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.............

Disc Brake, Innocenti (again)................

 I mentioned in my last post, just recently..........

Ok it wasn't recent, it was a ridiculously long time ago......

This must officially be the slowest Lambretta rebuild ever (though I imagine there is one in a darkened place somewhere that has taken longer) .... (he says hoping it is true but not totally convinced). I wont even attempt to explain why there has been a long hiatus this time, but I will say I plan to crack on with it now, while funds permit at least.

So back to the disc brake, as I said in my last post much of the TV is Italian, the disc brake being another example of this and it is the latest thing to be reassembled, over the past week or so. New bearings, oil seals, pads, washers, nuts and nipples (sort of rolls of the tongue doesn't it) were used, along with anything else that needed replacing, I have kept the original disc as it is unmarked and they aren't cheap to replace (just for the sake of it) likewise the original operating arm was retained as it functions perfectly and like the disc, is undamaged. I wanted to see it with rubber wrapped around it (not linked to the nuts and nipples comment earlier I hasten to add) so couldn't resist popping the type and rims on. I have gone for Michelin S1's, I am sure everyone has their preferences, but for me (having used them on my Vespa for many years) I think the grip and ride quality is excellent, I also love the look (well it has to play a part surely). Obviously safety and performance are more important though and it excels on both counts in my (and many others) opinion so a pair (with matching inner tubes) were ordered. Just need to get the operating arm cover, i cap, put some air in the tyre and its done.

Once the disc was assembled and encased in rims and rubber I wanted to see how the white (which certain parts are painted) would look against the blue that forms most of the colour, so after putting the stand and splash plate on (not white) I fitted the rear mudguard, just to see how it looked against the blue, works for me.

Next up, cables and loom to be fitted to the frame, followed by various bits of bodywork. This WILL be over the coming days/week so expect another update soon, honestly, I mean it this time :-)

Rain didn't stop play

I thought it might, as its been persisting down most of the day, but then the majority of what I was doing was under cover so it wasn’t likely to anyway.

As I said in yesterday’s post the plan for today was to clean, polish, check and photograph all the painted bits (in between tinkering with the beetle for Volksfest tomorrow) and I’m pleased to say I managed to, I even got all technical (for me lol) and put a little flickr widget on the sidebar with all the pictures I took in it, I will add to that folder as time goes by and the build progresses.

Considering it has been painted for about 6 years and stored ever since the paint is remarkably good, I’m very impressed. Aside from a small nick on the horncasting, a slightly bigger one on the rear light (can be seen in pics) and a bit of tidying to be done on the bottom of the forks and rear of frame (where they were sitting on a concrete floor) there is nothing to do repair/paint touching up wise, all things considered quite a result, I expected worse so am rather pleased.

As you can see in the pic at the top of this post, the new legshields look sooooo much better than the original ones (pic in this post) no dents or rot, the original colour and no Opel Corsa sticker either, which is a bonus lol.

Next weekend the plan is to actually make a start on the rebuild……….

Way back when......

If you want more info on what this blog is about have a look at the section over there on the right >>>>  entitled “about this blog” obvious really, but it saves me repeating too much in this first post, lazy eh J

At this point I’m not too sure how frequent the posts will be, like most things I imagine it will be very dependent on the 2 key factors in any sort of project,  time and money, but I would like to think I will post relatively frequently, even if there is not much to report since the previous one.

So, where to start (with the blog not the TV) I know where I’m starting with that and will come to that later. The picture at the top of this post is of its original legshields, complete with various stickers, including an Opel Corsa one with Spanish writing under it, at some point I will post a close up pic and decipher what it says, purely out of curiosity if I’m honest.  Why a Lambretta in Spain had an Opel Corsa sticker I don’t know, maybe it’s a cultural thing?????????????

Along with the above, the legshields are also covered in hand sprayed paint of the strange, sea green variety. Although parts of them do have the original 46yr old light metallic blue factory colour on them (where they attached to the frame and were covered by the horncasting and mudguard). They also have numerous dents and rot hence a replacement pair being used before everything was sent off to paint.

I used as much of the original metal work as possible though, along with various other serviceable parts from the whole scooter, I wanted it to keep as much of its integrity as was possible, taking into account that some things were just not worth saving due to it being financially ridiculous to repair rather than replace them. Engine wise will be a whole different story in relation to “originality” that will be covered at a much later date when I get to that stage lol.

I will finish this first post with a bit of background about the TV, it was bought in from Spain by a guy that is quite an aficionado of Spanish Lambrettas and he had planned on keeping it for himself due to it being the earliest one he knew of (possibly one of the first off the production line) but I had already bought a few off him over the years (more on that in later posts no doubt) and he agreed to part with it. So I acquired it and it was then stripped, relevant repairs made and replacement metal work sourced and sent off for the paint to be done and returned to me.

There the story ended for approximately 6 years (for various reasons I won’t bore you with) but it’s now back in my possession and the rebuild can finally start (6yrs late lol) and I thought that as the poor thing has waited so long I would honour it with its own blog so the progress can be seen by others (if interested) and either way I have a record for posterity’s sake J

I nearly went then before telling you where I’m going to start (I mentioned it earlier in the post and almost forgot, you already had hadn’t you, be honest) The very first thing I will do once finishing my workshop/garage space/build area/ vicinity for to doing mechanical tinkering and greasy playing type thing (not long moved in so pretty much started with a bare garage but it’s almost there) is to take stock of exactly what I have got and make a start on the list of what I need. I will then take pics of all painted metal work (and possibly other things) and load them up into an as yet unmade folder that will be on the blog somewhere. As for what’s first buying wise and building wise, I’m thinking loom and cables but all will become clear over the coming posts.