LCGB Forums

Hi,

There are a number of SRS 185 to 200cc small block Lambretta cylinder kits on Ebay for around £150. I am only looking for around 12bhp so would one of these be any good?

Cheers!

just search this site for feedback.... Some workout ok... some are hideous...

Doubt if youll get 12bhp without spending an awful lot more money in tuning it right...

there are much more affordable small block kits out there in terms of total cost... not just purchase price...

Agree with the above. Kits are hit and miss.

The kit would only be a start to get to 12bhp. You'd also be looking at a decent exhaust and carb (with possible alterations to gearing) to get near the 12bhp

Thanks for the info.

I guess I want to get my tatty Li150 S2 to a spec where it can cruise at 50 mph with my 16 stone on board without blowing up too regularly and without spending more than a grand!

I'd be inclined to look for a "branded" kit.....GT, Casa, Muggello, etc.

The grand budget may be achievable if you do the work yourself.

The only other "problem" is that if you change the top end you should consider upgrading the crank as well.......and while your at it, it would be wise not to change the bearings and seals, if you've gone that far why not change the clutch plates and springs........may as well put a new chain and tensioners in for piece of mind. Obviously an oil change and new gaskets will be needed......

That's the dilemma most of us face when doing a top-end upgrade.....you need to upgrade the other parts as well and where do you stop ?

If your going to do the mileage then you can maybe justify the costs.....if it's Sunday afternoon ride-outs in the summer ........

Have you thought of getting your case converted.
An Indian 200 with 30 mm delly and fresco can give 16 bhp and decent tourque.
And you will still have more options.

Interesting idea! I will probably be stripping the engine unit anyway. Is a big block conversion expensive to do?

507VBH wrote:Interesting idea! I will probably be stripping the engine unit anyway. Is a big block conversion expensive to do?

Somewhere in the £200 - £350 bracket, Oiltech get good reports, MB and others offer the service, I got mine done at CS Engineering in Norwich about 3 years ago. I parted with £260 but that included rebuilding my crank and repairing several damaged threads. Top job, built it up with a TS1 top end and I'm very pleased with it.

If yours is an Italian 150 barrel,get it rebored to 175 and fit a good piston and 175 head.

as above with a clubman exhaust and a slightly bigger carb

Ok. I have a S2 Li150. Could this be bored out to 175cc?
Does the Tv175 have the same porting as the 150?
Cheers

I have a SRS 185 kit form classic bike solutions good value. The guy checks them out port timings etc , cleans up the ports , checks the head it ran quite well for a li 3 with a 22mm carb and a clubman. Alternatively like everybodies has stated machine a 150 case( keep your LI 2 ) or buy a GT 186 kit they are brilliant my 3 rd year of owning one . I also have a LI 2 with a series 2 TV barrell and piston on it , clubman and a 22mm ive had 60mph and will plod at 50-55 happy loads of options.

The Li 150 barrel is re-borable to 175.I dont know what the TV 175 has to do with this re-bore.The TV 175 uses a different conrod,116mm from memory,unless your motor has a TV crank you will need a conversion piston for a standard length conrod and bore the barrel to suite.

I've got a 175 conversion with 22 carb and AF clubman on one of mine,
To be fair It's ok, around town its nippy off the line and can keep up with traffic. It will keep up with ride outs no problem.
On quite lanes it'll take you and a pillion. I've done 200 mile rallies solo including motorways.
You'll probably never over take a lorry or much on A roads.
I,'ve kept up with bog standard 200's.
I would guess it's good for a genuine 60 and has been reliable. You might want to factor in a gp crank my original LI one sheared
But the MEC replacement has been fine.
Hope this helps.

To be honest after I got a 200 with bigger carb and expansion, I haven't risen it much.

Looks like there are a lot of possibilities - thanks

Just fitted a gp150 barrel bored to 63mil approx 180cc to a mates Li. Upped tbe carb to 22mm and just popped on an indian big bore i had in garage. Hes very happy with the result.

i just bought one of the srs kits for a suzuki 190 conversion ! i must say what a terrible bit of kit it is! i wasnt expecting must but not as bad as it is! 3 mm casting blob on the in let and terrible casting on exhaust out let! 1mm lip on the transfers ! casting on the head base has a 2 mm piece missing and came with a hair line crack on a fin! i am going to use the cylinder as am having some work done on it but not the head! just glad its not going to be a kit i would put on a roading lambretta in its standard form!

The reason i ended up fitting a GP150 barrel bored to 63mm was because the alley 185 kit which was bought from a reputable dealer was crap. As mentioned above the finish was terrible the inlet manifold wouldnt even seal on the barrel due to them removing to much alley. The transfers were 4mm above exhaust when i lined up the piston. Basically you get what you pay for. This kit went back.

Some people dismiss these kits as useless, but if you have a door that needs propping open, I reckon they're just the ticket.

Looks like it will be a GT186!