sx 200 headset

[a-teamlambretta]

Got round to assembling my sx 200 bought as about 80% complete. The head set is missing it's throttle and gear rods and wheels. It's a 1966 so what length rods and what type of wheels I.e plastic or brass?. Cheers Simon

[hullygully]

plassi I think buddy, same as GP

[ahutch7]

310mm length rods and brass wheels.
Cheers,
Hutch

[a-teamlambretta]

310mm length rods and brass wheels.
Cheers,
Hutch

cheers for the info hutch

[Adam_Winstone]

The Official Home Workshop Manual 4th and 5th edition lists the change to nylon control cable wheels on page 64 as being applicable to late GT200 and J125, whereas the 3rd edition shows the early TV/GT headset with the brass items. If this change was introduced for late GT 200s then it is unlikely that any of the later SX200 models were ever fitted with brass wheels.

Although, as with all things Lambretta... never say never!

Adam

[a-teamlambretta]

So mine being an early sx it will have the brass wheels?

[Adam_Winstone]

No, early GTs would have brass, later GTs would have nylon/plastic. As the SX came after the GT, all SXs should have plastic.

The only update info that I can find for these parts changing spec' is the official dealer update sheet S/40 12.5.1965 for all SIII models, which details modifications to "Handle bar - legshield - throttle and gear controls"

This lists the 'roller' (control wheel) as being updated but no other specific material details are given. As I don't know of other modifications to these parts, I would assume that this is the change from brass to nylon (supported by the timeline of my previous comment). If this is the brass to nylon modification then the 1965 date ties in perfectly with this being a pre SX model change, supporting that all SXs should (should) have nylon control wheels as standard.

Unfortunately, Innocenti throw up lots of examples that don't follow the supported texts and timelines so I tend not to trust the 'must be' approach, hence my use of 'should'.

NB: You can fit either type, providing you have the matching rods and throttle tube/gear support to match. As it says in Sticky's and Dave Webster's tuning manual (RIP), many people have retro fitted the earlier type to eliminate slop, which can be caused by wear to the later type. As such, you cannot trust any restored example to accurately reflect what might have been fitted at the factory. If you are replacing control wheels then you must swap like for like.

Cheers.

Adam

[a-teamlambretta]

No, early GTs would have brass, later GTs would have nylon/plastic. As the SX came after the GT, all SXs should have plastic.

The only update info that I can find for these parts changing spec' is the official dealer update sheet S/40 12.5.1965 for all SIII models, which details modifications to "Handle bar - legshield - throttle and gear controls"

This lists the 'roller' (control wheel) as being updated but no other specific material details are given. As I don't know of other modifications to these parts, I would assume that this is the change from brass to nylon (supported by the timeline of my previous comment). If this is the brass to nylon modification then the 1965 date ties in perfectly with this being a pre SX model change, supporting that all SXs should (should) have nylon control wheels as standard.

Unfortunately, Innocenti throw up lots of examples that don't follow the supported texts and timelines so I tend not to trust the 'must be' approach, hence my use of 'should'.

NB: You can fit either type, providing you have the matching rods and throttle tube/gear support to match. As it says in Sticky's and Dave Webster's tuning manual (RIP), many people have retro fitted the earlier type to eliminate slop, which can be caused by wear to the later type. As such, you cannot trust any restored example to accurately reflect what might have been fitted at the factory. If you are replacing control wheels then you must swap like for like.

Cheers.

Adam

Thanks Adam for the info.

[a-teamlambretta]

plassi I think buddy, same as GP

[Dimitrios_231]

I've worked on three 66 SX200,all of them had black nylon/plastic rollers.

I have some NOS rods somewhere I'll measure them (right on the picture)

[ahutch7]

Just to throw a spanner in the works, my first SX200 that I bought new in 1966 definitely had brass wheels.

[Adam_Winstone]

^... exactly why I say 'never say never' with Innocenti specs even when the documentation suggests otherwise.

I have no reason to doubt that yours did, however, with very few unmolested/unrestored examples available to us, it is very important that we document those few examples that are still around to support people's claims. My own experience with GP specifications have shown period documentation to be flawed and I'd actually be somewhat surprised to find that all SX documentation was accurate.

Adam

Edit: I've just heard back from a pal who has a wonderfully original 1967 SX150 (early traits: bolt-in buffers, shield badge, handle panels, etc.) and that has nylon cable wheels for the throttle and gear cables. Whilst the SX150 was launched after the SX200, so can't be used to definitively state what an SX200 should have, it does show that early SX150s were fitted with nylon.

Funnily enough, this bike is SO original that Scootopia, who know this specific bike, refused to sell my pal a pair of weld-on damper brackets for it as it is too good an example to upgrade

NB: This is not proof, just a supporting example.

[Dimitrios_231]

The rod is 28cm,code is 19762080.