Piaggio 222488 Clutch Gear Shimming Washer Ø40x23x6.3 – Ape Car, Ape P and Ape TM 703 Petrol

The clutch gear shim washer for the Piaggio Ape, original part number 222488. It is a blued steel shim with dimensions Ø 40 × Ø 23 × 6.3 mm, featuring a keyway on the inner bore. It is positioned between the clutch gear and the shaft shoulder, defining the axial play. It's a small, inconspicuous part, but it determines whether the gear remains securely in place or starts to wobble. When worn or scored, the clutch becomes noisy, slips, and wears out the plates.

✓ Strengths

• Original Piaggio spare part: the thickness is exactly as designed, and for a shim, thickness is everything.
• One part number for forty years of Ape: from the Ape Car P2 of 1972 to the Ape TM 703 of 2016.
• Keyway already present: it slides onto the shaft and positions itself without adjustments.
• Blued steel: hard surface that doesn't stick to the gear and resists hot gearbox oil.
• Costs just a few euros and can be replaced while the clutch is already open: postponing it means reassembling everything in six months.

Technical features

Vehicle compatibility

List taken from the official Piaggio spare parts catalog (B2B area), families «APE - Ape Car Gasoline», «APE - Ape P» and «APE - Ape TM Gasoline». If your vehicle is not on the table, send us the chassis number and we will check it for you.

Who it's perfect for

• The workshop that is rebuilding an Ape clutch and doesn't want to reassemble it with the old shim.
• Anyone hearing a noisy or slipping clutch who has already ruled out discs and springs.
• Anyone restoring an Ape Car P2/P3 or a P601 and still looking for original parts from that generation.
• Anyone wanting to keep a low-cost consumable part on the shelf that is needed every time the clutch cover is opened.

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is this washer for?
It's a shim: it acts as a spacer between the clutch gear and the shaft shoulder, establishing the gear's axial play. It is not a sealing or locking washer.

What are its measurements?
Ø 40 mm outer, Ø 23 mm inner, 6.3 mm thick, with a keyway on the bore.

Will it fit my Ape?
It fits Ape Car P2, Vespa Car P2, and Ape Car P3 (1972-1986), Ape P400V/P501/P601/P601V (1978-1983), and the entire Ape TM 703 gasoline range from 1989 to 2016. The table above is from the official Piaggio catalog.

Do I absolutely have to replace it when I open the clutch?
It's not mandatory, but advisable: it costs little, and a worn washer allows play in the gear, leading you to disassemble everything again shortly after.

How do I know if it needs to be replaced?
If the surface is scored, mirror-polished, or has circular grooves, it has lost thickness. If you have calipers, compare the measurement with the nominal 6.3 mm.

Can I use any washer bought from a hardware store?
No. Thickness, hardness, and finish are crucial here: a generic washer will wear out quickly and alter the axial play, risking damage to the gear and shaft.