My Li 125

[Andie]

Hello. I used to ride scooters in my teens in MK - started off with a vespa 50 special, then a 150 super (and a 90 and a primavera) but moved up to lambrettas

I had an LD (it got stolen from my front garden) that cost me £30, but then had a Series 2 that I rode for a long while - even took it to Glastonbury and back in '85 when you could ride onto the campsite. I did own a GP cutdown for a while that I bought from a mate for next to nothing (i didn't cut it!), but I was never really into the idea of chopping them up and regret that so many went that way . They were pretty cheap in the 80's (and always missing fins Etc) We bought and sold them amongst our mates a lot then.

After 20 years and saving for six months i got this one from a LCGB member, who imported it from Italy, fitted new seals and bearings and MOT'd it for me. She needs some work, but I'm very pleased so far.

This is how she was after import.



and at mine, after MOT, in the sun. looks good... the frame has a lot of surface rust, the area around the tool box door especially so she's going for a paint job.
i call her Izzy as she is Iseo Blue.



I fitted a new loom, cables and nuts and bolts but have decided to go for a full conservation.

I'm now prepping to get the frame and underpanel parts powder coated (RAL 6034). I'm rebuilding the forks with MB stuff and am going to stick in a one piece gear selector arm, new exhaust Etc.. Happy to keep the 6v points for the moment but the stator needs rewiring. Keeping it 125 but its on final rebore size i think.



Very happy!

[petemaisey]

Nice scoot

Pete

[Rich Oswald]

Great to meet you today Andie,

Best of luck,

Rich'

[Andie]

Thanks Rich - good to meet you too! thanks for the rims, I'll get those HH done asap!

[Scooterslag]

Lovely

[Toddy]

Nice and original looking

[Andie]

I was having trouble getting the engine bolt out (like 3 weekends and cans of Plug-gas, breaker arm 6 point socket and washers Etc...) and now am taking it to an engineer in Castleford who is going to helicoil the crankcase, get the bolt out and re-do the hub bearings, gear selector arm (i went for the GP all-in-one, not original but surely an improvement), rewire the stator plate out (i'm keeping the points for now) and fit new (SIL Gp) mounts.

I'm not a bad mechanic but sometimes I guess its best to let a professional in.

Then it's off for powder coat.

it'll be ready for the snow


I was tempted to go Skelly when getting the panels off. But I won't... still looks sweet though.


Stripping down the forks. Not sure what the yellow paint designates.


Internal rust definately calls for powder coat.
andrew

[Digger]

That looks more dirt than rust....

[maz]

Hi

" gear selector arm (i went for the GP all-in-one, not original but surely an improvement) "

IMHO the GP arm is not an improvement............ much easier to replace the early type ' clamp on ' arm ( after wear ) than change the whole GP unit.

The other point about the GP ' all-in-one ' that are commonly on the market............ the metal is poor quality and wear's much faster.

Good luck with the project and hope to see you around the Leeds area

Maz

[Andie]

Been busy, slowly but surely, on my supposed 'conservation' I think I made a clean patch...

The engine was rebuilt by Dave & Phil @ Torch in Castleford; GP crank, 81 link chain, AF chainguide , 17T front sprocket, Rimini Gori replica 175 + Casatronic ignition, new clutch, TV inlet manifold with a 22mm sleeve. Jetex 22mm ETC. AF Clubman ready to finally fit when I have the space.

Powder coated by Triple S in Bingley who specialise in Motorbikes - not to everyone's taste but I like it and i have been able to do it bit-by-bit.

Have been building it in the living room, got a spark on the plug today; it does just fit out of the doorway and out our back door...

I cut the stainless stand down but couldn't check until the engine was in, the front wheel is 50mm off the floor, so I might have to strip that off and shave the stand a bit, its hard to tell from stock photos how elevated the front wheel should be (just enough for a decent tripod that doesn't stress the frame I guess).





Just need to cut the stomach out of the airbox, fit that and the tank and get the panelwork painted.


It's nice to look at whilst the telly's on....

Andrew

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

For what it's worth, I really like the colour.

Have you a GP rear light on it or is it just black?

What I was really writing to say was the kickstart doesn't look 'right' from the photos. It seems to be low & stick out. It may be the angle, but it looks almost like a Series 2 but the return stop seems to be right to your crankcase cover.

My comments aren't criticisms, I'm intrigued about the kickstart!

[Nudger]

"Have been building it in the living room" ...I take it that you're single?

[Andie]

For what it's worth, I really like the colour.

Have you a GP rear light on it or is it just black?

