Modern Vespa

People love to hate on LML's because of that batch of bad Stella cranks, but they solved a LOT of the OG Vespa engine engineering weaknesses.

As far as I know, we didn't get the bad cranks here and personally I really liked the improvements, plus the reed block. It's a shame they didn't do a 200 version...

ABSOLUTELY!

If they'd done a reeded 200, it would have done really well here. People loved the bikes, but they were too slow to keep up with traffic in a lot of places.

I still buy Stella cases/motors when I see a deal on them just to have spares. That's getting rarer and rarer, though.

That will work.

I heard this story from my local parts supplier, he's been doing it for 30-odd years. So apparently there was one main importer of LML in Europe. They may have been a Hungarian company is my vague recollection.
They started importing them and found a few issues. So they started regularly checking them over before making them available for sale and that became a pretty regular thing. At some point the importer said bugger it and began to send back the below standard scooters, which prompted LML to do their own quality control specifically for the European distributor. LML ended up with a pretty good reputation in Europe thanks to the practice.

Of course, you have to wonder... what happened to all the second-rate LML's?

Yes they were pretty innovative, given that they really didn't need to do anything at all to continue selling scooters. This pic shows some dealer specials at Eicma 2011.

From what I can recall, their downfall was a combination of labor issues within the factory and falling demand for scooters within the domestic Indian market. They'd have been gone even sooner if it hadn't been for overseas demand.

And, of course, the world's migration away from 2T motors in general. There wasn't all that much of a nostalgia market for a bike (4T Stella/Star) that wasn't like the memories.

When it comes down to it, there really isn't much to these scooters. They are fairly basic machines which makes rebuilding them from the ground up an entirely reasonable proposition.

The handful of issues that cropped up with LML scooters are the kinds of things that would likely be replaced or upgraded on any used scooter that you were getting into reliable condition. It makes the decision to buy one very different now than it would have been if you were choosing between a Vespa and LML new on the showroom floor years ago.

I have found that most of the LML hard parts you would keep through multiple rebuilds to be pretty solid, if original. eBay LML stuff is a crapshoot.

Once someone asked me if my Stella was a "real" Vespa. I'll admit that it irked me for a split second. So there might be that for some people. But my Stella is the anything goes, sturdy frame, native front disc brake that makes it the most capable of my scooters of hosting a go fast engine with the least fuss.

What engine do you have in it?

It's a Stella engine with the original reed block and bottom end. VMC Super G 177 with a long stroke crank.

Nice new poster came in with an order from Mercato. Dig it!

In annoying news… motorcycle lift is 22 inches wide… feet on the center stand of the 5-0 Lambretta? 23 niches wide.
:-/

*clinches fist*

Ooh...I'm jealous. Guess I should order some stuff from Mercato. That's just a Lammy being its usual Lammy self. I thought you'd owned one before.

Yeah… I didn't own a lift back when I had the Li125. Definitely Lamb-od on this one. I have a small scissor lift I'll huck under it to get sorted.

don't forget that it's basically a round tube for a frame, so not much to balance it when it's lifted. Plan accordingly. Especially if you're taking the floorboards off to do the work.

or you could just get a 25" 2x6 and stick that under the centerstand to use your lift, which is what I'd probably do.

This.

From what I've heard, the 150cc 2T 5 ports reed is a great base for power.

I need one of those posters! I guess it's time to place an order. I have accumulated enough SIP scooter jack rags.

Frankly WD-40 isn't much of a lubricant. It's a penetrating oil and while it will provide some lubrication in the near term, it dissipates quickly. Go back into a joint in which you've used it as a lubricant a month earlier. It will be largely gone. When I need a light lubricant that will last I use Wurth HHS-K or CRC White Lithium Grease. Both of these products go on just like a light oil but then exposed to the air they coagulate into a medium grease and will last for years. I also have a little black bottle of Tri-Flow that seems to work good too. I don't remember where I got it, probably a gift from my son, but when that little bottle runs dry I intend to buy another one. Good Luck wrenching.

I've built some crazy-fast motors on them. I highly recommend it. Not as nice as Malossi or Quattrini cases, but used to be about 1/4 the price. More like 1/2 or so now, but still nothing to sneer at.

I tend to use TriFlow a bunch also. Its basically sold as a bicycle chain lube....

