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Post by jaz on Feb 5, 2006 20:56:59 GMT
...anyone got any recommendations as to where I might get it straightened, preferably in the north of England?
I reckon it would straighten OK, it's bent along the frame rather than pushed back from a head-on - the bend is not too bad, maybe 1" out of whack. It has the tell-tale dent in the legshield behine where the front wheel should be.
Don't want a new frame, the bike has sentimental value - all suggestions gratefully received!
Cheers guys
Jaz
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Post by Spence on Feb 6, 2006 10:37:26 GMT
What kind of scooter is it Jaz?
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Post by jaz on Feb 6, 2006 17:10:40 GMT
Sorry Spence, I should have said... it's a 1959 Douglas Vespa 152L2
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Post by Smallframe on Feb 6, 2006 18:45:31 GMT
when you say bent on the frame, do you mean the central spine is bent or just the leggies/runners.
Mike Phoenix in Manchester has a jig for straightening lammy frames, so I;d ring him for advice on your vespa frame straightening
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Post by jaz on Feb 6, 2006 22:07:19 GMT
Hi Smallframe It's the central spine that's bent, you can see when looking along the frame from the rear mudguard forwards. It's got the rippled dent under the frame that seems to be typical of frames bent in this way:  But, yeah, the legshields are a bit bent too  It's had a hard life alright... |
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Post by Spence on Feb 7, 2006 13:08:14 GMT
You're supposed to hang it up to dry it out, not roll it through a mangle.
;D
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Post by jaz on Feb 7, 2006 14:55:42 GMT
;D To be fair, it's not *quite* that bad, a lot of those marks at the bottom of the legsheids are because that's an ultra-low quality jpeg - I've got my head round all that stuff now. That said, of course it'll never be a show winner, and it has more sentimental value than financial - it's probably just a pile of spares to someone else. All I want is for it to be tidy, safe and reliable... and another old Vespa still on the road. Here it is in 1965 (on the right):  If you have a strong constitution and want to check out the full horror of what I am dealing with, it's all here! |
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Post by Smallframe on Feb 7, 2006 20:12:26 GMT
Well if the spines bent backwards in a straight line (not leaning left or right) then it is may be salvaged.
Stand frame pointing upwards and hang a plumb line from the exact centre of the spine and see if it meets withthe dead centre of seat fixing bolts.
if so, then Mike phoenix in Denton manchester has a hydraulic ram that could push the spine forward.
contact the vintage vespa association or someone you know with a straight 152L2 to get a measurement taken from the outer edge of the upper steering bearing track straight over to the centre of the seat fixing bolts and then you can compare the degree of movement and advise the frames rectifier accordingly.
Personally, if this does work I would thing about plating the stress zone where the metal has stretched underneath.
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Post by jaz on Feb 7, 2006 20:50:58 GMT
That's what I was trying to explain in the original post, it is leaning to one side, not bent back in a straight line. The spine is twisted, if you like. Is that worse, then?
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Post by Smallframe on Feb 7, 2006 21:06:51 GMT
 ooops , doesn't sound too promising then. but I'd still give Mike phoenix scooters a bell.
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Post by jaz on Feb 12, 2006 13:17:07 GMT
Bugger. Well, thanks for the tip. I'll let you know how I go on...
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Post by jaz on Feb 18, 2006 12:19:20 GMT
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ooops , doesn't sound too promising then. but I'd still give Mike phoenix scooters a bell.