I've just spent what seems like days trying to get my spreadsheet showing the cost of the parts that are needed to complete the scooter. Of course it's not complete, things can only get worse. I started in Excel because I had used it before and so thought it would save time. Having set up the sheet I filled in what I knew and even produced column totals. I was now ready to my blog. Some hope. At first I just copied the relevant area and pasted it into the new blog. Great the sheet appeared and made sense. Then I noticed a little prompt in red at the bottom of the table saying something to the effect "file not saved due to formatting errors". I then tried inserting an image via the tool bar having first placed a copy on the desktop. Something about not being compatible.
To save you having to read a blow by blow account of the last two days I will summarise. I tried Blogger help but quickly gave it up once I found a proposed solution involving entering code. Why cant Google realise that there is a need to include spreadsheets. I then looked at Gmail Documents. Tim had told me previously I should use Google but I didn't want to learn a new system. OK so he was right. It appears that if I copy the address from my Gmail Spreadsheet and past it into the Blogger Link it works. When I say works it shows the spreadsheet if you click on the appropriate words - "Missing Parts". What I don't know is if it is secure i.e. followers can't modify the data. I think I have set it to view only in Gmail I will have to wait for feedback. Another thought, do you have to have a Gmail account to access the data?
You might ask why do I want to do this? I think it's important to record just how much this rebuild is costing. I think it will show that it is best to buy a complete scooter rather than one only part complete as I have. That way you only have to replace what's necessary and I still don't know if I can get all the missing bits.
Missing Parts click here to see the spreadsheet
Sunday 15 August 2010
Thursday 12 August 2010
THE TORSION BAR
I have been discovering that the scooter literally revolves round a part called the "TORSION BAR". The scooter's rear suspension relies on this part and it is necessary to know about it if you want to remove the engine unit. Since I need to remove the engine currently fitted in the frame I need to know about it. I have met these devices before in the Renault 4 and the Morris Marina so I know that you have to approach them with caution. I had read at somewhere that it was necessary to unload the torsion bar if you didn't want to damage the roller bearing cage whilst removing the scooter engine. How am I going to do that?
My first move was to log onto the Lambretta Club site. It must be me but it took me ages to get the hang of the forums. I have to say I'm always a bit frightened of using forums. The other users seem so "nurdish". They always seem to take delight in slagging off anyone who doesn't speak the language or follow the obscure rules. Eventually I found a section on pre 57 scooters. Even more "eventually" I found a reference (a thread, in forum speak) to the torsion bar tool on page five of eleven. It contained fourteen entries discussing where to get a tool and a little bit about the method of using it or making do with an alternative. Not a lot of use, back to the post board index (I'm getting the hang of the terms now). After an abortive excursion into "Anoraks Corner" I returned to the pre-57 section. With a bit more experience I found a reference to "the torsion bar". This was more like it, it actually had members talking of how to remove it. It was time to join in so I prepared my first post and waited for the reprimands. To my surprise I got a couple of useful reply's pointing me to other sites, including the French Lambretta Club on how to remove the engine. Now I wish I'd concentrated more during French lessons!
About this time I received my copy of The Lambretta Service Guide and Handbook on a CD which I had bought on Ebay. It turned out to contain some very useful information including a description of using the tool to unload the torsion bar ready to remove the engine. I have read and re-read the instructions in an attempt to understand how the tool works. The reinstatement of the connection between the engine and the link is fine and I can see what they are talking about. I even think I could make the tool to do the job. The disconnection is another matter. Remembering that the connections are under load from the torsion bar I can't see, from the description, how to avoid the point where link is broken under the full force of the torsion bar. I think that it needs to be released in a controlled manner.
So, where have I got to. I really like the idea of making a tool if I can find how to use it and what it looks like. I have left requests on the LCGB site requesting any pictures of the original tool. If that fails I may have to resort to a bodge and use a large clamp, see link :- (http://www.forums.ilambretta.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8035)
to enable me to slowly release the load once I have removed the link pin. It would work for refitting the pin but not as elegant as the correct tool!
I'm still a bit confused by the LCGB forum site but this is how I think it works. There a number of sections ( FAQ, Lambretta Help, Lambrett Gerneral, LCGB Members area, Forum Help etc) in each of which there are a series of topics e.g. Anoraks Corner, Tuning Kits, Pre 57, UK Rallies and Events etc. Some of these contain many topics: for Series 1,2and 3, 48,000 posts spread over 6000 topics.
In the case of the "Pre 57" section there are some 260 topics with 1200 posts. These are covered on eleven pages so it very easy to read something useful and then forget where it was. I believe it is possible to bookmark a post but that's for another day. There is obviously a lot going on and for now it's just a case of trawling through a lot of information until you find what you need.
My first move was to log onto the Lambretta Club site. It must be me but it took me ages to get the hang of the forums. I have to say I'm always a bit frightened of using forums. The other users seem so "nurdish". They always seem to take delight in slagging off anyone who doesn't speak the language or follow the obscure rules. Eventually I found a section on pre 57 scooters. Even more "eventually" I found a reference (a thread, in forum speak) to the torsion bar tool on page five of eleven. It contained fourteen entries discussing where to get a tool and a little bit about the method of using it or making do with an alternative. Not a lot of use, back to the post board index (I'm getting the hang of the terms now). After an abortive excursion into "Anoraks Corner" I returned to the pre-57 section. With a bit more experience I found a reference to "the torsion bar". This was more like it, it actually had members talking of how to remove it. It was time to join in so I prepared my first post and waited for the reprimands. To my surprise I got a couple of useful reply's pointing me to other sites, including the French Lambretta Club on how to remove the engine. Now I wish I'd concentrated more during French lessons!
