|
Post by jaz on Feb 9, 2008 21:55:49 GMT
OK, I'm posting this in an attempt to make it harder for myself to put this off any longer This thread is about my 1959 152L2. In 1965 it looked like this (on the right): But by 2002 it looked like this: And I've been messing about with it to no great effect for the last five and a bit years. Anyway, it went to John McLaughlin to be jigged & repaired a couple of weeks ago and it looks so much better I'm determined to finish it this year. I've spent a couple of days filling, sanding and priming and now it looks like this: There. Now you can all shout at me if I appear to be doing nothing! Next job is to strip, clean and repaint the front fork and replace the bearings...
|
|
|
Post by Robjack on Feb 9, 2008 22:21:51 GMT
Looks like you're doing a good job, however slowly it might be, better late than never. Keep us informed over the next few years how it's going. ;D
|
|
|
Post by Rudi on Feb 10, 2008 15:00:36 GMT
looks delicious..
good job
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Feb 10, 2008 19:30:30 GMT
Looking good Jaz, think you may be beating me to the finish!
|
|
|
Post by qpv8evo on Feb 19, 2008 11:01:06 GMT
Looking good,I too am restoring a 152l2,nearing completion but I have to keep asking you guys for advice on electrics
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Apr 11, 2008 19:18:21 GMT
Cheers for the kind words, guys. I went to see the paint man today... I found the last remaining bit of the original paint under the horn, a very pale powdery blue that I didn't like much. I think it will wear this red better, it's mixed from the rogue filler cap you see in the picture. It's still got the old 2% mixture sticker on so I'm guessing it's a period colour. If it's not, well I like it anyway! Now I just have to wait for a nice warm day. Any guesses on when that might happen?
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Oct 6, 2008 16:59:16 GMT
|
|
|
Post by Rudi on Oct 7, 2008 0:11:26 GMT
looking good !
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Oct 7, 2008 8:02:38 GMT
Nice one Jaz, now the fun of the rebuild begins ;D
(not finished mine yet btw!)
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Oct 8, 2008 8:34:12 GMT
Nice one Jaz, now the fun of the rebuild begins ;D (not finished mine yet btw!) Yes, now we get to find out exactly how many mission critical bits Uncle George lost when he dismantled it ;D
|
|
|
Post by dave1967 on Oct 8, 2008 13:31:02 GMT
Hi I am also restoring a 152L2 and would post pics but cant work out how to do it. Anyway I have a spare engine if anyones looking for bits. And does anyone know why all the front mudguards seems to have a small round hole in them below the crest. Also please be aware theres a seller on ebay advertising the old type wheels nuts to fit sportique/VNA 152, they dont fit and he wont give you a refund so be warned.
Cheers Dave
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Oct 8, 2008 20:36:38 GMT
Hi I am also restoring a 152L2 and would post pics but cant work out how to do it. Anyway I have a spare engine if anyones looking for bits. And does anyone know why all the front mudguards seems to have a small round hole in them below the crest. Also please be aware theres a seller on ebay advertising the old type wheels nuts to fit sportique/VNA 152, they dont fit and he wont give you a refund so be warned. Cheers Dave Hi Dave, to post photos you need some webspace or a Photobucket account or similar. Then all you do is put the web address of the photo with img at the beginning and /img at the end - both in square brackets, e.g. www.mypics.com/jazspics/pic001.jpg[/img] (remove the space in the first bracket) With regard to the hole in front of the crest on the mudguard, mine had some sort of little brass thing in it that looked like something had broken off it previously [for want of a less precise description ]. I took it off prior to painting, if I can find it I'll post up a picture. Anyway, I'm sure someone here will be able to give you (and me) a fuller answer than that! EDIT: I've just looked at the 152L2 parts book and it appears to be listed as 37409 'Push-on Fix'. That clears that up then ;D
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Dec 16, 2008 13:16:08 GMT
I'm still here ;D The bike turns 50 next year, but will I finish it before my 50th birthday? Who knows...
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Dec 16, 2008 13:46:06 GMT
Getting there Jaz, on the home stretch now.. hows the engine?
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Dec 16, 2008 18:48:11 GMT
Getting there Jaz, on the home stretch now.. hows the engine? Haven't touched it yet, I didn't want to tear into that while there was so much to do on the body. It was running when the scoot was dismembered by my Uncle in the mid-80s. All I can tell you about it now is that it's not seized It's the original engine too, which is nice. I imagine after all this time it'll want a full rebuild, new seals and bearings at least. I've never worked on 2-stroke engines to any great extent (I replaced the knackered piston and barrel on my old SR50 but that's about it) so I imagine this is going to be something of a learning experience. In the name of longevity I'm not proposing to do anything fancy, I've even got a NOS standard exhaust in one of my boxes of bits!
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Dec 16, 2008 20:12:59 GMT
Cool, yep, I'd suggest new crank oil seals, main bearings if it needs them, rear hub seal and hub bearing, cruciform & new gaskets. Hopefully the crank will be ok, and may or may not need a rebore.
