COMMITTED

I've done it.  I've taken the original engine for rebuild.  This is an important milestone in the project because it represents a big capital investment and one I'm unlikely to get back in the near future.

Arch 219 at the end

Having exchanged Emails with Scooter Surgery over the past few days it was finally agreed that I should take the engine to them on Tuesday 27th July.  I had investigated the route to Scooter Surgery, it's in Hammersmith just off Shepherds Bush Green.  From their web site it looked a difficult place to park but Maude had said that it was possible to park right outside.  She should know.  I tried to look up the site on Google Maps just to be sure but you can't actually view the shop/railway arch in Street View, only what I assumed to be the access road as a turning off Trussley Road. 
June had agreed to come with me and so with the engine loaded into the back of her car we set off at 1030 hrs.  The traffic was reasonable and with the help of TomTom we arrived and hour later.  Just as Google had shown we found the narrow access road to Scooter Surgery, not helped by the fact that there was no signs to confirm we were right.  No alternative but to commit to the narrow road between the railway arches and a brick wall.  It really was quite narrow, I guess you can get a Transit van down but not much more.  We could see what we thought were Scooters in the distance so drove on in the hope of eventually finding arch 219.  Part way down I said  I hoped that you could get out at the far end because otherwise it was going to be a long reverse.

Mable and Patrick

We parked up behind a number of scooters and I went of investigate.  From the number of scooters I had expected to find a crowd of customers but in fact there transpired to be only one and he had come on a Ducattie.  Once inside the shop (is that what you call somewhere stuffed with all things scooter?) I asked the woman, I guessed she was Maude if I could speak to Paul.  This confused her and she asked if I had got the right place.  After a moment of embarrassment I realised I should have said Patrick (AKA Patch).  This cleared up Maude pointed to a guy on the phone, apparently he was speaking to a customer in Australia.  Why not?  Whilst waiting I chatted to the "customer"  who said he had a number of scooters and had used Patrick for many years and would not consider going to anyone else, "he's not cheap but it does get it right".  He could have been a "plant" but I suspect not. 
The best way to describe the shop is "organised chaos".  There were parts hanging from the ceiling, parts on shelves, parts beyond the counter and parts in what was more like a traditional stores area.  There were part built scooters and on a mezzanine floor to one side there were even more complete scooters.  This would not work without someone knowing their way round Lambrettas.  I soon became obvious that they were Patrick and Maude.  Perhaps I could now understand why their web site didn't have part numbers.  You told them what you needed and they produced it by just knowing what was required.

Patrick with his LD

Patrick eventually came off the phone and we introduced ourselves.  He had the engine out of the boot in a moment and was examining it on the ground.  He said he the corrosion on the casing was possibly due to it being in water and he didn't like the look of the crank and yes he could see no reason why the engine couldn't be rebuilt.  That was good news even if I could hear the disclaimer - for money.  He took the engine back to the shop to book it in to ensure it didn't get lost in all the other jobs he was doing.  I asked him about availability of parts like the rear light and head light.  Not a problem he stocks them.  One thing he does not have is any documentation for sale, apparently its never been reprinted.  I asked if I could take some pictures of his LD because I didn't know what the details should look like.  Patrick removed the side panels so I could get better access.  I have to say he really does use his LD on a daily basis.  We later talked about how to buy a Lambretta and he said it mostly down to luck as to what you get.  He has known people spending a lot on a model that looked great only to have to spend another £2000 to get it right.  On the other hand he has seen scooters bought for few hundred pounds that after a service worked perfectly.

The Workshop Arch

We started talking about the engine in the scooter at the moment.  Patrick said he would like to see it at some point because there were anomalies with the gear change mechanism.  Apparently it's a MK3 engine but with teleflex drive for the  gear change.  When I told him I had understood from Mark it was four speed that only confused him still further.  Lambretta did make a 4 speed box but it was never put into production he told me.  I must have miss heard Mark, if it is four speed it must be something of a rarity!  In order to explain the subtleties of the different gear change mechanisms Patrick took me back down the road to his workshop.  This is in another arch, perhaps ten arches away.  Having seen how crowded the shop was I have to admit I was wondering where he did his repairs, now I know.
 
