Microstructural Investigations on Vespa Scooter Gear Parts over a Production Period of 50 Years

Abstract:

Vespa scooters have been produced since the end of the 50^th, and mechanical parts are produced in license and several reproductions are available. Service centres should know the material properties of the various spare parts for repairing gears. 6 cogwheels and 7 changing gear crosses from various productions were selected (VBA - end of 50^th, GL150 - 1961, PE - end of 70^th, PX200E - 1998, LML 125 - 2008, MEC-EUR - 2010). The analytical investigations showed that 16NiCr4 steel was used mainly for the cogwheels and 18NiCrMo14-6 steel for the changing gear crosses. The samples show negligible differences for elemental composition, impurities and defect distribution. Depending on the various parts the carbon and the hardness gradients from the surface to the core are different. The hardened steel samples showed typical martensitic-bainitic microstructures. The material properties of the different gear parts were compared to find optimal solutions for servicing Vespa gears.

• Periodical: Materials Science Forum (Volume 782)
• Pages: 197-200
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.782.197
• Online since: April 2014
• Authors: Michael Meyer, Susanne Strobl, Roland Haubner
• Keywords: Gear Parts, Quality Comparison, Steel Microstructures, Vespa

References

[1] M. Meyer, Metallographische Untersuchungen von Vespa-Getriebeteilen über eine Produktionsperiode von 60 Jahren, Diploma Thesis (2012) Technical University Vienna.