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SIL or UNI engine casing?

Technical help for Series one, two and three Lambrettas. Models include the Li, Li Special, TV, SX, GP, Serveta and API/SIL models

SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby dickie » Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:51 am

Now that I've managed to get some time at home, I'm going to get back on with my project which has been on hold since March.

I have an unused SIL(?) engine casing with no damage. I have read about problems with the brake shoe posts being in the wrong place on these.

So, I'm considering buying a UNI case and selling mine on.

However, that will be a net extra cost of around £200 and I've also recently read that UNI casings are a loose fit for the mag housing; although I'm sceptical about this as the source is a certain gent that rubbishes anything that he didn't "invent".

Are these late Indian casings really that bad?
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby Storkfoot » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:54 am

My SIL casing was bought around 2008. It is fine and the posts are fitted correctly. I think it was a later batch to this that were problematic and then it was not all batches.


Perhaps just build up the layshaft, rear hub, brake shoes.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby dickie » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:38 am

Storkfoot wrote:My SIL casing was bought around 2008. It is fine and the posts are fitted correctly. I think it was a later batch to this that were problematic and then it was not all batches.


Perhaps just build up the layshaft, rear hub, brake shoes.


Thanks, but even if I do that, I'm not sure how I'd be able to tell if the posts were in the right place or not. I guess if I couldn't get the hub on, that would be obvious but if the posts keep the shoes too far from the hub, I don't think it would be obvious, surely you'd still.be able to lock the hub with only one shoe making partial contact?
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby missing lynx » Fri Oct 30, 2020 12:15 pm

I've only seen one person mention the problem in his latest " aren't I wonderful for inventing" something that already exists posts on fb! I'm sure the respected dealer who collaborated with uni to produce the cases would have made sure they were spot on and tested before unleashing them on the public and if there was a problem hold their hand up unlike the person who's criticised the cases
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby Warkton Tornado No.1 » Fri Oct 30, 2020 2:16 pm

missing lynx wrote:I've only seen one person mention the problem in his latest " aren't I wonderful for inventing" something that already exists posts on fb! I'm sure the respected dealer who collaborated with uni to produce the cases would have made sure they were spot on and tested before unleashing them on the public and if there was a problem hold their hand up unlike the person who's criticised the cases


:lol: :lol:

Did the Mystery B#llsh*tter' by any chance invent the wheel? He/she/it could have done as well as the Innocenti brand as I've seen it embossed on certain rear hub bearings!
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby Storkfoot » Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:35 pm

missing lynx wrote:I've only seen one person mention the problem in his latest " aren't I wonderful for inventing" something that already exists posts on fb! I'm sure the respected dealer who collaborated with uni to produce the cases would have made sure they were spot on and tested before unleashing them on the public and if there was a problem hold their hand up unlike the person who's criticised the cases


I have two Uni mag housings and whilst they are nicely beefed up around the flywheel cowling screws, the holes for the cylinder cowlings are not aligned. I have tried two mag housings and with two different cylinder cowlings. The problem persists.

I wonder how that happened if they did go through proper quality control :?
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby gaz_powell » Fri Oct 30, 2020 6:43 pm

If it were me I'd use the SIL casing and deal with back brake..
Back brakes are always challenging depending on type shoes and hubs combinations.
Regardless of casing I've never had one that was just assembled without arsing about to get them working to a decent standard.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby ToBoldlyGo » Fri Oct 30, 2020 8:49 pm

It's a no brainer. Keep the SIL casing and save yourself money.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby nickw » Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:23 pm

The problem with the brake posts can easily be seen when looking at the effected casings. Also the quickest and easiest way to see the problem is fit some brake shoes. It will become very apparent if there is a fault by the way they don't close/open properly
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby dscscotty » Fri Oct 30, 2020 10:20 pm

Who uses the back brake?
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby shamrockexpress » Sat Oct 31, 2020 2:43 am

dscscotty wrote:Who uses the back brake?

Only once you see gods face!!!!!!
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby dickie » Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:41 am

ToBoldlyGo wrote:It's a no brainer. Keep the SIL casing and save yourself money.

Aye, you're right.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby dickie » Sat Oct 31, 2020 8:43 am

dscscotty wrote:Who uses the back brake?

It's a lambretta with a cable disc front end. I need any help I can get to make the bloody thing stop :lol:
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby Ranburetta » Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:48 pm

Don't know if this is still the position but it made me think twice when I considered a UNI case:

https://www.afrayspeed.co.uk/news/custo ... 1819/78038

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oidS7kxkBck&t=157s

I understood that the SIL casings came with a matched endplate.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby matthew » Tue Nov 03, 2020 5:10 pm

If I remember correctly I think I read somewhere that Andy Francis is supplying UNI casings with pre-checked and matched endplates.
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby Meds » Tue Nov 03, 2020 5:39 pm

There are plenty of fixes for the SIL brake problem.
Jockeys back brake which uses motorcycle brake shoes.
Shim one side of the cam to make it balance or trim one shoe
As for the Uni casings - I’ve no idea
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Re: SIL or UNI engine casing?

Postby gaz_powell » Tue Nov 03, 2020 8:45 pm

Ive got one of those Jockey Boxenstop kits but never used it.
Last one I did I shimmed one shoe which was easier than fitting the Jockey kit - that was new shoes and a uni hub on an old SIL casing 30 year old
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