for leaves and all sorts of other dirt.
I decided that since I was picking up all the tiles anyway I would refit the tiles on each side shifting all of them over about half of the width of one tile and cutting the edge tiles precisely. The look is much better now.
And along the side
These tiles also had a number of small pebbles trapped in the groves. I used a small screw driver pop each one of them out before laying the tiles down again.
It was a lot of work. Like I said I had to cut the tiles on each side of the garage . I also needed to recut the tiles that I had previously fitted around my lift. Finally I also needed to move my tool boxes so that I could shift the tiles under them too. Thankfully I had enough spare tiles left in my basement that I did not need to buy any new tiles. I had enough of the grey tiles. Just enough. I used every single one of them.
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