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Hi Roy,
Email received with thanks and congratulations on acquiring your 1954 Lambretta D
I am guessing the Lambretta already has a UK registration number assigned and will therefore not cover this topic. Please check your engine number matches the V5C as well though!
Stripping Down
In regards to stripping it down, I’m not sure how far in the process you have got with the engine strip down yet, but please think twice about a total engine strip down, unless you need to. Engine mount removals and replacements can break the casing and the mag flang can either be very difficult to take off or nearly impossible, without breaking it. If you need to replace bearings and seals in this area, you do of course have no choice.
Putting the Lambretta engine back in, you need to take some things into consideration including:
Re-Installing the engine
Oil Leaks – Expect some leaks to happen if you over fill. Especially by the kick start mechanism area.
Cylinder Head – It is very easy to over tighten the head / nuts. Avoid using a torque wrench anywhere. If you’re intending to take the head and cylinder off, check for hair lines cracks.
Small Torsion Bar Note 1 (Original roller bushes), it is easy to push the bars back through and damage the roller bearing (If you still have these). Replacements are bronze bushes easily found at various shops.
Small Torsion Bar Note 2 – When pushing the torsion bars back through, be careful not to hit very hard. If you’re off by a few mil and tap too hard you will break the engine casing.
x2 Engine Bushes – If you removed these, remember to treat with caution when re-installing as you can break the bottom engine casing if too much force is used.
Transmission / Gears – Remember to reinstall the three (or two, depending on if someone has rebuilt it and replaced the two at one end with one think washer!) slightly thick metal spacer washers (x2 on one end and x1 on the other end).
Transmission shaft – If you have removed this, many roller pins may fall off. The easiest way to put these back on is with a little grease, to hold them all in place.
Kick Start – Remember that the kick start lever area also has spacer washers, that need to be put back on.
Engine out and only trying to get it started?
Although it may not seem to be straight forward to begin with, if the engine has simply not been kick started for years, getting it in working order should be fairly straight forward and I can give you some simple advice in this area and in another email if required. It might aid if I knew a bit about your background, before going back to real basics if possible (EG – You were an engineer / you have no / a good or limited understanding in points / magneto’s / coil’s / condenser ect?)
Manuals and information
For a decent Manual, I have updated the Manual page on the website, which should aid in this area. See here:
Lambretta Manual Page Quick Link – Click Here
To date the best manual I have found is the Lambretta Raymond Broad (Orange cover) Scooter Maintenance & Repair. If you have not got this already and would like me to scan mine, please let me know.
The second best available, in my opinion is the Lambretta Servicesmans Book (Must be the 1st edition), which you can download off the website and under the manual page.
That’s probably as much as I need to cover in the first email. Let me know if I can be of further assistance at this stage, or if you need any other comments or thoughts.
If you reply to the email, further updates will be via email only and not posted as News post updates. The first reply is always put on as a News Post, so that you can check your Junk / Spam area, in case your reading this on the website first and not your email.
Have a good weekend.
Kind regards
John
Lambretta Journey