Wow!

jbcollier · Post by **jbcollier** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 7:27 am

What a weekend! It starts out with a vintage sale at Top Gear where not one but two members took a wrong turn in life and bought Lambrettas! Even worse, one of them is me!

I arrived in the mid afternoon to find Graham grinning from ear to ear having just bought two scoots: an LX150 for Chris -- who, unlike my otherwise wonderful wife, was delighted -- and an early series 3 Li150 for Himself. Much to his delight, and frankly, to everyone else's amazement, it's a one kick starter. More on this anon.

I wander about a bit and came across Dylan working on his new toy, a mid seventies Moto Guzzi 850T in pretty nice shape. Unfortunately the electrical system had been somewhat PO'ed (ie: "improved" by the Previous Owner, more on this anon). So after heartily congratulating Graham, I doff my jacket and helmet and start in on the Guzzi. It doesn't take long to sort out a couple of issues that were causing Dylan grief. He was delighted and I completely lost my mind and asked if the old 150 D might also be for sale.

It was and I bought it! He even lent me a truck to take it home with. Hmm, maybe he was just as glad to see it gone as I was to get it ;-)

All joking aside, THANKS TOP GEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So now I am the proud owner of a Lambretta 1955 150 D (Mk 2) in need of a major healing that would pale even the stoutest Pentecostal. The good lord have mercy on my soul if Trevor ever finds out!

So the next day at the Tra, we are all rejoicing in our good fortune and everyone decides to come over to have a look at the D. I arrive at my house with the Vespas close behind. Angelo arrives next because of all the love he pours into his Lammy and then Igor arrives with the news that Graham's has quit! I start speculating on all the nice walks the club can have if we all get Lambrettas.

Graham arrives shortly there after with it running and it seems that the needle and seat in the carb got a wee bit of grit in it and poured fuel all over the ground. After the gods were propitiated, it started. I think most mystics had Lambrettas in their youth.

Graham needs to get an OPI so we start having a look at the beast. Horn out and clean connections have it working again. Revving the engine reveals that the tail light actually does work and we then lift the headset and adjust the fork bearings.

Ta Da, job well done.

Wait, it won't start, and there's no horn either! No starting is quickly resolved once the gods receive their cut of the remaining fuel -- fuel filter and fuel line is on the to do list. We then tear into the bar switch to see what #£&*$$ is up with the horn. Just when we think it can't get worse, it does. After cleaning the switch connections, the dang thing violently resists reassembly. Fortunately, we remember to spill a wee bit more fuel and, the gods once again propitiated, we get it back together.

After another hour or so of fiddling, we have it all resolved. The PO had "repaired" the harness in multiple places and when we lifted the headset, all the "repairs" had let go. I cut and rewire the bad bits with new wire, and soldered and heat shrunk connections. No more bloody plastic crimp connectors! Graham is going to add a complete wiring harness to his to do list.

Now for the most amazing news of all! I am not sleeping in the garage. Janet is mostly glad to see me when I round a corner. I did have to promise not to start on the D until my SS and a few other projects are done. So I'll borrow some muscle and move it down to the basement. Hopefully I'll start on it in a couple of years.

Whew, what a weekend!

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 10:13 am

I See I missed all the fun after I left Tra Amici.....I would have gladly spent time with you guys pleasing the Lambretta gods since I have so much experiencing making offerings myself....btw Grahams Lammy is a 1963!

John I'm happy that you have a Lambretta in your stable now as well, I'm sure when the day comes she will be as beautiful as the rest of your bikes.

coyoteran · Post by **coyoteran** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 11:45 am

1. Trevor has already found out.
2. The lambretta gods are a fickle and cold bunch. They can never be completely appeased.
3. Of course Janet is happy that you bought the lambretta. It will never make it more than a block or so from your house, keeping you close at hand at all times. Would have thought that would be obvious

I used to have a bike like that myself. Spent all kinds of time fixing it and no time riding it. Charlene loved it.
4. I am sorry I missed it all. Congrats to everyone on all your new toys.

Trevor

jaelee · Post by **jaelee** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:57 pm

I had fun on Sunday, it was nice to meet all of you and more of you. hopefully my 100 sport will be operational soon so that i can "fit" in better

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 1:40 pm

John I can be at your place by 4.30 tomorrow if you would like a hand to move the project into the basement...

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 3:39 pm

jaelee wrote:I had fun on Sunday, it was nice to meet all of you and more of you. hopefully my 100 sport will be operational soon so that i can "fit" in better

Good to meet you as well Jae.....as you can see we are all a little unstable that's why we all get along, and the fact that you were riding your super cool crazy design puch yesterday

proves that you could be a good fit!

Cheers
Angelo

jbcollier · Post by **jbcollier** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 4:26 pm

Thanks for the offer Angelo, I do need your help in making up a deficiency list before I put it away. Unfortunately I am smoking busy until next week. Maybe the weekend after that?

Cheers

pk50 · Post by **pk50** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:32 pm

A thousand thank-you,s John . I played with the horn all the way home .I hope i can return the favor in some way. Jaelee if you want to sell the lambretta break shoes let me know . thanks Angelo for researching the year of the bike for me . Graham

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:32 pm

jbcollier wrote:Thanks for the offer Angelo, I do need your help in making up a deficiency list before I put it away. Unfortunately I am smoking busy until next week. Maybe the weekend after that?

Cheers

No problem on both just let me know when! cheers

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:14 am

How bout some pictures of these new bikes????????????????

jaelee · Post by **jaelee** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:23 pm

pk50 wrote: Jaelee if you want to sell the lambretta break shoes let me know .

you can have them, i'm not going to use them in the near future give me a call 780-530-1901.

Good to meet you as well Jae.....as you can see we are all a little unstable that's why we all get along, and the fact that you were riding your super cool crazy design puch yesterday proves that you could be a good fit!

thanks Angelo and being unstable is not a bad thing

i just have to get my smallie back on the road and then start building the crap out of my honda hobbit

jaelee · Post by **jaelee** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:27 pm

oh btw....i really like your lammy...it's about the cleanest I've ever seen.[/img]

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:38 pm

pk50 wrote:A thousand thank-you,s John . I played with the horn all the way home .I hope i can return the favor in some way. Jaelee if you want to sell the lambretta break shoes let me know . thanks Angelo for researching the year of the bike for me . Graham

Your welcome. I have put my order in for the progressive springs, just waiting for confirmation that they are still available. I will let you know.

Ciao
Angelo

Angelo · Post by **Angelo** » Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:39 pm

jaelee wrote:oh btw....i really like your lammy...it's about the cleanest I've ever seen.[/img]

Thanks Dude. Really appreciate the kind words.....unstable is the only way to be, normal is sooooooooooo boring!

Ciao

redbike · Post by **redbike** » Thu Oct 22, 2009 6:47 pm

I'm not likely to recognize any of you, what with all the new steeds. Please, Igor, continue to wear that green sleeping bag with the hood, so I can pick out at least one of you.