Old Fart Getting On With It

TTL 16 J had proved the old maxim of "never buy a basket case", but of course we do and TTL's rebirth has been a long, educational and expensive process.

I was OK with the mechanical stuff and sourcing parts from specialists (Thanks Jem Booth and Scootopia), but I have a problem with restoring bodywork as it is something I've never been trained in and my early attempts where disatarous.

The legshields of TTL where a real problem as the footboard parts where rotted through on one side and lace curtains on the other.

When I bought "it" (I don't give machines female names) the legshields looked solid, but only because they had half an inch of filler supporting them top and bottom. The cleaning process revealed the problem and there things kind of stuck for two years. I didn't know what to do........ If only I could buy a new set.........

Back in the late sixties when I had my first scooter (a rat bag TV 175, which my parents bought me for £40 - TD 4657) You could go to Bill Pope Motors in Warrington and buy any part you wanted, over the counter). Little did I know the limited timescale that existed for Lambrettas's.

Could you get a pair that's already been butchered to fit a large frame and cut and shut the two together? Might be fairly cheap if you can get the welding done for free?

The legshields are getting there. I had several reinforcing plates spot welded underneath. It was the filling that was the problem - as I HATE doing it. However I bought a "mouse" sander from Argos for £13 and it takes all the hard work out of rubbing down. I'm aiming to get them (and the tank) into Zoot Scoot, Warrington this weekend for painting. Hoo - bl**dy - Ray.