restoration projects

jimmers' vega restoration added: 15/03/2006
marc's 'vegametaluistream' restoration
andreas' 50cc sport restoration added: 23/02/2006
rickard's luna 50 restoration updated: 05/02/2006
leif's luna 50s restoration updated: 16/05/2006
ashley's vega restoration added: 17/01/2006
dave's cometa restoration updated: 06/02/2006
jems's vega restoration updated: 04/01/2006
sarah's vega restoration updated: 05/02/2006
ashley's cometa restoration
danny's restorations
james' cometa restoration

thanks to jimmers (james) - bath, uk, for supplying the following restoration project:

image 01: my vega - will send more photos as i go along

image 02

thanks to marc - california, usa, for supplying the following restoration project:

	image 01: waiting to be brought home, what a find, the very rare vegametaluistream!		image 02: its ok, i can get it back together by tea time
	image 03: now if i just recover the seat, repaint the engine cowl and brake drum.....		image 04: oh well!, a full resto should be fun, the lambretta shop said the engine would only be acouple of weeks
	image 05

thanks to mr noodles (andreas) - from sweden for supplying the following restoration project:

image 01: my 50cc sport resto prodject. engin removed so far

image 02: creating an engine service rig to stop it from moving around

thanks to rickard - from sweden for supplying the following restoration project:

bought this 50 cc moped-Luna on impulse. i think it was november 2003 at an autojumble (or actually, outside among the more fleamarket-like sellers...).

it looked complete but was of course not. Or lets say: the pieces was there - but in pieces.

the restoration has been very slow and ambition has varied over the years. The goal at this moment is a functioning scooter for "Season Premiere" of the Swedish Scooterclub in Stockholm in may 2006. Then it will still be in it´s original, dented and scratched, orange paint but with the black parts repainted...

the engine now has all new bearings and gaskets, a new piston and some other new parts.

stupidly i had the internal parts of the motor done before examining the exterior. i found out that someone had broken the casing in several places. Luckily i have a friend with a fantasic workshop and a lot of machines so that could be fixed.

this luna has a Dellorto 14/9 carburettor while the larger 14/12 is more common here in sweden.

:: update 31/01/2006 ::
New cover and foam from the scandinavian CasaLambretta-dealer, mr Colombo.
New paint (maybe a little bit to glossy?) and a NOS set of tools, toolbox and even the foam to keep tools from rattling around. But I still miss at least one tool and I´m a little bit uncertain about the function of the big rectangular spring. Is it for holding important papers (insurance-slip) under the seat?

	image 01: engine required aluminum-welding and machining		image 02: the engine now fixed
	image 03: the luna in the condition i got it - view 1		image 04: the luna in the condition i got it - view 2
	image 05: seat with new foam and cover		image 06: repainted seat chasis and nos tool set

thanks to leif - from sweden for supplying the following restoration project:

thursday january 19, 2006
finally, according to my luna restoration astrologist all the stars and moons are in the right position to start with the resto project!

the scooter was put up on, and tightly strapped to the workbench/lift. the seat, tank, headset, mudgards and fork was removed together with the wires and electrical installation. all parts cleaned and put aside. bolts and nuts and other small parts placed in plastic bag with tags. ordnung muss sein!

friday january 20
no work with the LUNA due to staff party!

saturday jan 21
no work with the LUNA due to recovery from staff party!

sunday jan 22
feeling good enough to get on with it again. disassembled all the parts that still were held together with bolts and nuts.

next step is to visit a number of spraypaint shops to get the best price for the respray job and start with the engine overhaul.

to be continued.....

update
i've found an sprayer yesterday, by accident. i had visited four shops during the afternoon to show them the parts that i need to have sprayed but i thought that they were quite expensive, approx £420 +costs for blasting (which they couldn't help me with). so on my way home I saw a sign beside the road and the light was still on in the shop so i took a chance. £170 + blasting, but he could recommend a firm to help me with that. that firm have done jobs on scooters and motorcycles before so they know to be careful with the air pressure.

update february 15th
the winter is hard and now all the flowers is gone, but on the other hand, it might be a result of the blasting and not the temperature :-)

picked up the parts today at the blasting shop and stuffed it into the car for imediate delivery to the paintshop. time for the engine overhaul. the story continues...

update feb. 22
the previously announced "engine overhaul" hasn't started yet due to time and various other reasons :-)
one of these reasons was the making of a service rig for the engine. it was created yesterday evening and now it just needs a some paint to look real nice!