Patrick had not explained what he was going to show me and I had just followed him to this new arch so when he opened the door I had no idea what to expect.
 

Three on lifts

The first thing I saw was a scooter in the doorway but I couldn't see much further into the dark interior until Patrick, who had vanished into the gloom, had switched on a light.  Wow-ee, what else could I say?  The entire area seemed to be covered in scooters in various states.  I stood to one side whilst Patrick wheeled out into the road at least eight scooters ranging from an L1 to a Mk3. and this only cleared the access to the bench.  There were three scooters on table lifts with others between them. 

The cleared walk way

There were others to the left of the main walkway that had been recently uncovered.  I couldn't help wondering who these scooters belonged to.  Surely if they were customers they would be outside chasing him for their completion.  I didn't ask because Patrick was already showing me the various bits associated with the Teleflex and MK2 gear change.  He was part way through rebuilding  a box , I think I understand the differences now.

We then talked about the cost of my rebuild.  Patrick had already said that from my photographs he estimated a cost of £1000 and to that I would need to add the cost of changing the crankshaft.  Total cost,  £1200 (perhaps). I heard myself say, "Go ahead", I was COMMITTED.  Perhaps the daftest thing I said was "I'm not in a hurry".  I may have to deny this later.    As we were leaving the workshop Patrick pointed out some of the engines waiting rebuild.  Have I done the right thing?  Will I ever get my engine back?  We walked back to the shop where Maude was talking to June.  I think she's seen abandoned wives before and knows keeping the wives happy is the way to get the husbands to spend their money. I took one last photograph of my engine all alone in the shop doorway and felt a bit sad abandoning it. I wonder when I shall see it again?



After the long reverse out the drive home was easy.  Looking back on the day I feel it was what I enjoy about projects, the experiences and characters along the way.  Scooter Surgery couldn't have been more welcoming I'm glad that I have decide to go ahead with them.

THE PROJECT GETS A LIFT

The motorbike lift table has arrived.  I'm really excited about it as it represents a further commitment to the project.  I decided at the outset that I'm too old to be laying on the floor sorting things out.  This piece of kit will save me having to do that and at the end of the project I can always put it on Ebay to recoup some of the expense. 

True to the suppliers word it arrived at 1230hrs and the driver dragged into the project office, it was really heavy.  Once the driver had left I couldn't resist the temptation to unpack my new acquisition.  I was pleased to find that it was just as well made as it appeared on the web site and all for £235 plus delivery.  It's very red and there bits that look as though they have been cut using a cold chisel but in general the quality is good.  I think it's great value for money.  I raised the table to its full height with no difficulty and lowered it again, it's going to be great.  The removable plate at the end provides a ramp to enable the bike to be easily pushed onto the table.

I decided to fit a length of conveyor belting that I had left over from a previous job.  I thought this would make a nice surface to work from.  I cut holes in the belting to enable the front wheel clamp arrangement to be fitted.  All was ready for the first attempt at putting the scooter onto the table.  The first thing I encountered was that the stand "just" catches the point where the ramp meets the end of the table.   It's not a real problem and can be easily overcome by putting a block under the end of the ramp plate.  The result was that there is now a small loss of red paint on the ramp, still plenty left.  With the scooter on the table and on its stand I was able to assess the situation.  I certainly needs the front wheel clamp.  Without this there is a risk that the scooter could come off its stand.   I'll have to look into this because I don't think the stand goes overcentre enough for it to be secure.  With the front wheel clamped things are much more stable and I was prepared to lift the table.  What a joy to have the engine at a working height.


So there we have it, no progress on the scooter but it's progress on the project.

WHAT DO THE NUMBERS MEAN?

My only justification for considering having the engine rebuilt, at considerable cost, is that some of the cost will be recouped when I come to sell the scooter.  Having the frame and engine numbers tie up with the log book provides authenticity and therefore enables me to command a higher price.  I don't expect to recover it all but hopefully it will attract more bidders and then you never know your luck.

One of the things that attracted me to this scooter was that it had its original brown log book.  I can remember when I bought my first car and how pleased I was when I was handed the "log book".  Some how that made the car mine more than having the care itself.  I don't know why Mark fitted an unrelated engine in the frame when he had the original.  Perhaps he had the spare engine and didn't want the expense of the rebuild.
 
