Go Faster (stripes?)

They aren't, obviously, but the 2 red stripes were originally on all Spanish TV175's so will find their way on to the legshields of mine, when it comes to the finishing touches. I know you can only see one of the original ones in the pic but if you look at the bottom pic (horizontal stripe) you can see the second strip under the added paint, as a raised line.

Why have I suddenly thought about this, well, I didn't put any pictures up of what I have been doing recently (fitting cables and loom) as this still isn't completely done (waiting on a few more bits) they are pretty much where they will be staying but only held by tape at present not the correct clamps, ties. I also popped a spare (rather old and incomplete) engine into the frame in order to make sure cables were in the right place (length wise) as the actual engine that will be going in is not finished yet. I say not finished, its not even started, as it will be the last thing I do once everything else is done (bar a few finishing touches, like red lines lol) mostly due to the fact this will probably be the dearest part of the rebuild.

I think an accurate description for what I have been doing recently is "pottering about", makes me sound incredibly old (well I am getting that way) but its the best way I can describe the loads of little bits I have been doing, tinkering with the wiring/cables and various other bits of bodywork, spraying tank straps (managed to get a perfectly matching white) confirming what extra bits/parts I need, figuring out what I'm likely to do with the engine and working out what bits I want chromed. This includes the gear change and throttle housing as these were annoyingly never sprayed all those years ago when the rest of it was done. I also annoyingly don't have any of the paint or the colour identification so cant now get these bits done. I may, in fact I'm sure I will, once it is done, go somewhere and get a colour match done and some paint made up and get them sprayed, it would also be handy to have some for any little bits that need touching up, but for now, they are going to be chromed, I can delay no more. its been tool long as it is :-)

I also forgot to mention in my last post, I finally thought of a name for IT too, I know I haven't used it yet and have used the word "it" in this post, but from now on IT will officially be know as Izzy, there are reasons behind this that I will no doubt explain in another post (just to bore you further) but not now, so, Izzy it is, which sounds a bit like izzyitis, which could be a medical condition, although its not. I seem to have overloaded on labels for this post too so I really should stop, more Izzy updates soon.............

"Innocenti snobbery"



Not sure if such an expression exists (pretty sure it does), but I do know there are plenty of folk that can be a bit on the “selective” side when it comes to all things Lambretta, as in, if it isn’t Italian (doesn’t have the famous Innocenti logo stamped on it) then its not worth having.

Personally I have never been of this mindset, I have encountered various Lambrettas (and parts) in the past (owned, worked on, ridden, lusted after, etc) from Italy, Spain and India and for me, if its up to the job it matters not where it was made.

If its of poor quality, then, fair enough you wouldn’t put it on your pride and joy but having that “mythical” (ok I'm being a bit tongue in cheek) Innocenti logo stamped on it tends to increase its desirability to certain people, to ridiculous levels. You only need to take a look at the prices that some of the “dusty unwanted stuff” “new old stock” or “scrap junk I wouldn’t give you tuppence for” “second hand but original” parts and related items that change hands on ebay (and other places) to realise this.

Anyway, back to IT (really need to think of a name) I’m not sure if I mentioned in an earlier post but it is a very early Spanish TV 175, the guy I got it from is a big fan of Spanish Lambrettas and also quite an expert in this area.. He has numerous models himself, including a series 3 TV, which he thought was the earliest known example, but mine is a few numbers before his, thus making mine, possibly, the earliest known example. He was tempted to keep it for himself, for this very reason, but after some arm twisting (and the fact he is a top bloke) I managed to come into possession of it.

The point of that bit of nostalgia being that all early in the run Spanish models were predominantly made from Italian components due to the Innocenti factory shipping over any remaining parts along with the tooling (to make said parts) when they finished one model and started on a new one, with me? If not you can always ask for clarification, if you’re still there lol.

I really will get to the point of this post, if I can remember it............

That’s it, the forks are rebuilt and back in the frame, with accompanying new cups and bearings etc., the headset base is also attached (well it would have been rude not to given the top of the forks were sitting there waiting for something to be attached to them) and as you can see in the pic, they, like much of IT are actually Innocenti, though Spanish, keeping up? wonderful :-)

So it's (IT)....(must think of name, must think of name must think.... repeat until name thought of) looking a tad, only a tad, but a tad like something is happening to her (is IT a her, more things to consider)

PS, I meant to post this a few weeks back after I had spent time in the garage with her/him/IT...................

Dirty Links!

Well what were you expecting to see with a title like that?

Ahhhhhh, I know, you thought I meant “dirty links”, ok, just for you, here's one, dirty link

Moving on.

As I have finally decided to make a start on the poor neglected beasty........ Need to think of a name for it really, I know some folks name their scooters, cars, bikes, hovercraft etc but I haven’t with the TV as yet. In the past I have named scooters and cars, not all of them, no real pattern to it really. The daily Vespa (210) doesn’t have a name, neither does the daily car (A3, soon to be A1) but the less than daily beetle does (Bert), see, no pattern to it. But I cant keep calling the TV, “the TV” reminds me too much of the Bowie song TVC 15. Which, I hasten to add, is nothing to do with a transvestite but based on an acid trip Iggy Pop had at Bowie's house during which he thought the television was swallowing his girlfriend. Not a good image, a new name is paramount methinks.

I will use IT for now, not flattering, or particularly inventive but until I think of something else IT will do.

So, as I am making a start on IT I thought the best place to begin was the forks, rebuild them and get them in the frame. The first step being the links. I have kept the original ones and as you can see they are rather grubby, almost 50 years of grub possibly, so cleaning them is the first step. Once this is done I can fit new bushes and bolts and get them to where they belong, back in the forks.

The next post will follow plenty of elbow grease.