thanks to mr noodles for helping me out with the welding on this subproject. also thanks to the engineers at innocenti for putting that console at the bottom rear end of the engine casing (ok, I know that is was used for the rear suspension on the j50 and not placed there just for fun, even if it looks so on a luna)

update feb. 26
i lifted the cylinder for the first time today, and was a bit surprised looking at the piston. mostly because the engine was functioning when I parked the scooter for the season. it might be some kind of freeform art tuning atempt! otherwise chip n' dale lives inside my engine. oh boy, what's next?

update march 12
it's been a bit low on the luna resto project the last weeks, but others has been working for me, the sprayer-guy that is. got the parts back on friday, and they are looking just great!

as you can see from the piles of snow in the background, it might be some days left before the weather and streets are suitable for scooter riding here in gotheburg... but on the other hand, that's buying me time so i can have a relaxed tempo for the reassemly.

although i've sprayed the service rig in a nice red colour and fitted end plugs the engine hasn't restored itself. anyway, the rig looks more "serious workshop item" now.

update march 15
i'm in the garage myself this evening. bought a nice bag of new nuts and bolts today, but since some seems to be very LUNA unique i'll have to polish some of the old ones aswell. have too look if jem doesn't have some of them in his list to keep me from that work....anyway, the center stand is installed just now so the frame doesn't tip over and now it's time for the rear mudgard and some other small part, the horn maybe? :-)

update april 5
well, the last weeks the resto project hasn't proceeded with the speed i've hoped for. anyway, this weekend i installed the wire loom and i hope i got it right... i tried to follow the instructions posted on the lcgb forum, and at least this path seems logical. the future will tell if i gave the floorboard fixing screws that extra turn to kill the wires beneath :-)

i also managed to refit the trim for the fuel tank. i must say that i was a bit scared for this task after i had read the stories on various forums about boiling the trim for hours to make it soft and flexible. BUT, is was actually a piece of cake. OK, i had some help from my 12 year old son to hold on to the trim on the two first corners and along the sides, but the tricky part corner 3 and 4 was not that hard. i just slipped a relatively thin baggage strap (1 inch wide) under the trim then it was quite easy to pull and slide it around the corners and keep it in place with the free hand, but i don't think that i would have made it on my own. thanks andreas!

update april 6
i've taken a day off today which i will spend in the garage to catch up lost time the last weeks. i have a deadline for my project which is may 7 ("scooter premiere" in gothenburg, with parade through the central city and all) and i very much want to attend this event. i even bought a special parade helmet!

update april 11
now the chassis feels quite complete when i had the seat bolte on today. only minor details like the light rim remains (since i can't adjust the light otherwise, and i need to have the engine mounted and running to do that :-)

also i got the cylinder back from reboring today and a new 38.6 piston i've already got from jem. so, we're talking big bore now!

two weeks ago mr noodles and i made a clutch compressor, so i haven't really got any excuses left for not getting on with the engine overhaul.

	image 01: luna tightly strapped to the homemade workbench/lift		image 02: on with the dismantling process
	image 03: luna-visors need to be worn to protect from the deadly ray gun blast		image 04: frame suspended in leifs well equipped workshop
	image 05: shotblasted parts being delivered to the paintshop		image 06: feb 17 - rims, hubs, handlebar, stand and brake pedal back
	image 07: all freshly powder coated in silver. yum!!		image 08: since frame still is at paintshop one needs a rigid fixture to keep engine steady when working on it
	image 09: engine service rig		image 10: freeform art tuning atempt maybe?
	image 11: it might be some days left before the weather and streets are suitable for scooter riding here...		image 12: i've sprayed the service rig in a nice red colour and fitted end plugs
	image 13: the paint is so shiny it is impossible to get a sharp picture of the legshields alex is holding		image 14: wire loom neatly tucked away under the floorboard
	image 15: my prancing pony, eager to get out!		image 16: new piston, rebored cylinder and the home made clutch compressor
	image 17: the seat completed the chassis resto		image 18: modern vikings doesn't have horns on their helmets, but they still look cool
	image 19: side view of the engine		image 20: the other side of the engine...
	image 21: everything in place, except for some wires		image 22: the workbench empty for the first time in a couple of months, finally! (and the owner away for a test ride :-)
	image 23: final resto photos taken on may 7th, 9 hours after the first nightly test ride		image 24: final resto pics
	image 25: final resto pics		image 26: the local lunatics heading for the scooter premiere downtown gothenburg: leny, alex, calle (2nd son andreas hidden) & mr noodles
	image 27: resto target accomplished. me & the luna in place at götaplatsen sunday may 7, at 1300 hours. yeah!		image 28: thanks to: - ludmila, for lunacy tolerance... - alex & andreas, the next generation! - mr noodles, service rig manufacturer, speaking partner & general helping hand - jem booth, parts & know how provider - marchello at casalambretta - calle g. - jesper k.

