Monday, October 25, 2004
The curse strikes again
I was supposed to be making room in the garage so that the new lambro (the one with the cutdown cab) could come in out of the rain. This would involve finishing off stripping the other one (which would mean removing the forks, rear wishbones, driveshaft etc) and I just couldn't be bothered. So the new one stays outside for the moment.
I was having a bit of a tidy up, taking some pictures of the new lambro and the model c and the curse struck again and before I knew it the model C was a pile of bits! Luckily a stripped down model C doesn't take up a lot of room and there aren't a lot of parts to misplace.
It came apart quite easily and I didn't break anything apart from the HT coil which was already half broken. Let's hope they are available!
Lot of things a bit worn as you would expect from a 54 year old scooter (Got the dating cert from the LCGB, my C is from 1950). Nothing too bad, just a bit of bodywork to do and sort out some new parts.
It will be interesting to see what I can get and what I can't. The fork bolts are worn (on the surface that the links pivot on) so I suppose it would be worth getting some, if I can't then I'll have to look into getting some made.
Got the engine out of the frame but didn't start stripping it yet. It needs doing as there is a lot of play in the rear hub region. Nice cast finned head with the fins in the right direction for direct air cooling. The cylinder studs are only 6mm, hope they are up to the job!!!
The flywheel came off quite easily, it uses the same extractor as a Series 3 flywheel. I think I will have to make a holding tool when it comes to the rebuild.
I'm not sure of the history of the model C, it had a Milan plate on it when I saw it in Italy.
A lot of the frame is red but the legshields are khaki, the front mudguard is olive green and the rear is metallic blue. Apparently these were all colours it could have been but it is hard to say which is the correct one.
After taking the engine out it looks like the olive green is the winner as there are parts in that colour that look untouched.
Sent off for a parts book and handbook for it today, should help me source what I need.
I think I might do the C next on the basis that if I can manage a C then anything else should be easy but I'm not sure if that is true. A C looks comparatively easy as it has very little bodywork etc. We shall see.
I was having a bit of a tidy up, taking some pictures of the new lambro and the model c and the curse struck again and before I knew it the model C was a pile of bits! Luckily a stripped down model C doesn't take up a lot of room and there aren't a lot of parts to misplace.
It came apart quite easily and I didn't break anything apart from the HT coil which was already half broken. Let's hope they are available!
Lot of things a bit worn as you would expect from a 54 year old scooter (Got the dating cert from the LCGB, my C is from 1950). Nothing too bad, just a bit of bodywork to do and sort out some new parts.
It will be interesting to see what I can get and what I can't. The fork bolts are worn (on the surface that the links pivot on) so I suppose it would be worth getting some, if I can't then I'll have to look into getting some made.
Got the engine out of the frame but didn't start stripping it yet. It needs doing as there is a lot of play in the rear hub region. Nice cast finned head with the fins in the right direction for direct air cooling. The cylinder studs are only 6mm, hope they are up to the job!!!
The flywheel came off quite easily, it uses the same extractor as a Series 3 flywheel. I think I will have to make a holding tool when it comes to the rebuild.
I'm not sure of the history of the model C, it had a Milan plate on it when I saw it in Italy.
A lot of the frame is red but the legshields are khaki, the front mudguard is olive green and the rear is metallic blue. Apparently these were all colours it could have been but it is hard to say which is the correct one.
After taking the engine out it looks like the olive green is the winner as there are parts in that colour that look untouched.
Sent off for a parts book and handbook for it today, should help me source what I need.
I think I might do the C next on the basis that if I can manage a C then anything else should be easy but I'm not sure if that is true. A C looks comparatively easy as it has very little bodywork etc. We shall see.
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Out of space!
The title of this post refers to the fact that I am out of space in the garage, not the Prodigy track sampling Max Romeo's "Chase the devil".
Seeing as I've got the model C on the way along with half a Lambro I thought I'd better try and make some room for them.
I got the garage REALLY sorted out early this year and it was fine until I got the first Lambro and it got messy in there.
There physically isn't room for two Lambros in there, not even if there was nothing else in there.
So to tide myself over for the winter I spent most of yesterday trying to make the first Lambro smaller (i.e taking it apart).
I took a few hours with the angle grinder grinding of all the bolts holding the cab to the frame.
I was left with the cab (which fits nicely in one corner and can be filled with the other Lambro parts until such time as I can work on it) and the frame (which is about the size of a single bed).
The frame takes up a lot of room and I got a bit fed up at the thought of having to work round it all, especially when the 2nd one comes.
I have therefore decided to see if I can find some storage space elsewhere nearby. I will put an ad in some shop windows to see if I can find somewhere to store the Lambros until I can work on them.