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| Item 15 - Torsion Bar |
So, where have I got to. I really like the idea of making a tool if I can find how to use it and what it looks like. I have left requests on the LCGB site requesting any pictures of the original tool. If that fails I may have to resort to a bodge and use a large clamp, see link :- (http://www.forums.ilambretta.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8035)
to enable me to slowly release the load once I have removed the link pin. It would work for refitting the pin but not as elegant as the correct tool!
I'm still a bit confused by the LCGB forum site but this is how I think it works. There a number of sections ( FAQ, Lambretta Help, Lambrett Gerneral, LCGB Members area, Forum Help etc) in each of which there are a series of topics e.g. Anoraks Corner, Tuning Kits, Pre 57, UK Rallies and Events etc. Some of these contain many topics: for Series 1,2and 3, 48,000 posts spread over 6000 topics.
In the case of the "Pre 57" section there are some 260 topics with 1200 posts. These are covered on eleven pages so it very easy to read something useful and then forget where it was. I believe it is possible to bookmark a post but that's for another day. There is obviously a lot going on and for now it's just a case of trawling through a lot of information until you find what you need.
Wednesday 4 August 2010
TAKING A STAND
After my trip to Scooter Surgery I have started thinking about removing the existing engine from the frame. I will need to release the tension in the torsion bar which provides the suspension for the engine unit. This will involve some force and I quickly realised that the existing scooter stand didn't provide a really good working base. What I needed was a working stand.
Looking at what was available I found the ideal material, a length of 50mm x 50mm box section tube. I just needed to make up a base and attach something to pick up the stand mounting point on the frame, easy. I took the measurements from the frame where the stand fits and set to work. Things went well and I enjoyed the cutting and welding, but I can never understand why any critical welds always turn out to look the worst. Just as I'm finishing the job my welding picks up and they look like real welds, still one thing for sure, it won't fall to bits.
In order to remove the stand I had to lift the rear wheel higher off the table. This meant that the only thing keeping the scooter upright was the clamp on the front wheel, need for caution I realised. Using a trolley jack and lots of packing all went well but I have to admit that I was relieved to see the scooter still standing the next morning. I forgot to mention that I hadn't removed the stand when I took my dimensions for the mounting bracket. These were taken form what I could see and what I thought was the situation. Bad move. The removal of the stand itself was easy but it was then that I discovered that there were spacers fitted between the frame and the stand itself. My mounting bracket was too narrow - great!
The only solution was to cut it off and make a new one. A good moment to see just what my weld were like. I have to say I was pleased with them and they confirmed my earlier feelings. This time I made and fitted the bracket to the scooter before welding it to the base so I knew it would fit. It was a good job because I had overlooked the mount for the kick stand return spring. A bit of "relief" to make the bracket fit and it was ready to weld to the base.
I was so pleased (relieved) that it worked I decided to guild the lily and fit three feet to the base. I had two feet in the garage but had to pinch the third from June's working table upstairs, so far she hasn't noticed. I love drilling 32mm diameter holes in 3mm steel. I think I must be hooked on the smell of burning oil and smoke. After a quick fitting I was ready to give it a coat of paint just to tidy things up and to mask some of my poorer welds.
With the working stand fitted and the jack removed I was pleased to find that the whole assembly was much more stable. I now wont have to keep thinking about the possibility of the lot ending up on the floor, not a good thought.
If your wondering what the bolt at the end of the leg is for, it's an accident. The threaded hole was already there in the tube. I left it as it might provide a tie down point if I need it.
Now to investigate how to remove the engine unit.
In order to remove the stand I had to lift the rear wheel higher off the table. This meant that the only thing keeping the scooter upright was the clamp on the front wheel, need for caution I realised. Using a trolley jack and lots of packing all went well but I have to admit that I was relieved to see the scooter still standing the next morning. I forgot to mention that I hadn't removed the stand when I took my dimensions for the mounting bracket. These were taken form what I could see and what I thought was the situation. Bad move. The removal of the stand itself was easy but it was then that I discovered that there were spacers fitted between the frame and the stand itself. My mounting bracket was too narrow - great!
The only solution was to cut it off and make a new one. A good moment to see just what my weld were like. I have to say I was pleased with them and they confirmed my earlier feelings. This time I made and fitted the bracket to the scooter before welding it to the base so I knew it would fit. It was a good job because I had overlooked the mount for the kick stand return spring. A bit of "relief" to make the bracket fit and it was ready to weld to the base. I was so pleased (relieved) that it worked I decided to guild the lily and fit three feet to the base. I had two feet in the garage but had to pinch the third from June's working table upstairs, so far she hasn't noticed. I love drilling 32mm diameter holes in 3mm steel. I think I must be hooked on the smell of burning oil and smoke. After a quick fitting I was ready to give it a coat of paint just to tidy things up and to mask some of my poorer welds.
If your wondering what the bolt at the end of the leg is for, it's an accident. The threaded hole was already there in the tube. I left it as it might provide a tie down point if I need it.
Now to investigate how to remove the engine unit.
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