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Dec 31, 2008 18:15:46 GMT
I was out in the garage this afternoon carefully dismantling the old seat for cleaning and repainting. It'll need new foam and recovering but structurally it's fine. Just when I'd decided it was too cold to carry on - I couldn't feel my toes anymore - the courier arrived with a big box of new stuff! So I retreated to the warmth of the kitchen to assemble my new wheels - aren't they nice? Lots and lots of other stuff too - some of it essential, some of it shiny. Happy New Year guys
|
|
eddie
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 11
|
Post by eddie on Dec 31, 2008 19:44:28 GMT
they look good mate, will look even better on the scoot hopefully finished in 09??? lol
happy new year 2 you also.
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Apr 1, 2009 14:08:16 GMT
The engine's in bits! This is all new territory for me. I've had it all checked out and happily the bore just needs a hone rather than anything more serious. I've left the crank at the shop to have new bearings fitted, and they're getting me a gasket set. As it is I came home today with new hub bearing and seal, new bearing to replace the one in the end of the gear cluster, crank seals, cruciform and needle rollers for the layshaft. I just need to get the age-old rock 'ard Red Hermetite off the cases and it'll be time to start reassembling it!
|
|
noggin
2nd Class Ticket
Posts: 34
|
Post by noggin on Apr 2, 2009 8:39:31 GMT
Hi, in picture number 2 from 2002, the front fender and the side panels are painted in a metalic blue. Any idea what that colour is? Looks very similar to my scoot and I need some touch up. Good luck with the rebuild.
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Apr 2, 2009 10:06:53 GMT
Hi, in picture number 2 from 2002, the front fender and the side panels are painted in a metalic blue. Any idea what that colour is? Hi Noggin, sorry no idea. My Uncle did that before I got it.
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Nov 18, 2009 21:36:39 GMT
Hey all, just to let you I'm not dead and I haven't given up despite having acquired a large quantity of other defunct scooters I've just had word that my engine should be back in a couple of weeks, which means that I may yet get to ride it before the end of the year! Fingers crossed...
|
|
ets
High Number
Posts: 113
|
Post by ets on Nov 19, 2009 9:19:43 GMT
eheheh! Crossing my fingers for you, I know how long it takes to work on a resto.. I'm on nearly two years and I haven't even managed to finish taking it all apart! But I must say this discussion has now put me in a better mood, I may go and unscrew another nut in a minute! ;D Good luck to finish it soon!
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Nov 25, 2009 13:36:42 GMT
Pull yer finger out Jaz, I'm on my 4th since you started the 52L2 ;D
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Feb 4, 2010 23:47:00 GMT
Pull yer finger out Jaz, I'm on my 4th since you started the 52L2 ;D I know, I know, and I was so hoping to have it on the road for its 50th birthday... anyway the engine is finally back! I've been rebuilding the clutch and sifting through the Tea Time Assortment tins to find all the bits - so far I'm just missing the big washer that goes between the oil seal and clutch. Time to make some phone calls and send some emails, but hey - it's on again!
|
|
|
Post by bryno on Feb 5, 2010 13:23:25 GMT
Welcome back I did have a couple of those spare, but think I may have used, they are perfect to shim the engine to frame gap Let me know if you get stuck for one..
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Feb 8, 2010 10:10:48 GMT
Let me know if you get stuck for one.. It seems that they're unobtainable, next stop the VVC... [EDIT: Bill Drake to the rescue ]
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Jun 22, 2014 22:20:27 GMT
This has to be longest rebuild in the history of rebuilds... ever. After 35 years, the Vespa is finally re-united with its engine, and can stand in its own two wheels again! Will I ever finish this? Who knows...
|
|
|
Post by kru251 on Jun 23, 2014 6:42:13 GMT
If you are thinking of rebuilding scooters as a living all I can say is......................don't give up the day job!!! Just need the will to keep at it. Procrastination is so easy. I rebuild a written-off Lotus Esprit S3 twenty five years ago. I worked solidly on it for six months in whatever spare time I could allow. Kept going as:- a) really wanted it finished to my high standard and b) knew that if it sat for too long it would be easy to not finish it. My brother owns the car now and still going OK (it's 32 years old now and still looks great). So, you need to find that will to get a move on. It'll be worth it.
|
|
|
Post by jaz on Jun 23, 2014 8:34:38 GMT
If you are thinking of rebuilding scooters as a living all I can say is......................don't give up the day job!!! I've not been completely idle in all that time though, I've resurrected a few others (including the spaceship parked behind it) but I will admit I lost the faith for a while! There were a couple of things really, this had no paperwork and no old tax discs etc. so I thought I'd lost the original number. It must have had a blue/white log book at some point though, because although it wasn't on the DVLA computer I now have the V5! The other was the '65 Sprint I briefly owned - I couldn't get on with it at all and it put me off Vespas completely. I've since had a go on a Sportique, though, and that was much nicer so maybe my Sprint was just a wrong 'un? Anyway, I've got a couple of other odd projects on the go (Voskhod 175 and Honda Trail 90) but I shall endeavour to crack on and finally ride this beast. So far the closest I have been to that was being pushed up and down the garden path on it by my Uncle when I was 6!
|
|