Well, thats it - gone
Scoot delivered - walked back and called in local pub for a couple of flagons of ale to console myself.

The missis took a video of my final ride leaving the yard and up the road ( she's glad to see it gone, - convinced I was gonna kill myself on it!)

......smokin'! - (note the smooth gearchange)

Well, thats that then, - over -and out!

-?

Well, a sad day today - the scoot is sold and in another couple of hours and my final ride out will be to deliver it to its new owner.
Sorry to see the beastie go but the grand plan was, upon retirement (now a year ago) to start afresh, totally strip it down and make a top notch rebuild. But, - just havent the enthusiasm any more - never did get the carb/jetting/running issues sorted out properly which was a bummer.
Its been a good nostalgia trip though and considered keeping it just to 'have it' - but its going to a good home and maybe I'll see it again in the future in its new re-restored glory?
As for the sale money, thats going to a new guitar or a set of Roland digital drums - maybe both!

Sat in the yard awaiting its final journey with me........- another 15 mins and off we go

fired up....

185 kit up and running with that classic lambretta 'crack-crack-crack....'

Into 2017

Well, were into 2017 - scoot had 185 barrel fitted and rebuilt in time for MOT in June 2016, - got through but wasn't running very well at all. 

Also trying a change to colour scheme with part blue side panels and a blue horncast.

Pics show scoot while undergoing experiments with differing carburettor jets last summer ( scootopia SH1/22 replica)- by september I eventually got it running quite well but its a bit of a bugger to start up.

New Chain guides fitted

Well, - decide to take complete engine out and do a couple of upgrades while it needs attention.
Dig out my old frame that I made to hold the engine, - whip off the cylinder head and there it is - a blown gasket. I did notice while removing cylinder head nuts that one didnt feel particularly tight, so wonder if that was the root cause of the blow.
Anyway, remove chaincase side as i have bought a set of nylon chain guides to replace the old original ones. ( noticed when running that you can hear grating sound that possibly is the chain rubbing against the old coated metal ones that were well worn) downside is that the chain has to come off before I can remove the old metal guides, which means removing front or rear drive, - opt for the clutch removal, can have a peek at clutch plate wear while out.
eventually, job done -

- would have preferred black or blue though!

Have bought in a 185 cylinder conversion kit, so thats the next job when I get round to it. 

BOLLOCKS!

July 2015 - time to re insure/tax and MOT - get tax and insurance sorted go off to MOT - good stuff sails through that so go off on a run around to celebrate - do around 10 miles or so before splutters/pops and finally conks out. no compression so it looks like a blown gasket or holed piston or worse.
Eventually get it home, shove it in the garage cancel tax & insurance and SORN it!  I'll get round to having a look to see what the problem is when I get the enthusiasm, - what a bummer!

Two years after first ride, and a year SORN'd we are MOT'd, insured and back on the road again. Couple of embellishments added since last pic. Still got some timing/carb issues but been out and about when the sun shines.

Couple of words of thanks to Buzz Solomoto of Halifax for the scoot and pretty much all the parts required, plus advice on the way.

Just SORNed it after its first year, might get round to replacing/adjusting/adding bits, got a few niggles with timing/carb/vibrations etc

Must admit its been a good nostalgia buzz riding one again after all these years, - I did frighten myself a few times when first out going round bends and not used to leaning but soon back in the swing of things!

THE END..?

Well, almost a three week job - insured on the frame/engine numbers, - off to the MOT, - passed with a couple of minor adjustments, - off to the DVLA at first opportunity after waiting for the V55 registration application (have to send for it , cant get one at post office or download one, so if youre doing one up send off asap online as it takes around 10 days to get to you), - have to take to the Rothwell VOSA/DVLA depot for inspection, - do that, have numbers checked, - more waiting, - eventually reg documents and free tax disc arrive with my age related (1967) number plate, - get a number plate made up asap, the last piece of the jigsaw! and - hey, were mobile,- off up the road for a test run, - pics below after its first 8km ride!

- Fast forward..............

Had aweek off work so managed to get some time on the old scoot.
Legshields trimmed up and horncast/mudguard assembled up ready to fit.

 

And eventually have a clear afternoon to get stuck in and get most of the stuff together.............

 

Legshields, horncast, mudguard, rear footboards, bridgepiece added ( not that easy getting stuff to fit something like though!) - Had to take the kickstart off as it was catching on the footboard, - a bit of brute force and that was bent back to shape and is now back on. - a few sundry items left to finish off,

Legshields......

