Lambretta Cables Routing

Following the great success this page had on the previous version of the site and the many requests we had to have the info back online, here you find some pics taken from an original condition stripped bike and from one of our restored scoots. Please note that the restored bike is fitted with an electronic ignition so the electric wiring is not as standard.

Q1. What are teflon lined outer cables ?
A1. These are extenally the same as ‘normal’ outer cables - except they have a small teflon ‘tube’ running inside the entire length of the outer cable itself.

Q2. Why do we always use teflon lined outer cables on our restoration scooters ?
A2.  There are several reasons but the main one is that teflon is self lubrificating and therefore the inner cable requires no grease or oil upon assembly. The benefits of which can be appreciated fully when you have the marvellous task of changing a broken inner cable – which of course usually occurs in the middle of ‘Nowhere- Ville’, late at night, with the local rednecks starring on….You get the picture. It’s a pain changing cables at any time BUT if you also have to get covered in oil and grease whilst sliding in the new one ??? No thanks.

The next reason is that despite the fact that theres no oil / grease involved, you’d never get the super smooth controls that you get using teflon lined outers, when using normal type outer cables. There really is no comparison.

Another reason we use teflon lined outers is that the actual ‘body’ of the cable is normally ( at least on the ones we use ! ) made of a very strong, rolled / coiled FLAT steel. Even if the outer cable becomes inadvertidly trapped by the scooters bodywork, its highly unlikely that the outer cable will collapse. Normal outer cable is usually made of a ROUND wire spiral and nothing is more easy to damage….

Q3. Why do we still fit grease nipples to our restored scooters if they are fitted with teflon lined outer cables that require no lubrifacation ?
A3. For the looks ! Its that simple ! Most Lambrettas came out of the factory with grease nipples fitted to the outer cabbles so, for that reason alone, we re - fit them when building a restored scooter.

Q4. Are the new teflon lined outer cables ‘split’ in the middle to accept the grease nipples as was the practice on the original factory fitted cables ?
A4. No. Basically, during the restoration, the old grease nipples ( N.B.; sometimes called “oilers” as well ) are carefully degreased, cleaned and then polished. Each grease nipple has a sprung - loaded ball bearing within the actual raised ‘nipple’ and this is then fixed in place with a minute blob of ‘Superglue’.The reason for this is that the grease nipples are then VERY carfully drilled out through their inner length by 5.2mm ( which is the outside diameter of the teflon lined outer cable we use ). If you don’t ‘fix’ the ball bearing with glue etc. before drilling through, it’ll drop out - as the drill will remove the spring that holds it in place,  during the drilling process. And you don’t really want that to happen, do you ?!?

The four grease nipples are then fixed in place, seated within the chrome grease nipple clamp, on the main Lambretta frame just behind the front wheel. The new teflon lined outers are then fed down through the centre of each relative grease nipple. Job done.

Okay, so this is real trainspotter / anorak stuff - but it’s a nice touch to see a restored Lambretta with these grease nipples fitted. And lets face facts – restored Lambrettas are not exactly “cheap”. If you’re having to cough up for a restored scooter you’d at least want it done thoroughly, wouldn’t you ?  “If a jobs worth doing, its worth doing right…”