 

The log book shows  

It shows the model is an LDB 
(by which I assume it's a series 2)


frame number to be 194077  


the engine number 203897.

 
The registration date is 5th October 1956 


These facts should tie up with the Lambretta register.  I look forward to receiving my Lambretta Club membership so I can get them confirmed.  In the mean time I have referred to the Lambretta Bible.  Unfortunately things are not as simple as I had hoped.  

The "bible" shows the following information :-

LD 150 (Mk 2)
1954:  105,001 - 105,442
1955:  105,443 - 157,721
1956:  157,722 - 158,56


LD 150 (Mk3)
1957:  200,001 - 281,871
1958:  281,872 - 312,954


Did you spot the absence of 194077?  
I'm assuming that since 1957 started with  200 at the beginning of the Mk3 series, 194 would have been at the end of the Mk2 series.  This of course may not be the case so I shall just have to wait until I can get it confirmed by LCGB.


At least I have confirmed that the frame and engine numbers are as shown on the log book.

Having re read this blog I'm a bit concerned that I've started to become a bit of a nerd. (definition:-  foolish or contemptible person who lacks social skills or is boringly studious. OR  an intelligent, single-minded expert in a particular technical discipline or profession. Your choice.)

COMING TO TERMS WITH THINGS

Over the last few days I have been having mixed feelings.  At one point I even thought of putting the bike back on Ebay because the task seemed too daunting.  There are so many bits that must be found and in most cased I don't even know what they look like.  My first action must be to join the Lambretta club, they must know where all the bits are.  It was strange to download a form in this day and age and then to fill it in and send it off via snail mail.  I look forward to seeing what they can do for me.

I started to to look round the web for possible suppliers and was cheered to find that there were quite a few.  It became more difficult if you specified  a 1956 LD but there were still a few.  There were even bits showing up on Ebay where I had started watching bits.  I was interested to see that some items  were immediately re-listed if they didn't make their reserve so it's always worth looking.


I still haven't produced my list of missing bits.  Perhaps because I'm frightened how long it will be.  I am beginning to settle to the idea that I am going to rebuild the original engine.  It would be daft to have the paperwork that matches the frame and the engine and not to make it come true.  I kid myself it will increase the value of the finished scooter should I decide to sell it at some point.  To be truthful I think it will only reduce the loss.  I realised that this might be costly but had no idea of just how much it was likely to be.  If I was going to go down that route I needed to locate a barrel and head.

So I plucked up courage and went in search of the two prime bits.  I tried Tim's man in Derby, K & S scooters, he couldn't help but suggested I send him a list and he would see what he could do.  After a couple more failed attempts to locate a barrel I got round to phoning Cambridge Lambrettas to see if they had a barrel and head and was it possible to rebuild an LD.  Yes the do rebuild LDs and their labour cost is £1000 plus parts and no they didn't have any cast barrels. The guy said that they would only fit a lined aluminum barrel at an approximate cost of £300 because it was the best solution and yes they were available.  He agreed with me that I was possibly looking at £1500 to get the engine unit alone up to scratch.  The guy was not very encouraging and a bit off hand, take it or leave it.  Not a very nice experience considering my state of mind.  That still leaves the silencer and I would have to pinch the carb from the engine fitted in the bike at the moment, and that's only the start.

After a night's sleep I felt refreshed and brave enough to try again.  I tried a couple of other sites only to find that the LD was too old for them to have parts.  I left a request with Bike Spare Finder but to date have not had any replies.  Then I struck gold.  I had had two pointers to try Scooter Surgery.  I liked there web site because it was friendly, not how you used it but in what it said.  I may even appear a bit amateurish but I like it.  I phoned and spoke to Andy who had time to talk to me and was very informative.  He told me that the LD engine was very strong and used to be assembled by hand on an individual basis.  This is fine but you need to be careful when stripping and rebuilding to ensure that you get it right.  Apparently you have to be aware of this if you try to build one engine out of two.  Of course this may have been a ruse to put me off doing the rebuild my self but I don't think so.  
The man to talk to was Patch (Patrick Hood) but he was off sick with a bad back but hopefully back next week.  I was told that Patch actually rides an LD to work every day.  Andy suggested that I phone again next week.  When pressed he thought a rebuild would usually start from £1000 depending on what was required.  Seems to tie up.   I have to say I would rather spend my money money with Scooter Surgery than with Cambridge Lambretta from my experience so far.  Andy said if I liked to Email some pictures of the engine he would ensure that they got to Patch  as soon as he returned.  I put the phone done much cheered, may be it's all going to be alright after all.

