Category: LI150

Side Panel Toolbox/Oil Carrier

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When we head out on our Lambrettas, be it a Sunday blast up country roads or a
weekend rally. Free space is always a hard thing to find as we pack for almost every eventuality. Especially if it’s a European run.

Sometimes a legshield toolbox and the original Lambretta toolbox isn’t enough. When you’re running a tuned engine, you can get through a fair amount of 2 Stroke oil. So this alone can take up space that could be used for something like tools.

These toolboxes seem to have two names, Oil Carrier or Side Panel Toolbox.

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For a while now a number of people have been making these toolboxes. Almost to the same specifications with fitting being almost identical.

Mine came from someone on Facebook who had them made by Resto Shack.

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So, with the box itself, you get a bracket that attaches to the top left number plate screw. I have plastic number plate screws, so I swapped it over for a metal bolt. You get the screws for fixing the bracket to the box and the screws for fixing the box to the rear frame strut.

A couple of things to note. once you have the toolbox attached to the frame. you need to make sure there’s clearance from the hub. This can be achieved correctly by removing the rear shock absorber to check the gap from toolbox to hub. Secondly, it’s a snug fit so to maximise space and the box may touch the side panel. Mine does, but I do believe my panels are out of shape and although I’ve not heard this from anyone else, it is always worthwhile checking for clearance.

 

Tubes & Tyres & a Drop of Goop

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I’m always a bit nervous about my tyres. I’ve had a few punctures in the past with one blowout throwing me down the duel carriageway at approximately 60mph and with roads getting such heavy use and many hazards for the Scooterist, we need as much help as we can get. So nowadays I try to use the best inner tubes & tyres I can get my hands on. For inner tubes I’m using Maypol from Just Lambretta, which have the valve off set from the centre and the valve itself is at an angle that means it will clear the fork link bolt.

The tyres I’m using are Michelin City Grip Winter. According to Michelin It has a 62mph speed rating and have a fast warm up with grip for fresh or melting snow.

 

Lastly, I add Goop. I’ve used it for a number of years now and I’ve had no tyre or inner tube malfunctions or mishaps. I check the tyres regularly and they hold their pressure well.

download

 

Lambretta External Pick Up by Scootronics

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Setting the timing isn’t rocket science but it can be a bit of a pain having to remove the flywheel to keep adjusting the stator plate to get the desired firing point at the correct degree interval.

I know I’m guilty in the past of messing about fiddling to set the stator and by the third or fourth time of removing the flywheel, I’ve said “That’s close enough” and I know others have too!

Now Anthony Tambs of Scootronics has made an external pick up. Which means adjusting the timing can be done without removing the flywheel.

Fitting is really easy. There’s a hole to drill and tap into the flywheel and 3 holes to drill into the Magneto Housing of which you tap a thread into two of. Then you swap the Pick up wire connection from the stator with the new one from the external pick up. Full easy to follow instructions are available from Anthony.

I’ve had the Lambretta out and about in the city and up the carriageway for prolonged spells and it’s not missing a beat. I’ve checked fitment and it’s on firm. Anthony suggests using Loctite to help keep the pick up in place which is common practice for many Lambretta fixings and I personally use it almost everywhere!

A point of reference. After I first fitted the pick up, I couldn’t start the engine. There was no spark. If you look in the photo below, you’ll see the gap which was too big. Anthony said it should be between 1 mm & 3 mm, but not any closer as you have to allow for slight movement of the flywheel. Move the flywheel by hand a couple of rotations just to check

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Instructions are available from Anthony in PDF format.

Update:

  • Anthony has made another external pick up available. The added version comes with built in 6 Degree linear retard.
  • He has made a modification to the pick up bracket. These have the pick up fitting closer to the flywheel, just to give the trigger bracket some extra clearance from the flywheel cowling.
  •  The company name is now Scootronics

For further details contact; anthony.tambs@gmail.com Tel: 07971475134

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SLUK XL5 Screen For LI Series 2 & 3 Lambretta

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SLUK have released number of scootering related products and one particular item I’ve been after for my LI was a Coast 2 Coast screen. Unfortunately these haven’t been made and so it was a case of going without as nearly every screen for the LI series 3 wasn’t something I was prepared to put on my Lambretta.

Now they’ve just released a screen for the Series 2 & Series 3 LI Lambrettas and it’s called the XL5. SLUK say that it was inspired by the original café racer Biemme screen from the 1960’s, but with improved changes.

It comes in three parts, plus the fixings and a Hi Torque Fastener, (just like a Jubilee Clip, but Hi Torque)! All you need to do is bolt the screen to the main part or fairing with the metal band that adds strength as well as adding to the look.

Fitting is easy and the best part of it is with the Hi Torque fastener, fixing and removing the screen to carry out any under the headset maintenance means there’s nothing to it. All you use to attach to the headlight is a socket or a screwdriver.