Into the final stages of assembly, - electrics all working OK. - ended up making my own wiring loom. Fitted a key/ignition switch, not  fitted to the LI model, - originally just a cutout switch.
Out with the legshields for rub down with t-cut and a polish up, - not looking so bad, - had a few dents that Ive now ironed out fairly succesfully.

Fastened to a little frame so the damn things stay upright and dont fall over getting scratches and dents etc, - theyre really awkward buggers to work on when painted.

WAHOO! - its a runner!

 Pictured having a rest after its first time out of the garage as a runner since rebuild started
- only 10 times around the yard but thats the first ride on a Lambretta since around 1971 or 2. Engine sounds pretty good, - never got out of first gear but clutch nice and smooth, - all gears selectable, all cables in. Just the lights and remaining panels to sort, plus a few minor items.
Well chuffed!

Engine in!

well its march 2012 now, a bit milder this weekend so its off into the garage for a play - fasten up the sidepanel clip at the back, - get the speedo cable threaded through and then decide to get the engine stuck in and take it from there. bit of faffing getting the mounts lined up, - initially put the rear shocker on first and after a lot of sweat, grunting and cursing, took it off and decided to put front mounts on first, - got the engine on some blocks of wood (no rear wheel on yet) and lowered the frame over, - a bit of wiggling and waggling and its on. - on to the rear shocker, a brand new one, - seemed to be too big, couldnt get the engine to drop low enough, tried compressing the springs a bit with mole grips but not enough, - then I found the culprit, - I had used overlong bolts when fastening up the splashplate, - just long enough to stop the silencer going the extra inch to give me enough clearance at the back, - 3 mins with a hacksaw and hey presto, on with the shocker. Good stuff, secure the seat bolts which I'd left loose- sit on it and bounce up and down for a minute or two, - get a couple of photos and call it a  day, hopefully back soon.

back to the bodywork

well. the engines running so back to doing some bodywork and cable routing etc ready for dropping the engine in.

The engine lives!!

Decided to concentrate on getting the engine sorted - got it all reassembled (mostly) - and to cut a long story short after much faffing and farting about with the old 6v points system, got myself a 12v electronic kit -a bloody good buy! - probably saved myself another year of faffing with the points!
Got everything connected, -  follow instructions to set up timing - getting a spark - rig up a rudimentary choke/throttle - fill float chamber with 2-stroke - about 7 or 8 kicks and - pow! up it fires with a throaty roar - give a few hefty rasps on the throttle - fantastic! - time to dance around the yard shrieking and whooping!

The beastie has a rest after a couple of runs for the first time. Note mods to stand to accomodate exhaust system!.
Pretty much all original apart from a few internals 12v system and a piece of fuel pipe.

view from other side



Meanwhile - the rest is gradually coming together .....................

INTO JULY 2011

July 1st - just thrown some fettled primed/painted bits together loosely for a photo - -hey, - its getting to look like a Lambretta!
Note forks, all fettled reassembled/painted etc.

June 2011 ongoing things

Just a few pics of things as Ive got round to doing them. Still movin' on!

 Front forks stripped ready for priming/painting. Springs/links etc removed using home made fork spring compressor.

 Fork springs/links etc cleaned up and reusable. Upper rubber buffers are still in good condition, lower ones knackered but only available as a set of four.

 Air filter box 98% stripped

 

The front wheel has come up well, - the inner drum seal had gone and grease from the speedo housing side had covered the brake shoes and everything else, - being years old it was now a brown tar like stuff, - shifted it eventually with white spirit, - good clean & polish, new brake shoes, wheel bearings, seal - good as new!

Frame

into May now, - been experimenting with paint finishes. Sprayed a few bits white but will need a rub down and a further coat (white).
Frame hasnt come out too bad after fettling up, welding the support strut and priming and spraying.

The shiny white frame

- start of April now so been a while since last entry, - things still moving  along though. started doing a bit of bodywork fettling during the cold weather, still to sort the electrics on the engine, the cylinder/crankcase/piston etc all installed, will have to modify my frame to get the carb on though, - put to one side for a while.

Pic shows scoot with seat, air filter box, rear runner boards and headset removed.
Good few siezed nuts/bolts here and there, some sheared off, others had to be chiselled off or drilled out.

Couple of bits after fettling and priming.


a warmish sunny day at last in early March ... and a couple of hours after getting enthusiastic, - the bare frame is dragged out into the yard and given a good wash to remove the mud, gunge and snails......

All pretty good and solid, some surface rust nothing nasty. the worst bit is the crack right in the middle of the footboard support strut, - should be able to weld that up easily enough, - would only cost a few quid to get a pro to do it. probably need a good few hours to fettle up, paint strip & prime.