Once they are out of the way then it might be easier to get on with the 2 wheelers.
It is delaying the inevitable really as at some point when all the 2 wheelers are done they will all take up a lot of space so they don't get damaged (scooters in bits can be stacked up with bits tucked in gaps but that can't be done with nice paintwork).
I have in mind to make a large bench down one side of the garage, tall enough to fit a scooter underneath.
I will have to do some measuring but I think I could fit four or six scooters on such a bench.
I can use my hydraulic ramp as a "lift" to raise the scooters up to a point then move them along a plank onto the bench. Sounds a bit heath robinson but it will work I think.
The shed needs a sort out as that is now chock a block with stuff, I need to decide if it is going to be the dirty workshop/storage/sand blast as it is now or make it into a cosy workshop with all storage in the garage.
Seeing as I've got the model C on the way along with half a Lambro I thought I'd better try and make some room for them.
I got the garage REALLY sorted out early this year and it was fine until I got the first Lambro and it got messy in there.
There physically isn't room for two Lambros in there, not even if there was nothing else in there.
So to tide myself over for the winter I spent most of yesterday trying to make the first Lambro smaller (i.e taking it apart).
I took a few hours with the angle grinder grinding of all the bolts holding the cab to the frame.
I was left with the cab (which fits nicely in one corner and can be filled with the other Lambro parts until such time as I can work on it) and the frame (which is about the size of a single bed).
The frame takes up a lot of room and I got a bit fed up at the thought of having to work round it all, especially when the 2nd one comes.
I have therefore decided to see if I can find some storage space elsewhere nearby. I will put an ad in some shop windows to see if I can find somewhere to store the Lambros until I can work on them.
Once they are out of the way then it might be easier to get on with the 2 wheelers.
It is delaying the inevitable really as at some point when all the 2 wheelers are done they will all take up a lot of space so they don't get damaged (scooters in bits can be stacked up with bits tucked in gaps but that can't be done with nice paintwork).
I have in mind to make a large bench down one side of the garage, tall enough to fit a scooter underneath.
I will have to do some measuring but I think I could fit four or six scooters on such a bench.
I can use my hydraulic ramp as a "lift" to raise the scooters up to a point then move them along a plank onto the bench. Sounds a bit heath robinson but it will work I think.
The shed needs a sort out as that is now chock a block with stuff, I need to decide if it is going to be the dirty workshop/storage/sand blast as it is now or make it into a cosy workshop with all storage in the garage.
Sunday, October 03, 2004
A trip to the motherland
Just recovered from a trip to Italy with work. We went there to visit a few suppliers and try and get in with a few more. It all went a lot better than we'd hoped.
Went to see Tino Sacchi and was in awe of his model A (in his living room) which was 33rd off the production line. I've already broached the subject with my girlfriend and she will not let me keep a Lambretta in the living room.
We also visited Vittorio Tessera (but did not manage to go to the museum). Another great guy with more scooters than me. On the way to Vittorios the bus went down Via Pitteri and past the entrance building of the Innocenti factory. That is about all that is left as the housing development behind it looks nearly finished but it was nice to see where it all happened.
We went to see the people we get our Italian scooters from for work and I was amazed to see their collection of scooters for sale. I saw the Model C I had previously agreed to buy, it was good to see it in the "flesh". It's missing a few little bits but after visiting Tino and Vittorio I am reassured that it will be easy enough to get parts for it.
I also saw half a Lambro which I offered to buy to use for parts!
In the very south of Italy it might only rain for about 2 weeks in the year so what do you do with the cab on your Lambro? You cut the top half of it off!
This Lambro is a Lambro 175, the model after my Fli 175. It's got electric start (I think) and will be very usuable for spares I think.
Went to see Tino Sacchi and was in awe of his model A (in his living room) which was 33rd off the production line. I've already broached the subject with my girlfriend and she will not let me keep a Lambretta in the living room.
We also visited Vittorio Tessera (but did not manage to go to the museum). Another great guy with more scooters than me. On the way to Vittorios the bus went down Via Pitteri and past the entrance building of the Innocenti factory. That is about all that is left as the housing development behind it looks nearly finished but it was nice to see where it all happened.
We went to see the people we get our Italian scooters from for work and I was amazed to see their collection of scooters for sale. I saw the Model C I had previously agreed to buy, it was good to see it in the "flesh". It's missing a few little bits but after visiting Tino and Vittorio I am reassured that it will be easy enough to get parts for it.
I also saw half a Lambro which I offered to buy to use for parts!
In the very south of Italy it might only rain for about 2 weeks in the year so what do you do with the cab on your Lambro? You cut the top half of it off!
This Lambro is a Lambro 175, the model after my Fli 175. It's got electric start (I think) and will be very usuable for spares I think.
