Modern Vespa

Just what I needed.
5 miles from home $400.
Frame says : * 544028 * 125LD. Can't figure out the year but probably '58 - '59?

I assume you already did it, right?

They are slow but very cool looking. I always wanted a Lambretta D, without the panels. But these are prettier.

Very cool. I know it's functionally inferior to a headset light, but I still love the look of the legshield headlamp.

Very Jelly. I've hauled a '57 LD for someone before; neat to have in the truck but a bit of a bummer when it's someone else's toy.

Dig the SAAB 95 too!

looks nice and complete! having gone through my LD stage I have many parts/tools/manuals left over. PM me if you need anything

Yeah, 125 around here is a minimum. Unless it's a small frame...
I am fascinated by the motor/drive unit and haven't figured out the rear suspension yet. Sure is a different ball of wax compared to a Vespa or Series lll. Looks like a great project to me.
Motor has been locked up for at least 35 years. Last registered in Ohio, '67 .

Thank you.
The two obvious omissions are the left rear floor extension and the fan shroud. Al panels are very straight and no rust to speak of.

Rad! Cool score.

You really must.

Those pictures are at my shop. It's mine.

That's a nice score. It's about an hour and a half from me and exactly the kind of impossible thing I would have to restore. I'm glad you got it. I'm glad I didn't.

Hell, I hardly drive my car at night any more...

Hah! Also... yeah...right there with ya.

Looks really cool! Is it significantly harder to find parts for old Lambretta's compared to old Vespas? Is there any overlap?

I believe the answers are : yes and no.

Haha, well it'll be that much more satisfying to track down the right stuff then. Looking forward to following your progress on it.

ah, lambretta LD... for when you're done being frustrated by vespas and ready to be a real glutton for punishment.

It will be a challenge but I decided I wouldn't do another one unless it was an older model. I've done small frames, large frames and a TV200 but this is going to be a different experience I'm sure.

If you're on LCUSA Mike Jarema or Corey Fraser are really good with the LD stuff.

Jarema just built 2 of these like last month. Look on FB, lots of details and worth making contact. He has lots of NOS parts too, and the knowledge to go with it!

Exactly, he's kind of the man on these.

Nice score, how could you not!

Congrats, Moto. That will be really fun. Looking forward to hearing it run by summer, hopefully!

Wow. Cool scoot.

The key to the rear suspension is the torsion bar. the link connecting the torsion bar to the engine (swingarm) is with needle bearings on both ends. If you do not relieve the pressure (or relieve it too much) you will destroy the entire assembly. Super Fun!!!

I am just working on freeing up the piston. Luckily, it's up towards the top and what I can see of the bore looks pretty good. The guy I got it from filled the bore with MMO quite a while ago but I'm going with PB and brake cleaner and heat. Clutch feels gunked up so that's coming out.
I am sure the seals are shot but maybe they'll work well enough. I am hoping I can flush out the internals and maybe hear it run !
In '63, I pulled a Briggs and Stratton motor apart when I was 13 and starting a project like this is one of my favorite things to do. It's an adventure cause very little is familiar on this thing. Some of the proceedures for working on this motor in the manual boggle my mind but it's fun as it starts making sense.
Two days ago I was thinking about starting work on my bathroom that I've been putting off for 35 years.....
The odometer shows 91389 miles !

I know you're an old hand, but any time I see this I feel that it must me mentioned: please be careful with brake cleaner and heat!! depending on the flavor of brake clean you're using when the contents are exposed to heat it can turn into poisonous gas.

as for the PB, I've hit that with heat many time I don't think that has much effect toward drain bramage. that's some professional grade lolly-gagging. it takes commitment to actively procrastinate, but I don't like tile or plumbing work either!

ain't that the truth.......

I can put off procrastinating.
And I hear you on the brake cleaner. I am careful.

Just using it in the soak, thinking it will help wick the PB down. I clean out the bore before heat.

That's a pretty sweet $400 scooter. Surely Casa Performance sells go fast bits for those old LD's? Nothing is worse that spending and additional $4000 of performance parts on a scooter with a $400 buy in.

And yeah, Mike is the LD guy. Every time i see him he's riding a different shiny little Lammy.

If PB Blaster + Heat causes brain damage, I definitely have some.

Make sure the brake cleaner is Chlorine Free. I was warned vigorously about this when I mentioned using brake cleaner on parts I later welded. (Or just use acetone for final welding prep)

Clutch came apart all stuck together. The basket looks new. The pull rod has small ball bearings on the end. Heard one hit the floor and found it.
And, FWIW, it's actually carb cleaner I'm using.

I like the clutch compressor thingie. Did you make it?

Being a worker of wood with a complete shop, it is often easier to fab something out of wood than welding. Depends on the force required. That is one of the new "mahoganies" (decking) and is very hard and dense.

The scooter looks pretty straight and rust free. Looking forward to your updates.

...also... We need to see pics of the car that LD was attached to via trailer...

+1

I'm not much for old scooters....but is that a great old Saab?!!

That is cool!

O.S.

'63 96 two stroke and the '68 95 V4

pretty cool, pretty cool!