My Rusty red DL150

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

You must be thrilled to have moved things on so quickly.

I applaud the approach of a sensitive tidying/maintaining.

Despite me saying that, I wonder if a bit of blast with pressure washer on an unseen part of the forks might be a test & lift that 're-paint' to reveal the original in it's true patina....

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Good call. I might give it a blast.

I need to check the motor at some point. I suffered a partial heat seizure yesterday on it whilst trying to run it in.

I let it cool and it started after 10 mins with compression so hopefully nothing major.

[Kristof Lammy pie]

I've done nothing for the last week or so due to work and having Manflu, but managed to get into the garage today and rebuild the SH2 carb with the correct slide (thanks Steve) and the correct jets.

Hopefully the choke threads are ok, otherwise it's a new Carb.

[Scooterslag]

My recent purchase, a 1969 DL150 original body and motor mostly original paint apart from the white wheels and yellow parts added at some point.

The white wheels will be removed and replaced with original silver and some mad bugger has tried paint the forks red but that's flaking off so I will let nature take its course as the original silver paint is good underneath.

I will keep the yellow parts on the body as it's part of its history.

She is a bit rusty in places with a tiny hole here and there but it's been covered in acf50 so hopefully it won't get much worse if I keep on top of it.

Just waiting for the reg documents to come back and it will be on the road.

Thats lovely

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Having had a partial seizure on this, this week I've decided to upgrade it to a gt186 30phbh carb and Bgm Clubman exhaust.

[Covboy]

Kris

You will NOT be dissapointed - the difference is amazing compared to a standard engine - I've been out on mine today in the sunshine and I'm still grinning ear to ear...

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Nice, was that your Li series 3 you've been out on?

going to strip it all this week and see what damage I've got, the whole motor has had new seals etc so I'm hoping it's going to be just a top end change.

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Thought I would remove the front wheel this morning and start chipping away at the horrible red paint. Whilst doing this noticed my fork seem either twisted or bent.

Not sure if you can see from the pics but they defiantly aren't right.

[Warkton Tornado No.1]

If it were me, I’d feel compelled to strip those out & thoroughly check.

Ideally, swap them out for another ‘known’ pair if you wish to remain mobile.

The very least I‘d advise you to do is remove the links etcetera & put a tight fitting bar through the link pivot hole of one leg to check alignment. But, TBH, they look wrong to the naked eye!

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Yeah they don't look great, I will take them off and see what's going on.

Kris

[Storkfoot]

There are Lambretta fork jigs out there and people who have experience in straightening them. I'd, personally, pursue that option. The forks being bent does, of course, pose the question as to whether the frame is bent too?

[Covboy]

Hi kris

As the forks are a different colour to that of the scoot itself, it would lead me to think that that have come from a different scooter . Stork-foot is correct - But I think that the frame is probably ok - just a dodgy set of forks !!!

[Kristof Lammy pie]

I've had a good look at the frame and it appears fine to the naked eye.

But once the forks are off i will have a proper look at the headset area for any stress cracks etc.


I've just ordered some brand new Scomadi gp forks.

[ToBoldlyGo]

Hi kris

As the forks are a different colour to that of the scoot itself, it would lead me to think that that have come from a different scooter . Stork-foot is correct - But I think that the frame is probably ok - just a dodgy set of forks !!!

They would have been a different colour. Silver or grey, depending on who you ask. I wouldn't take it for granted that the frame is true. It takes force to bend a pair of forks so you can't guarantee it. I think there are probably non intrusive methods of testing it.

[Covboy]

Yes silver or grey would be correct but not burgundy,

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Not sure what to do now, half tempted to strip the whole bloody lot, get the frame jigged, deal with the rust and rebuild it.

Nightmare as I wanted to ride it for the summer.

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Having looked at the forks again, and considering what's happened to the motor, I don't feel comfortable not stripping it completely and going through the lot.


So I will start stripping the lot tomorrow and get the frame checked out and I can then sort the rust out on the legshields and side panels.

It needs to be done properly.

[Kristof Lammy pie]

I ordered a scomadi fork set to replace these bent ones, they arrived yesterday and they are the wrong ones, so they need to go back and get changed.

I will be removing the motor this weekend and finally stripping the scoot to the bare frame so I can check alignment.

I'm glad I'm stripping it now as there is a lot of rust on the fork and headset and most of the panels and the electrics are so brittle I'm amazed they work. Now the panels are all off I can now treat them with some sort of rust proofing paint underneath to prevent further rust.


I've decided to put a gt186 top end on the motor and put it in the lis125 I've got. And then the gp will be built up with a Ts1 225 motor, I've bought the top end, carb and exhaust just need to find some 200 casings.

[Covboy]

Hi Kris

ACF50 would work well on treating and preventing further rust. I used it on my Series 2 and am happy with it

[Kristof Lammy pie]

Hi Steve yeah I've coated it in acf but I think inside the frame loop and underneath the footboards,front guard and legshields I want to rub all the rust off and have some sort of rust proof paint just for some added protection.