My first restoration: TV175 Ser 3

[911hillclimber]

Hello to you all, and if it's not too late, a Very Happy New Year to one and all.

I am new to this Club and after a very long time back with a scooter, an Italian TV175 Ser 3 complete and ripe for a full-on restoration.
I have just taken early retirement (this scooter was bought 15 years ago for this moment) so now I have the time to do it at my leisure!

Back in 1968 I had a pair of scooters, an Li150 Ser 2 which I cut my first teeth on with spanners etc, and very shortly after that a TV 175 with a 225 Wildkat conversion and Li 150 gears which was far quicker and far more frightening. It cost me £5 (a weeks wages then). I came off it 3 times before moving to cars....This was a long time ago, Parka and self painted Union Jack helmet, desert boots, you know the score.
I'm slightly embarrassed by the picture but hope I've introduced myself.

My main interest is racing (hillclimbing) my old Porsche 911 and a full=on race car, a Lola T 492 with a big Porsche engine, but this little project will be a nice new 'distraction' for 2015. I recently restored a Barlotti Kart with a Villiers 9 engine, but did not have the time to race it (a school boy dream in '66)

So, to the scooter and this thread.

I like doing detailed rebuilds and posting on forums, so I hope this lot won't bore you too much, and I'll need a bit of help along the way, especially finding good suppliers. I hope I can say I'm handy with engineering having worked hands-on in it for 46 years, but I'm hoping for a few challenges along the way.

I have a clear picture of my finished TV. Currently metallic blue matching numbers and rust free, it will be white with a simple colour on the side panels, horn casting and head set top casting, fly screen and the white walls. The scooter will be bog standard, I can still feel the vibration of that Wildkat. Toying with going 12V/electronic, but cannot recall having issues starting back then on 6 V/points.

Plan is:

Scooter is fully stripped, so frame alignment check (I think the Roma registered scooter is straight, but..)
Engine/box full strip, vapour blast and standard rebuild after rebore
Powder paint everything Lambretta white
Restore everything with new bearings , seals etc and cables
New badges over the fresh paint
Ride it.

Hope I like it, but if not sell. I really do have a nervous feeling about riding 2 wheels on today's roads as so few drivers understand to "Think Bike". One of my offs was due to being T boned by a car on an island.(new forks and helmet, I repaired the fibre glass mudgauard)

Anyway, work will start soon one I've welded my own engine stand up!
Hope you will come along with me on this scooter!

No laughing, I was 16 and it was in the 60's!



No laughing, I'm 62, be gentle..



No laughing, 'I'm' 50 years old now.

[Digger]

Nice post and nice pictures.

I know it's your scooter but if that is original paint it looks to good to restore.

[911hillclimber]

I've thought long and hard about the final colour and have just seen the TV in the Club Magazine in metallic blue, but just nothing for me.
Seems very dull.
The pictures deceive (they are photos of the prints made 15 years ago) the paint is original and really nasty in the corners.
Frame is already stripped of paint ages ago when I was going to paint it myself, but the cost of powder is so cheap now.

Thanks for your thought though.
G.

[Scooter Paul]

Welcome to the forum and well done you've found yourself a great bike to restore. We are of the same vintage and there's plenty of oldies here as well as plenty of really knowledgable folk. The Lambretta world is a broad church and each has its own views and opinions. I'll wade in with a couple of thoughts. Your bike has more value, properly restored, than some others so if you are intent on the restoration rather than a conservation ( and it sounds if it's beyond that stage anyway) I would not powder coat it. First of all it will devalue the finished article, secondly and I think more importantly some parts, especially the headset, will not fit properly. The original paint was very thin and powder coat is not. Others I'm sure will offer advice as well. I look forward to more posts.

Paul

[Rich Oswald]

Hi and welcome to the forum. I'm looking forward to more of this resto'.

Rich'

[911hillclimber]

Thanks for the warm welcome and your thoughts.

I'm doing this project for a number of reasons

I love the Slimline scooters
I want to do the 'oily' bits as it interests me and I can do everything needed and I have the time
I'm not really interested in the money side (value at the end) but I do want a quality end result.

I was not too clear about the powder coating:

Main frame, forks, rear mudguard, stand, tool box, fuel tank, engine / mag covers/ air box/ brakes (bits/areas exposed to the harsh elements)

Sheet metal in 2K paint or cellulose inc the horn cover and headstock, front mudguard, side panels (etc), all the shiny bits you see. These parts are then easy to repair/touch-up as and when.
Still can't swallow metallic blue..

But....like this:



Rather than:



I seem to remember the front disc on my '225' was terrible back then, so hope pads are better now and so are tyres.

What are thoughts on going 12V/electronic? Expensive conversion but might be worth it, indeed an investment.

As to 'old-guy' and born again scooterists, sounds great to me. I am based on the outskirts of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands, and regularly hear/see ride-outs along the Bridgnorth Road locally.

Safety in numbers gentlemen!

[Toddy]

Welcome to the forum a very nice project to start with , love the pictures as well , once the bug has bitten it never leaves you

[Rich Oswald]

12v conversion is recommended for better lights and starting etc buy it depends on how original you want to keep it. I use sintered pads for the brakes but it's usually a matter of personal opinion. Tyres are much better these days and again it's down to preference which to use.

Rich'

[joespeed]

nice post,good scooter model too,dont let these purists put you off,if its chipped rusty and dented it needs painting,keep the points the only thnig to go wrong is the heel will wear and close the gap,keep it lubricated, if the lights are poor then you can do some thing about it later!
now lets have a look at the hill climbers?