thanks to ashley - from north wales for supplying the following restoration project:

heres a few pictures of my vega, i ve had a load of problems over 17 yrs trying to finish this project off! it will be on the road this year. i am looking for the best chrome plating as mine is now wasted.

had the vega sprayed at d.t.c. about 17 yrs ago, had all other parts chromed. the scooter has been shelved for 15 yrs and never made it on the road. this year it will finally get road worthy, no thanks to 'classically italian' who agreed to build it a few years ago, i had it back, 2yrs later, still in bits and scratched.........nice one. so i think i can only do justice to the poor thing and let her rip rather r.i.p.

paint - red irredese candy, over black base using a marbled effect. murals also done at d.t.c. does anyone know who can if possible repair my paint work?

engine - vega 75 casing, j125 inners, dave webster stage 5 porting, its got a kawasaki kh400 piston in and is 135cc. engine port timings allow it to rev to 8000rpm. im wondering if theres an electronic thats been modified to suit? 26mm chrome and engraved amal carb, one off manifold [i made] plus an expansion chamber i will be fabricating myself, i made a start on a few a couple of years ago, but i will make a new one/s with a tig rather than my gas welding, even though its smart hehe there is always a bit to much heat applied.. if anyone wants one let me know, i'll pull me finger owt!

just bought some new floor mats! haha been lookin all over for 16 yrs for the right hander, now ive got brand new remakes. i have all the other rubber bits n stuff all new except the bridge cover rubbers, if you got some let us know please.

image 1: repainted customised legshields

image 2: repainted customised legshields

image 3: exhaust parts

thanks to dave - for supplying the following restoration project:

here are a few photos taken up in my loft where my cometa restro project is coming along nicely. i obtained an incomplete bike earlier this year and wanted to put it back on the road.

i have had the original paint (ochre) blasted off and turquoise colour applied in its place. the motor was in excellent condition and just needs a rebore to be certain that it will perform just as mr innocenti wished.

the bike is up in the loft because of lack of space in the garage, but also to protect my "baby" from the effects of the winter weather. this Cometa will only ever be allowed out to play in 'dry' weather.

i will be informing the lunabase via pictures when the champagne corks are popping on the day of my cometas release from its winter sojourn!

:: update 30/01/2006 ::
This is just about all I can do to my "beloved" whilst it is stuck up in my attic. ( I still have to manhandle it down!!!!!!!!) Anyway I have given the motor to Steve Mattok from the Lazy Aces SC who is brill at tuning, he is porting the motor to the spec in the tuning and conversion Lambretta manual. I may then be able to ride at a decent pace, even with my lad on the back.

:: update 06/02/2006 ::
I have painted the exhaust black and chromed the heat shields. WOW! I is goin' ta be the King of Bling, my rear cometa hub has taken weeks to remove! lots of plus gas, blow lamp hacksaw and cold chisel. Yippee! it's free at last! As you can tell from this photo (image 14) the whole machine was in a very poor state when I acquired it. I have a NOS rear hub to replace the original one and I will fit a new oil seal and rear shoes.

	image 1: side view, bodywork with lubematic sticker		image 2: fork assembly
	image 3: legshields nicely badged up ready		image 4: headset and handlebars
	image 5: trial fit of the headset, seems to fit together ok		image 6: n.o.s speedo head, new fork clamp allen bolt and wedges, green jem and rubber fig8
	image 7: side view, new lambretta rear badge		image 8: n.o.s headlight bezel, headlight glass and bulb holder
	image 9: attic work completed - view 1		image 10: attic work completed - view 2
	image 11: attic work completed - view 3		image 12: black exhaust, chrome guard! - what's going on?
	image 13: exhaust offered into place for photo		image 14: at last! hub finally free, what lurks inside?

thanks to jem - (jems scooters) for supplying the following restoration project:

this is a vega restoration project carried out for a good friend, jem will be sending some restoration details (and pics hopefully) in the near future - so watch this space!

	image 1: front view		image 2: side view
	image 3: rear view		image 4: side view
	image 5: engine detail		image 6: headset, inner legshields
	image 7: headset top		image 8: top view
	image 9: engine detail

right, its our turn to get started on our vega rebuild:

this vega was bought from ebay back in late july 2005 as a non runner. the points where cleaned up, condensor and spark plug replaced, fuel tank and carb cleaned, a bit of adjustment then it was off down the m.o.t station.

