LCGB Forums

Hi all
Here are a few pics of my winter project - I need something to keep me occupied after work during these crazy times!
The original owner from Italy used it for towing a trailer. Unfortunately he couldn't think of anything more imaginative than cutting a chunk off the back and drilling a hole in the rear frame loop to attach it. Luckily it came with a repair piece any my good friend will fettle it back in.
Included in the sale are lots of original parts, so I'll be removing the shiny and non standard bits and replace them with the old parts I have, or can get hold of.
My plan is to take it all apart, clean it up, and rebuild a standard engine (for now).
The main items missing are front mudguard and side panels. It came with the original panels, however, sadly, they have been blasted and etch primed.

I really want to find some original, used, worn, rusty replacement panels IN THE SAME COLOUR!!!! (are you listening Santa ??). I'm also looking for a used worn red/oxblood seat cover.

So...... if you have any of the above or know someone who does and is willing to sell them, please can you PM me? - here are some pics as it is now, ill post more as I work on it... Cheers....Steve

some more pics.....

I’ve managed to get some side panels thanks to a tip off from Dickie and some fast FB action from watty-rugby ! Cheers fellas!

Covboy wrote:I’ve managed to get some side panels thanks to a tip off from Dickie and some fast FB action from watty-rugby ! Cheers fellas!

Looks a nice project that look forward to seeing the progress

Gotta love a Special - looking forward to seeing how this one turns out Covboy

Good luck with this project, keep us updated

Ive spent the morning taking the LiS apart, whilst clubmate Pecker spent hours going through the boxes of spares that came with the scoot. There is nothing he likes better it was like Christmas day for him!!!
All the horncast and headset threads are like new, and there is a reassuring thin layer of Italian dust and dirt all over the the frame.
I'm going to modify a wallpaper stripper, to make a steam cleaner for cleaning up the frame and components - either a great idea or a recipe for a long wait in A&E...lets see..
Ive also got an old LiS front mudguard (white) coming from Italy. I'm still looking for an original condition silver one, but for now I've now got all the parts I need, apart from a old seat cover

Hopefully the side panels will arrive before Brexit.

.

I also managed to fix the original speedo- I took it to bits, cleaned it with brake cleaner then sprayed it with silicon lube - worked a treat. I’ve replaced the old translucent glass with another I had lying around. Result.

Covboy wrote:
Hopefully the side panels will arrive before Brexit.

You're an optimist. I like that.

Let's hope they are not stuck in a lorry park in Kent for the next six months.

Concerning the cleaning, I recently tried a steam stripper on some components, but not really easy to control. With smaller parts, a dishwasher can give good results. I acquired one or two so have one in the garage. First trial was four GP grey toolboxes as I intend to flog a couple. Very good for a 'pre-wash' but the exteriors need more extensive work. Rather than the steam cleaner, if the paint is not flaky, I would rather use a pressure washer with caution.....

As you need to get much bigger parts cleaned up, try white vinegar, mixed with bicarbonate of soda to form a paste on the worst areas.

As an aside, I wanted to clean up the insides of some car alloy wheels of all the staining & weight adhesive residue. For them, I washed down initially with boiling water & washing up liquid, a brush & sponge. Then white spirit applied by paint brush. Then around & around & around on the inside with a Dremel type device with a mop fitted, gradually introducing Jif type cream cleaner (mixing in with the white spirit residue) I have to say the results are very good & I achieved what I wanted. I knew that the cream cleaner is a cheaper alternative to paint cutting compounds.

Good tips - thanks

ToBoldlyGo wrote:

Covboy wrote:
Hopefully the side panels will arrive before Brexit.

You're an optimist. I like that.

Let's hope they are not stuck in a lorry park in Kent for the next six months.

THEY HAVE ARRIVED ! (thanks again to Watt Rugby and Dickie!)

I'm very pleased - next step free the panel handle shafts and on to the welding

I'm a bit less optimistic about finding a silver front mudguard, but I wont give up!!!

The cleaning of the frame and other parts went well. I used brake cleaner, soap & water +Bicarb....

As below I also stripped the original speedo, flushed with brake cleaner and then sprayed with silicon lubricant - ive tested it with a drill and it works

The glass is much clearer than in this pic...

Brilliant. Keep the updates coming, even if it's a l ok ng time between them.

Covboy wrote:As below I also stripped the original speedo, flushed with brake cleaner and then sprayed with silicon lubricant - ive tested it with a drill and it works

The glass is much clearer than in this pic...

Have you tried Brasso or the like? A mild abrasive such as that does work wonders. The new, remade speedo lenses look.....well, 'remade' IMO.

With OEM plastics, it's quite amazing just how much they 'hide' years of grime. With the four GP grey toolboxes I have in progress, it's not until you start cleaning them that you realise that there is a virtual coating of something comprising muck, oxidation & UV degradation, I guess. I thought that they were very clean up until I started the clean up. So, I've delegated the task to the girlfriend as she is 'such an expert' & keep praising her for the results with lots of "Wow! I could never get them that good! Yet you think you can get even better results?"

Ha! Remember when exterior house items such as window frames, gutters were marketed as maintenance free? They too deteriorate to such an extent that specialist paints are now on sale to restore window frames to white

So after fully stripping and cleaning, the rebuild begins. Ive refitted the forks, headset and legshield. The engine is another 150 LiS (175 barrel & crank) that I swapped with a clubmate - its been fettled by Pro-Porting . I've got 2nd hand Ancelotti fitted to it and am going to run through the airbox & a Scootopia dellorto copy 22mm.

The biggest issue with this scooter is the cut off rear end. When lockdown is eased, one of my other clubmates will weld the replacement panel in place - he's a classic car body work man by trade and assures me this is a easy job!

Still have not found a silver front mudguard yet, but the search continues...

in readiness for when I can meet up with my friend who will weld the back panel, I have sprayed it silver and the "aged" it with a brillo pad, old oil etc to try and match the original patina of the scoot. It will never match perfectly but will pass muster I think.
Ive refitted all the other body work ( Except the front mudguard..... ) - I really like the look of this ratty special, its growing on me more than I thought it would. It starts first kick, and ticks over & revs nicely.

Very nice indeed…..

just a few more pics - thats it for now until the back end is done....