SLUK do make a few points to note regarding fitting. They suggest putting insulation tape, Gaffer tape or 3M tape over the fixing area to help give a good fixing for the

fastener and also serves to help protect your paintwork. This makes sense, because the inside of the XL5 screen that will grip the headlight rim is smooth as is most headlight rims.

It is pointed out that the screen may make contact with legshield beading and may need trimming. My screen didn’t touch my legshield beading, but I have a disc brake with a reservoir on the handlebar and so the edge of the main part of the screen needed trimming by a few millimetres. SLUK say the main part of the screen is made from tough ABS plastic but it was easy enough to trim down with just a file.

I’d like to add that this isn’t bad workmanship from SLUK. As a Lambretta owner fettling and adapting things to fit is a common occurrence.  The standard Lambretta fit is hard thing to find and there’s nearly always an exception to standard with most Lambrettas out there.

Thirdly, the headset screws we sometimes use can have thick heads but SLUK supply thinner button head screws and make fitment of the screen better.

The last point of interest is with security of the fitting. SLUK say that the user can drill holes in the fastener so adding fixing points and making it harder to steal. 

It comes in a choice of white, black, silver and carbon effect.

I am happy with the screen. Quality is good and I’m confident with the fixings. I’ve a GammaTech Speedo that stands a bit proud of the headset and I’m adding a Sat Nav shortly, so it goes to helping with the profile of my Lambretta.

One final point. This doesn’t mean I’m going Mod and spending weekends at B & Q. I won’t be adding a target sticker on the screen.

SLUK Website

Direct Link to XL5 Screens

Thumb Choke & GammaTechnology Speedo

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Two great ways to save an engine.

Last week I put the GoPro on to make a short video of Darrell Taylors Thumb Choke & GammaTechnology RTSE1000 Speedo in use and how it can quickly save a potential disaster.

If you watch the EGT temperature gauge on the top right of the speedo,  it begins to rise above 600 C. So to bring the temperature down quicky, the thumb choke is pressed. With a standard Lambretta choke this is all but impossible.

Video

Links

GammaTechnology

Taylor Tuning Facebook

Spare Fuel Can

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I only ever ran out of petrol once before. therefore I never thought the need for a spare fuel can. Last month I ran out and had the push of shame taking the Lambretta to the nearest garage. So now I have a spare 2 litre can. It came with a handy spout to lesten spillage when filling your tank. The dimensions are Height 270mm width 147mm and depth 80mm.

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Engine Build #1

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Back in 2004 I started a 225 engine for the Lowrider. It’s been run in the Lowrider the LI and the GP. It’s currently being set up as a spare for the LI. It’s a V1 Mugello Stage 5 Tuned by Cambridge Lambretta Workshops.

Here’s some pictures of the build.

The polished casing

The Mugello kit after it was tuned.

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A DJ pipe (copy). I sent this to Jahspeed to fit a slip joint

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I tapped out all the threads on the casing before Inserted the studs.

Fitting the mounts by heating the casing first.

Put in the crank and then fitting the front sprocket.

Got this Layshaft from Cambridge Lambretta Workshops. Extremely good quality.

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In went the LI150 Gearbox

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The clutch in the Mugello 225 was just a standard 4 plate version that never let me down.

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Top end on and setting the correct squish.

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This was the engine finished. The DJ copy exhaust eventually disintegrated. I then used a JL3 from Cambridge Lambretta Workshops. I was due to take the exhaust off for an overhaul, but a trip up to North Belfast and some very rough road wrecked the u-bend. So I then went on to use a Taffspeed copy. It lasted better, but eventually it cracked around the u-bend.

I’ve no idea how many miles I’ve done, but it’s was used daily and on rideouts and rallies. I’ve just rebuilt it with a AF Race Cassette Clutch and a Stainless Devtour.

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Save

Save

Gamma Technology Digital Speedo Review

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Contact: http://www.gammatechnology.co.uk

In my quest to find the perfect speedo I’ve been on a journey that has seen the standard, the copy, the MB, SIP, Trailtech and even a Garmin 305 on the headset of my Lambrettas. All have had their turn. Some with more success than others, some with no more worth than to fill a hole in the headset.

So, moving on to 2016. I’m almost resigned to going back to a stock speedo with the wavy needle. I had seen the Gamma Technology speedo on social media but first impressions I wasn’t sure. so I decided to investigate further. Fast forward a couple weeks and after studying the Gamma Technology website and reviews on forums I went ahead and ordered the RTSE1000.

Anthony Tambs is the man who does the electrical wizardry. He answers the questions and is happy to help.

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Taylor Tuning Thumb Choke Review

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I’ve always disliked the standard choke set up on the Lambretta and often resort to using the flip-up choke, but this isn’t always feasible, so back in 2012 a friend, Jarv from Norwich showed me his thumb choke set up on his Lambretta Special. I already found a lever from a lawnmower, but wasn’t happy with it. Then I saw Darrell Taylor from Taylor Tuning had built a thumb choke. Everything was with the kit, cable, fixings and lever. So I went with Darrell’s kit.

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