I went straight to the Project office and took a series of photographs of the original engine.  This forced me to take a closer look at the condition.  

 Most importantly I found the crankshaft turned easily with no grinding sounds.  This doesn't mean a lot because there may damage to the surfaces that necessitates changing the crank but at least it moves.  I have to say it didn't look too clean inside but it moves. 

The flywheel had been removed and was just pushed on and the key was missing. The keyways looked OK and had not been damaged as far as I could tell.  The contact breaker unit was missing as was the electrical connector on the outside of the magneto casing.  These are the sort of things that I worry about finding.  I don't think the mag had been removed or the engine case split.  Looking at the securing screws they show no signs of damage which is likely to occur when a "butcher" attempts the work.




I tried to move the clutch lever but couldn't.  
I resisted the temptation to force it because I expect the cork pads will be stuck to the plates just like Tim found on his Vespa.  Read his blog - Black Spanner.  I had a quick look at the gear change leaver but again it resisted my efforts.  It would be daft to break something if I'm going to have it rebuilt and have to find another elusive part on top of all the others.

The rear hub looked fine and turned easily.  Again I resisted the temptation to remove the nut which secures the brake drum.  I don't know it it's right or left handed, I need a handbook.






Back to the computer to prepare the pics to Email to Andy.  In the end I sent him eleven.  Within a very short time I had a reply form Maude, who apparently does all the office work.  Just like Andy I came off the phone feeling that I had known her for ages.  I loved the start of her Email which said, "Mike she looks a sweet little engine."  I think she's my type of person.


I'm really looking forward to Patch's first impressions.  They could be fundamental in my decision as to what to do.

WHAT HAVE I GOT?

Tim came down Sunday to see us. the day after delivery, to have a look at the purchase.  Like Jax he was impressed, it was a lot more than he expected.  He helped me take photographs of all the bits so that I had a record .  This was the first stage in the long road to getting the scooter on the road.  As we assessed the bits I began to realise just how much more I was going to have to find.  Little things, but non the less essential.  
This started me thinking, will there be bits available? 

This lead me to remember my advice to someone else, "always buy something complete and running".  That way you know you have got enough bits to make it work and you only have to then decide what cosmetic standard you want to achieve.  Perhaps I was feeling a bit low but my heart sank as I thought about the task ahead.  Should have I bid more for the Isle of Whit scooter?  I must stop thinking like this because it will spoil the project, I went into it with my eyes open so I have to live with it. 

One good thing to come out of our inspection was that we found both the frame number and the engine number.  Apparently I will need to take rubbings of these to submit to the Lambretta Club of Great Britain.  I intend to join tomorrow.

My next task is to make a list of things that I can see that I will require and then to start looking for them.  I hope that this will cheer me up and let me see that I can make it work.  First lets have a look at what I have got for my money.

AND THE SCOOTER

D DAY

Delivery Day has arrived.  I was up early just to check that the garage was still there and clear to accept the scooter.  I needn't have bothered because all I had to do then was to wait until Mark arrived.  I "actively" sat in the garden to wait.

I was wakened from my activity by my phone ringing, it was Mark.  It was only 1130 hrs, he had made very good time.  I asked him where he was only to find that he had overshot our house and was at the end of the drive.  A quick turn round and we met for the first time.

I got his van parked up on the drive in front of the project office knowing full well that it wouldn't be long before someone wanted to come in or out.  I wasn't disappointed. We had just started to open the van and sure enough a car arrived.  Having moved the van the car could pass and we decided to unload from where the van was.  It was a good job because we had three other people wanting to pass, one was a car and trailer! It's good living in the country.