its now time to give it a winter makeover so its ready for the clubs winter projects deadline - 1st april 2006.

	image 1: body work, forks, rims etc stripped down for paint prep		image 2: engine out, top end off, crankcase cover removed
	image 3: worn barrel requiring rebore and clean up		image 4: nice big chunk missing from piston skirt - added to the replacement parts list!
	image 5: original rack bought from italy (ebay) after a bit of hammering back into shape		image 6: engine cleaned up, new drive side / mag side bearings fitted
	image 7: bottom end rebuilt, crankcase cover back to metal (after a few hours work!)		image 8: frame after a serious rub-down, the whole tube section had been hand painted with underseal
	image 9: the paint and bodywork were in good order with no rust or corrosion		image 10: so we decided to flatten the paint and treat specific areas as opposed to going 'fully back to metal'
	image 11: inside of both mudguards was also painted with underseal		image 12: so was the underside of the legshields, note the original yellow ochre paint
	image 13: hubs were taken back to metal then sprayed with wd40 for now to stop em rusting		image 14: a few bits bought here and there, better get that order in to jem for the rest
	image 15: innocenti lens in very good order, though the reflector needs work		image 16: a few bits after cleaning and a bit of a stint on the polisher
	image 17: another shot of the exhaust, the chrome is still in good order		image 18: paintwork fresh from the bake oven, sprayed in ford diamond white by 1066 saxons sc member rod
	image 19: a mixture of jem parts and cleaned up bits		image 20: legshields - to be put out of harms way for the time being!
	image 21: engine just needs top end & stator/flywheel fitted now		image 22: i am spraying these bits myself in satin black
	image 23: seat painted and ready for local coachworks to re-upholster

thanks to ashley - from australia for supplying the following restoration project:

i got this cometa 75sl several years ago but due to troubles finding parts in australia it went on the backburner. i've recently been inspired again and found someone to supply me parts too, so the restoration is underway again (sort of).

from what i've been told, mine was in a paddock under a tree for nearly 14 years!

the photos below show cleaned it up (and got the 30 or so great hairy spiders off it) and freed up the motor as it was seized from sitting so long. It's got a few dings and scrapes but overall it's in remarkably good condition.

i've polished the front end and top half of the leg shield with a cutting compound and it's come up very shiny again. i'm not going to repaint, just polish it up.

image 1: side view

image 2: side view

image 3: front view

at this stage it doesn't run unfortunately. that was the first thing i tried to do after I un-seized the motor but the cylinder is leaking somewhere, i think it's the headgasket. i have a gasket kit on order but it's got to come from italy. when it gets here I'll take the cylinder off and give it a light hone and mate the head and top of the cylinder to each other.

the bike has a strong spark though which is good. i plan to use the lube-matic system as I don't like fiddling with premix if I can avoid it. my only concern is it might be unreliable, but I'll just have to hope!

thanks to danny - from scootopia for supplying the following restoration projects:

the scooter (below - left) was aquired from italy a year ago together with 3 other vegas, it is a 50 cl we are restoring and has been returned to its original apple green colour,the motor will be rebuilt as standard 50cc.

we have three more lunas waiting for the same treatment, so watch this space!

image 1: rebuild 50 cl currently being restored

image 2: restored previously restored yellow ochre 75s

thanks to james - from j.groves scooter parts for supplying the following restoration project:

i got the scooter from velocity scooters bournemouth in august 2002,it started life as a cometa,it was registered in the uk in 17.12.1970,when i got it had a 125cc engine,i used it for about 6 months before taking it apart.

	image 1: before cometa before the restoration		image 2: paint i painted it in Datsun 225 turquoise myself
	image 3: rebuild a little way to go		image 4: engine 125cc starstream, electronic ignition, 25mm PHBL dellorto

the vega 75cc had a built-up crank, looks like araldite has been used,it had been fitted with a highly polished j125 starstream con rod (16mm small end). i painted it in Datsun 225 turquoise myself,the cometa oil tank was welded up to stop it leaking petrol ,the oil cap hole was welded over. the forks and links were welded to take dampers (thanks Mark).

	image 5: rebuild a little way to go		image 6: fuel tank welded up cometa oil tank
	image 7: forks fitted with dampers		image 8: crank built-up crank, j125 starstream con rod

the engine is a 125cc,standard starstream barrel and piston,starstream crank and gear box,electronic ignition (made from vespa pk parts),25mm PHBL dellorto carb,vega exhaust