What I was really writing to say was the kickstart doesn't look 'right' from the photos. It seems to be low & stick out. It may be the angle, but it looks almost like a Series 2 but the return stop seems to be right to your crankcase cover.

My comments aren't criticisms, I'm intrigued about the kickstart!

Thank you Warkton; it's not quite Iseo but still has that green/blue turquoise thing going on.
The rear light unit is the original - one of those all-in-one Carellos, I couldn't get the lamp holder out to powder coat it so I had the unit blasted and then I polished it up on a wheel at work.
It matches the handlebar alloys (which I know should be painted, but were 'polished' on top by a previous owner - i tidied them up on the wheel as well)

The return stop does match, however it does have some series two parts on it (the front hub, and it was originally 4-pole) also the front forks have the hole for an inner mudguard.

Andrew

[Rich Oswald]

Hi Andie, it's looking superb and I like the colour too. Hope to see you about on it in the Summer,

Rich'

[Knowledge]

I cut the stainless stand down but couldn't check until the engine was in, the front wheel is 50mm off the floor, so I might have to strip that off and shave the stand a bit, its hard to tell from stock photos how elevated the front wheel should be (just enough for a decent tripod that doesn't stress the frame I guess).



Andrew

Good work Andrew. Keep posting.

The issue you have with the stand is not uncommon, but you have the wrong diagnosis. The stand is not too long, it is too upright. Many of these stands have been manufactured with the stand stops in slightly wrong position, so the stand sits more upright than it should.

The serious downside of this problem is that the scooter can fall (forward) off the stand too easily, and then it falls over when parked (if knocked). That would be a real shame after all that work.

Have a search for photos of Lambrettas on their stands - you will see that there is much more of an angle in original stands, and they are much more stable as a result. Worth sorting.

All the best, Martin

[Rich Oswald]

I cut the stainless stand down but couldn't check until the engine was in, the front wheel is 50mm off the floor, so I might have to strip that off and shave the stand a bit, its hard to tell from stock photos how elevated the front wheel should be (just enough for a decent tripod that doesn't stress the frame I guess).



Andrew

Good work Andrew. Keep posting.

The issue you have with the stand is not uncommon, but you have the wrong diagnosis. The stand is not too long, it is too upright. Many of these stands have been manufactured with the stand stops in slightly wrong position, so the stand sits more upright than it should.

The serious downside of this problem is that the scooter can fall (forward) off the stand too easily, and then it falls over when parked (if knocked). That would be a real shame after all that work.

Have a search for photos of Lambrettas on their stands - you will see that there is much more of an angle in original stands, and they are much more stable as a result. Worth sorting.

All the best, Martin

Martin is correct Andie. Phil' @ Torch re positioned my stand stops when I had this problem. Your stand really does look almost "vertical".

Rich'

[Andie]

Thanks Knowledge and Rich'





It is quite vertical - i never really noticed before but now you mention it before the engine was in I had to catch it a few times.

I have cut it down a good 15mm, but will ask Torch to correct it - alternately, are the Casa ones any better?

Very glad you pointed it out - I'd be gutted if I dropped it. Good forum work

Andrew

[bsso78]

What was wrong with the original stand? If you want to sell the original seats and any other bits you have taken off it send me a message mate.

[Fireman Ash]

I loved her as original in your second picture, buts that's me, sucker for factory original, good luck finishing, any reason why the original seats have replaced with an Asian one? Good luck bud

[Andie]

Hey Ash - Thanks, me too, i really liked the original, which was why I choose her from a job lot, but she was so rusty under the panels and struts and around the glove-box that I thought it best to go for a repaint, especially as i want to ride regularly. It wasn't undertaken easily, i totally get the original paintwork and I did spray with ACF-50. the pictures look better than it was. The running boards had been split and braised as well. Perhaps I could have had the paintwork 'fixed'.

I still have the original seats and would like to use them - the front one was split at the back and needs welding, and the pivot tube bit that goes around the spindle at the front of the saddle needs replacing as it is mostly missing - barely an inch long - I am working on that; they are on my list. The new saddle is a bit clunky and took a lot of fettling to fit. I'd rather have the one original saddle to be honest, but have fitted the dual for now.

And BSS078 - the original stand had two 1" X 2" x 1/4" plates welded onto the stand stops. They only made contact on the struts with the top corner edges of the welded on plates so weren't supporting. I might be best to grind them off and get it restraightened. I haven't replaced much that wasn't broken tbh but will see what I do have.

Thanks guys. The decision to conserve/rustorate or renovate is a tricky one. I think i'd regret doing either...