Unloading was straight forward, Mark had done a great job securing the scooter and protecting it from damage.  Prior to arriving he had been to collect a car engine and he was concerned that it shouldn't break loose and hit the scooter, all was well.  As Mark took the cover off the bike he said he hoped that I was happy with it.  It was obvious that he had spent a lot of time and money on the project.  Despite his saying that he was not happy with some of the finish it was great.  One of my first thoughts was "how the heck am I going to be able to maintain this standard?"  I was frightened that because he had progressed so far I was going to  have difficulty not causing damage whilst adding more bits  

Mark had made up a ramp so getting the scooter out of the van was simple and we moved the scooter and  all the bits into the project office. Mark kindly explained some of the small items, there seemed to be quite a few .  The engine fitted is not the one that is specified in the log book and I think that I will explore the possibility of having it rebuilt so I can get the V5 documentation correct.  I guess this might prove expensive as it is missing the barrel,  head and part of the gear change mechanism. 


I insisted that Mark counted the money, I would have hated to have got it wrong.  I did have June check it knowing what I'm like with numbers.  As luck would have it Mark couldn't make the pile come out right at first.  All was well when he found that he had added an extra £50 to one of the piles.  That sorted, Mark declined our offer of a drink as he wanted to get on his way back to Thirsk.  I think his departure was tinged with sadness at leaving the bike because his last remark before getting into his van was "Are you sure you're happy because I can always take it back?" I look forward to receiving copies of the photographs he has of the original condition.


It was still too hot to really do much so it was back to the garden.  I had set a text to all the kids to say it had arrived and had received encouraging reply's.  It wasn't long before I received a call from daughter Jax asking is the family could come over to see the scooter.  They were suitably impressed, so much so that Neil gave me a pile of his scooter mags so I could start looking for bits.


The end of an exciting day, will I be able to sleep?

TOMORROW'S THE DAY

I had a phone call from Mark Flanagan (the guy who is selling the scooter) at about 1100 hrs to confirm all was well and he anticipated arriving at Bramfield at 1230 hrs on Saturday morning. It makes your heart jump when you realise that's TOMORROW. I asked about photographs from his project up to the point he sold the scooter. He has some and said he would Email them to me at some point. This would be great as it would allow me to assemble a complete rebuild history. If I hear nothing I will give him an Email reminder, I don't want to miss out on this opportunity.

Having run through all my doubts again I decide that I really should sort out where I'm going to put it when it arrives. Obviously it will go in the Project office but at the moment the TF is in the way and will need to be pushed to one side. This is not a problem in that I bought four "GoJacks" from Ebay and these allow me to lift each wheel and push the car where I want it. My problem is that I'm suffering (as only a man can, says June) from Sciatica in my right leg. This is making it very difficult for me to walk. It's been so bad that I haven't even tried out my GoJacks, how bad is that? Well, tomorrow being the day I had to do something. Perhaps it was the excitement of the scooters arrival or may be the fact that I had been laying in the garden for most of the afternoon, whatever it was, the system worked fine. With the TF moved to one side I had plenty of room to put the scooter.

I think I'm ready. Let the project begin.

IN THE BEGINING

I just want to record how I got into this. It started when my eldest son Tim was given a VESPA because someone wanted the space. He thought it would be a bit of fun to see if he could get it going. He did. This started him thinking that perhaps he could make use of it for local transport. After some investigation he realised that it would not pass an MOT in it's current state. At this point he made the decision (perhaps unwisely) to repair it. Have a look at his blog site at Black Spanner where you can "feel" the pain and the joy.

This got me thinking and I happened to mention to Tim that I had owned a Lambretta.  Once he knew this I started receiving Ebay links to possible candidates for me to buy. Then from a casual interest things started to take a more serious turn. Tim sent me great book - The Lamgretta Bible by Pete Davies. This contains all things Lambretta. It should only be taken in small doses otherwise you can get indigestion and a headache.

