A lucky 13th Vega

Having finally picked up my new project yesterday, I realised when driving down south to pick it up, that it was actually Friday 13th

Anyway, despite having a Rally engine on the bench, and having stripped my GP completely and in bits all over the garage, I thought I'd strip down my new purchase too

It is a bitsa. Frame is 656xxx, engine 653xxx which makes them both '68, I believe. It looks to me like the engine casing is actually a Cometa. There's no lubematic mechanism with it but there is a place for one to be fitted in the casing, I think.

Most of the bodywork is already in the loft as I don't propose to touch that for a while, probably until next year. I did discover, when I got home, that the front struts need replacing but that was the only unwelcome discovery (so far).

I'll post some pics in the next few days when I start making a list of engine parts that are missing.

I think they all have the threaded holes for the oil pump. It's the in and out hole for the oil feed on top you're looking for.

Paul.

Yes, now I've taken the head off, I think can see that. Am I correct in saying that the pics below show that the barrel is a Cometa but the casing (ignore the fact that it has clearly been abused in the past!) is Vega?

Yes, Cometa barrel. Vega casing. Looks well repaired though. I'd be tempted to save the barrel for someone that wants a real Cometa and find another, not so rare, Vega barrel. Or convert the casing but then you have to find all the oil pump bits which are rare. I actually sold an oil pump and all the ancillary brackets for good money back to a purveyor or rare Lambretta parts that couldn't find them in Italy.

Interesting, thanks. I have no intention of going down the Lubematic route___ it looks over engineered to me and something else to go wrong

storkfoot wrote:................I'll post some pics in the next few days when I start making a list of engine parts that are missing.

I am focusing on trying to get hold of those parts that don't appear to have been remade and I am just trying to get the engine sorted this year. With this in mind, can anyone advise if parts 40 and 41 are available?

Also, does anyone have a spare plate for the stator wires (the one that fixes to the casing where the wires exit) please?

probably I do.

Could it be that these 2 J range items are the same?

http://www.scooterrestorations.com/lambretta/j-range-final-drive-bearing-washer/

http://www.scooterrestorations.com/lambretta/j-range-oil-thrower-washer-early-j-50-cento-j-100-and-j-125/

Anyone have an opinion on the post above please? Don't worry, I won't hold you responsible if I screw it up

Yes those parts are the same

Thanks, I'll get them on order.

I have possessed a Lambretta Workshop Manual since '78. Over the years I have flicked past the page where it shows how to take a standard rear shock apart - "I'll have a go at that one day" I thought.

Well, today I decided to do it with my Vega shock and, to my surprise, it worked very easily:



I did plan to get it powder coated, however, I'm not sure I'll be able to get it back together with the usual thickness of powder coating. So, I may just paint it up instead.

Yeah its something I planned to do on mine, however the spring was so bad (at stomping the road bumps) that I bought a new one and sold mine on

Yeah, you can never tell whether they are up to it until you road test it. That's why I'm not going to lash out on getting the spring re-chromed but I have taken the shock itself in to be powder coated:



Not much other progress although the exhaust and seat frame have been dropped in at the fabricator today. I thought he'd turn his nose up at the exhaust but seeing as he was in the middle of fabricating blown exhausts for some high powered Yamaha, I doubt it'll cause him too many sleepless nights.

Given the extensive welding on this casing, I've had it tested using the dye penetrant method. Most of the welding is good, just needs rectifying in this area:

Having had issues with all my other scoots, the Vega project has barely progressed, sadly. I did get these back in the week and I hope to have the exhaust back soon

To show that this project has not entirely ground to a halt, I now have damper mounts welded on the forks, oh, and I sourced a NOS brake switch.

Also, I think my mate has saved the exhaust and seat base from the skip:

Well that's got to be worthwhile as, I'm sure you know, they are both hard to replace.

I'd say he's the kind of mate we all wish we had. Nice one

Aye, I always pay him but he does, how shall we say, take his time

I suspect it may be a bit noisy though.

Just wanted to show that this project hasn't entirely ground to a halt:



Next, I'll be taking the casing in for welding and aqua blasting. I'll also dig the frame out of the loft and get the new strut welded on.

I'll post again next year

Nice progress there Paul. I'd best pull my finger out

I am in no rush, mate. I have taken the frame in for welding on completely new struts and a refabrication of part of horn bracket.

Engine over the Winter ;-)

Where did you find the struts?

Scootopia but I got them a couple of years ago when they had stock of both.