I tend to find Tri-Flow at either ACE Hardware or the local bicycle shops.

triflow and WD40 will get a sticky throttle or shift tube back to working safely in the short term without the need for any disassembly, but it will not last. On the sprint/rally and P type headsets you don't need to fully disassemble them. just pop the pulley off, slide the tube out ~12.7mm, apply some waterproof grease, and reassemble. The VBB style is harder as the tube makes contact the full length. I would only use the thick waterproof grease at the grip end of the tube on a VBB, and oil or a much thinner grease on the rest.

LML was not a 5 port. More accurately they were just a larger 3 port advertised as a 5 port.

John Deere Corn Head grease is very light and works well for the throttle side tube.

I have a new one stock on my VBA, with new bearings and a mazzu crank. I will probably upgrade it before summer. I will come back to you for some advises if you don't mind

If there's one thing we know around here, it's that I'm only interested in concours-style restoration work, keeping these machines true to their history.

I apologize if I missed the joke. JD Corn Head Grease is barely pourable, and is only appropriate in applications which generate sufficient heat to keep it flowing. Not appropriate in cold weather (or even cool weather). I can't think of a single place I might use it on a Vespa.

Okay, that makes sense, he has half a dozen bikes hanging from the roof of his garage. Still a nice, light flowing oil. Kind of like a high grade 3-in-one oil.

I can't say that is not true , for the vnb at least, yes I'm doing a concours-style restoration.
The yellow vba has the wrong engine and sits on 10' ! What about the rusty PX ?

I used it in my leaky VW bus steering box in place of gear oil. Apparently, it's very thick but shears easily. It's used a lot on old steering boxes and has worked well on mine. No idea what it could be used for on a Vespa.

Under 40 degrees it takes on the consistency of cookie dough. In some applications you will be faced with breaking the unit down and removing it with a chisel. 'Corn head grease is much too thick for steering gear boxes and will not reflow into voids created by motion displacement when ambient temperature is low.' 90-40 weight gear oil is offered as an alternate. Just my opinion.

I wasn't attempting a joke. I had a tube of the grease on my shelf and found that it works really well for my application in the climate the scooter is located, so i continue to keep using it.

Got some shop time in the today. Worked on the thing keeping Dave from the lift. Should have it all sorted by next weekend.

Poked at Dave a little while he was basking in the sun. Handsome as he is, there is definitely work to do there.

My buddy found a cool picture at one of the record shops. Not a Trekkie, but I know TNG when I see it.

Collected a old project I alluded to earlier. You know it's gonna be ridiculous when it all fits in two 27 gal tubs fully disassembled.

When you find something that works, keep using it.

Found this one too

Dave!
Awwww... he's a good dude. Happy to see him in the on deck circle.

Mother in law?

Ned... you sure can make an entrance!
Good to see you visiting us.

I do like Dave, he's a 150 Super, right? He's shabby but solid and reminds me a little of BlueBird, a late model PK125 in about the same shape, which I'm hoping to get sorted for friend Achilles who lives 3 blocks up from me. I've seen his ugly old blue PK locked up outside tucked in against the building for a long time, he tells me it's been out of commission & in the weather for ten years. Anyway, he stopped by the shop and asked if I could come up to have a look and see what's what. Does a bear poop in the woods???

I found a slippy clutch and after carefully pounding off fiercely stuck front hub and reassembling, then adding two inflated tires he pushed it down to the shop and here we are. Has good spark so I pulled the carb last night and a spoonful of gas down sparkplug hole. Almost lit off but then slippy clutch. The first few kicks are OKish if you push just hard enough without kicking thru as usual.

This morning I gingerly kicked once... Twice ... VROOM!
Oh. and it has a sexy pipe !

You really think a mother-in-law can be condensed down that much without a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer?

No, what's "packed away" is a forgotten project. Small, stupid, but likely a hit at parties. I've got a few parts squirreled away to ensure that "Safety Third" is applicable.

Good on ya Terry for helping Achilles with BlueBird! We know it's in good hands and Achilles is lucky to have you as a neighbor.

Yep, Dave is a '74 150 Super. I'm going to do a health check and make a plan to make him a runner. I want to experience a Super as-is before trying to get my 60/8 bona fides.