[garynonnah]

hi welcome, im on my first resto....enjoying when time allows, learnt a few things and made mistakes, but will get there.
plent of help on ere, suppliers are plentiful,just look in scootering mag....
looking fwd to see your work .....good luck fella

[911hillclimber]

There is a HUGE thread on the Lola on another web site that is now 283,000 hits...not healthy for anyone!

This is a very welcoming site and I appreciate the interest in my main interest, 20+ years of hillclimbing. If anyone wants to risk the other thread then please pm me and I'll give you the link. You could make a 30 mins play out of the story I assure you.

Back to the TV:

The 12V/electronic system is a cool £200+, about the cost of powder coating etc, so reluctant to spend like mad. It seems as in every 'hobby' you can reach out and spend, and these scooters are no exception!
My hope is a spend of 2K to get the scooter done.

Looking at various suppliers I think I've found one who sells it all, and a rough count-up points to £2K.
Is that about right?
I'm hoping the only specialist assistance I need is the check the frame alignment and a rebore of the barrel and a decent piston to match. I do not have much luck with experts, so try to avoid them.

I like the Allstyles supplier as their web is clear and very easy to navigate and free post over £100, all prices are inc vat which is refreshing.

The engine was free and the box stuck in 2nd so I hope it will be easy to sort out.

Itching to get the Lola done and back up running so I can get going asap.

Dicky, there have been many times I've felt the same. They look exciting maybe but are really hard work and draining especially about 3 years ago when the Lola nearly went in the skip and I'd had enough.

[weeks]

Please keep the main open forum sections to LAMBRETTA only fellas as per Guidelines ......... viewtopic.php?f=29&t=54

If you wish to discuss other modes of transport/interests the club happily supply a MEMBERS ONLY section via CHIT CHAT

Your continued help and support is appreciated.

Cheers

[dickie]

Dicky, there have been many times I've felt the same. They look exciting maybe but are really hard work and draining especially about 3 years ago when the Lola nearly went in the skip and I'd had enough.

I was joking of course. They're fantastic but surely you're not daft enough to think your budget is correct. We're all mugs kidding ourselves that it'll be ok and our wives won't find out.

[coaster]

Looking forward to your build 911hillclimber, £2k should be enough but you will need to be quite strict with yourself, it's easy to get carried away

Your proposed mix of powder coat and paint is spot on and shouldn't interfere with panel gaps. I'm with you on the none standard paint scheme as well

Colin

[911hillclimber]

I hope to keep things to £2K but from other adventures (such as above) 'Budget Drift' is something I'm used to!

Doing as much as I can should hold things down, but a list of £20 packages will quickly add up, stainless fasteners etc, tyres that are the same cost as a cars!

Dicky, thank you for your reply. I added those pictures to answer a question, I certainly will keep them off this humble thread.

I see on this forum there is a separate section for carbs which does not bode well. Mine looks a bit naff and came with the breather elbow missing so suspect the engine has ingested a fair bit of tat. Replacing it will add to the budget if it is beyond restoration.
When I got the TV there was straw everywhere inside the workings and trapped in the nooks and crannies. Front dampers were toast so I wonder if it has been a farm yard mule for some of its life, hence running in second gear only?

Anyway, last post/picture for a while but this opener has given me some more enthusiasm and I think you will all be a great help.

Fed-up of reading Sticky's brilliant book, must get started asap.

[joespeed]

hill climber can you show a side and front together pictures it looks like it has an li front mudguard fitted,

[coaster]

hill climber can you show a side and front together pictures it looks like it has an li front mudguard fitted,

Yes, I noticed that as well

[911hillclimber]

Yes, it had one.
The dealer I bought it from pointed that out and gave me a new fibreglass one to swop over.
My '225' had a glass one when I bought it as in my period picture shows above.
I think the TV had a steel guard, and if so I'll need to get one, but the glass one is a good moulding, bit chipped around the nose but good and new. Easier to paint steel!

I think that is the only non standard part and might suggest crash damage, hence getting the frame / forks checked hopefully at GranSport in B'ham in Jan.

The spare wheel carrier I'm not sure of either. I had one on my Ser 2 Li and felt it encroached on the leg room too much, doubt the Ser 3 is any different.

There will be a few nasty surprises along the way I'm sure.

[dickie]

Yes, it had one.
The dealer I bought it from pointed that out and gave me a new fibreglass one to swop over.
My '225' had a glass one when I bought it as in my period picture shows above.
I think the TV had a steel guard, and if so I'll need to get one, but the glass one is a good moulding, bit chipped around the nose but good and new. Easier to paint steel!

I think that is the only non standard part and might suggest crash damage, hence getting the frame / forks checked hopefully at GranSport in B'ham in Jan.

The spare wheel carrier I'm not sure of either. I had one on my Ser 2 Li and felt it encroached on the leg room too much, doubt the Ser 3 is any different.

There will be a few nasty surprises along the way I'm sure.

the series 3 TV had a fibreglass mudguard as standard. I think it's the only model that did.

Interesting to hear your views on spare wheel in legshields as I've been ruminating about whether or not to fit one to the series 3 that I'm currently restoring, which coincidentally is my first Lambretta restoration too.

[garynonnah]

scooter techniques dvd is a good step by step engine strip/rebuild ...most of outlets sell it.