I started to look for the model I had, or as far as I could l remember it. After a bit of research I discovered it was an LD about 1956 but I can't remember the engine capacity. It was powder blue (not the Lambretta name), it had brown seats, aluminum handle bars and glove box behind the leg shields. It can't have had a battery because I can remember the lights going up and down with the engine revs. This was most inconvenient because just when you needed illumination there was none. One of the problems in trying to define my model from such basic information is that Lambretta kept changing their build standard. Whilst they made large numbers of machines a particular build of a model often only lasted for a short time. Thus such details as the venting in the side panels has an impact. I remember mine had chrome surrounds. Oh, did I mention that they also introduced "marks" within the model range, hence the headache. Having consulted the" bible" on numerous occasions I'm more or less convinced that My scooter was an LD Mark 2 somewhere between the second version (mid1955 to mid 1956) and the third version (mid 1956 to 1957). That is of course unless you know better.

Writing this blog in retrospect it's quite difficult to remember the exact sequence of events. In the greater scheme of things it's not important but iit will become part of the history of the scooter.

I had starting watching a number of machines for sale on Ebay, only out of interest you understand. There was one on the Isle of White that I think was very close to my model. It had had no bids after 5 days and I thought it might not go so I contacted the seller with a couple of questions. With one day to go I asked it didn't reach it's starting bid of £1500 would he be prepared to negotiate something a little less. He said yes and we even talked of how I would get it back to Hertfordshire. On the 2nd July I found that someone had met the starting bid price so that was that. Encouraged by June I went and watched the end of the bidding. Again encouraged by June, I actually entered a max bid of £1800 only to be beaten by £50 at the very last moment. That's Ebay for you. June said I should have put £2000 as a max bit but I didn't want to get carried away in the excitement. Whilst I now think it was a good value at £2000 it still needed a lot of work doing and the engine was seized and so an unknown quantity. The thing it did have going for it was it was complete and had been stored for 43 years by the sellers dad.

It was strange the next day to find that I felt really disapointed that I had lost the bid and found myself hoping that the buyer would fail to pay or something so that the seller would offer it to me. No such luck. It helped but I couldn't get the idea out of my mind that I really should have offered more. I was surprised at my reaction but what was even more surprising was the fact that June was very upset on my behalf, she really wanted me to have it. I hope it's because she loves me and not just to get rid of me down the garage.

The family rallied round to comfort me and to stop me kicking myself. John mentioned that they (UPOL) had a rep who was into scooters in a big way and Torsie talked to him most days, she would give him a buzz. Ashley Marples came back within the hour and yes he is into scooters, he has five I think. We talked for a while and he agreed to offer any advice he could. He did say the LD parts were becoming more difficult to find (that only made it worse that I didn't win the Isle of White one. Kick!)

As I said I had been collecting possibly suitable Ebay auctions to watch and none really excited me. I had previously discounted uncompleted LD project because there were a number of undisclosed parts required and the engine wasn't the correct model. The correct engine was included but had no barrel or piston and did have the numbers that matched with the log book. I received an urgent message from John saying that Ashley had contacted Torsie to say had we seen it and if I didn't buy it he would. I phoned Ashley and he said that he had just come off the phone after speaking to the seller for half an hour and confirmed that it was good value for money considering what had been done to it. Whilst it was in the auction at a starting bid of £1350 to finish on the 6th July it also had a "buy now price" of £1350. Ashley was concerned that it could be snapped up and was concerned if I didn't take it he might loose it. After a short consideration I phoned the seller (Mark Flanagan) and offered the "buy now price". After discussion he agreed to deliver it to Bramfield for and additional £100. Having checked that to hire a van would cost £55 and the fuel costs, to meet part way would be up to £50 I accepted his deal. So on Saturday 10th July 2010 I should be a part built scooter owner.

How do I feel? As I always do at this point in the purchase, apprehensive. Will it be what I expect? Will I be able to purchase the missing parts? Will the money run away? Have I been conned? Will he deliver, not too much of a problem since I haven't payed any money over because he wants cash with delivery. If the deal fall through will I be able to start over again? Perhaps I always feel like this because I'm excited and not just because I'm frightened. Hopefully I will feel secure again after I have inspected the bits and have formulated a plan. Roll on Saturday.

OBJECTIVE

This Blog is intended to document the journey that I make getting a Lambretta LD 150 on the road. I have no idea how difficult it is going to be or how long it will take but I shall enjoy looking back and seeing how I overcame the problems, who I met on the way and assessing if it was really worth it.
Having said that I guess I should get underway.