Category: Innovations & Ideas

Anthony Tambs at Scootronics has just released a new CDI. This version is a high powered version with diagnostic LED’s.

It has two diagnostic LED’s that will indicate a fault. The red LED indicates the Pick Up is working and the green LED indicates voltage is working from the Low Tension Coil.

Also incorporated into the CDI is a voltage controlled boost circuit, which Anthony says “I’m making use of the unused negative half cycle of the low tension signal. The voltage boost circuit is stabilized to 320 volts. This should give you a power rating of just over 100 millijoules.”

Included is a Flexible HT lead, (which for me is one of the best ones I’ve used). When you’re bending it through the frame to the Spark Plug Cap there’s plenty of flexibility that will allow for movement. You need to get your own Spark Plug Cap. There are too many preferences out there for Anthony to cover.

I’ve never been able to get to grips with electrics, this CDI goes a long way to helping those like me, make the diagnosis of electrical faults easier.

One last note to add. Lunchtime today, I went into town on the Lambretta. when I rode away to come home, it was spluttering badly unable to ride it, I checked the CDI diagnostic LED’s and they both light up. So within an instant, I was able to dismiss the Pickup or LT Coil. I changed the plug and it ran fine for the ride back home.

Contact with Anthony Tambs can be made on his Scootronics page on Facebook on the link below.
Scootronics Facebook Page

You can also look up the relevant information on the CDI and other Lambretta related info on the Lambretta Tuning Group on FB from the link below.
Lambretta Tuning Page on Facebook

 

When building engines with longer conrods, you need packing plates. Sometimes it means that when fitting the cylinder cowling, you can find it doesn’t fit properly, sometimes it will under stress, which can lead to them cracking from their connections leading to loss of air for cooling

To help combat this Darrell Taylor of Taylor Tuning has made spacers of different sizes.

In the pictures, you’ll see before and after where I have the 3mm packer fitted to my 230 engine. There’s a gap before fitting the spacer.

You can contact Darrell on his Taylor Tuning Facebook Page here.

 

Last year I fitted a toolbox under the rear side panel. (You can read about it here).

It carried a couple of bottles of oil and a couple of bits to France. When I got back one of the supports had snapped on the box, but it still held.

When I stripped the LI for an all-over service, I wanted to remove the battery from the legshield toolbox and move it to the back of the Lambretta. Dave Mayo May who has an FB page LamFab Scooter Fabrications. supplied his version of a battery tray for under the side panel.

It comes in Stainless Steel, in two parts. That means you don’t have to unbolt it from the frame strut to remove the tray for wheel changes etc. There’s a thumb screw that holds the tray to the support. (I used a bit of Loctite for added security). There’s also a Velcro strap and two Nyloc nuts & bolts, which bolt it to the rear frame strut.

You also get some sticky backed foam padding to absorb any rattle from the battery.

As with all these rear fitting trays. Always make sure there’s clearance from the rear hub.

It’s been fitted for a while now and there have been no issues at all.

 

The official wording is Airhawk Comfort Seating System. Some might just say it’s a cushion. Whatever you want to call it, it gets a lot of positive and very little negative feedback. I usually get by ok with the single saddles on my Lambretta, but for longer distances, like a lot of seats it can get uncomfortable.

I received mine from SLUK UK in time for my trip to France last summer, so I was hoping for a good result as the trip was going to exceed 1,000 miles.

There are different versions with different shapes made to suit the seat on your scooter or bike. I got the medium cruiser for my single saddle.

The cushion uses something Airhawk call Air Cell Technology, which basically is a number of air pockets connected to evenly distribute the air into the cushion supporting and spreading your weight evenly over the whole area.

Including is the cushion itself with a zipped cover that has a non-slip base and a couple of straps to connect it to the seat.

For the best comfort for getting comfortable, you don’t just fill it with air using the valve. I went ahead and inflated the bladder, but then let out a small amount at a time until I got to the right point. This is usually when the cushion is deflated to the point, to where your bum is just off touching the seat of the scooter. Take a number of short journeys until you find the right inflation point.

It’ll feel a bit odd at first, but this is usually because it’s over inflated, but once you get the right point, you’ll not look back. It really is superb and an essential requirement, not just for the long runs. I use it for shorter trips and it merits its use.

After the trip, apart from the usual aches and pains associated with riding all day. The Airhawk made a huge difference with no pain of the arse! It’ll be on my Lambretta for my tour through England, France, Belgium and Switzerland this summer.

Click here for the range of Airhawk Cushions on SLUK