Our main line of
business is the complete restoration of customer owned scooters. During
the restoration all bodywork is controlled, blasted and repainted to original
colour codes (where requested) using ‘PPG Superior’ paints.
Prior to the painting
process, all frames are blasted and then meticulously measured ( and straightened
if necessary ) in our frame jig. ‘RLC’ had a special jig commissioned as
frame alignment is one area where you just cannot under-estimate the importance.
Using this jig has really highlighted the fact that approx. just ONE IN
TEN frames is straight. We check EVERY frame in the jig during restoration
and once we have finished, the measurements are millimetre perfect. Even
frames that seem straight ‘by eye’ are normally out of alignment. Our jig
eliminates ALL guess-work and GUARANTEES a dead – straight frame. The multiple
point fixings on the jig ensure that we can align even the most bent &
knackered frame at all the front end points from the main large diameter
tube position, to the seat arch / steering column spacing through to sorting
out eventual sideways twisting of the frame. The end result is a finished
Lambretta that rides like a new scooter.
There’s not a lot
of point spending thousands of pounds on restoring a scooter if the frame
has not been checked is there?
Our paintwork is
guaranteed and our attention to the finish is second to none. We make sure
that the scooters' paintwork is as good on the inside as it is on the outside.
Apart from standard colour schemes, we have the capacity to produce paintwork
variations that can include 60's or 70's 'streetracer' designs or Mod designs.
All levers, linkages
and fasteners are zinced or chrome plated. The electrical equipment is
entirely replaced and friction-less teflon lined control cables are fitted
to guarantee super smooth operation of the scooter. Customer requested
variations can include the fitting of ultra reliable electronic ignition
systems, stainless steel fasteners or tuning components. When possible,
new old stock original Innocenti parts are fitted - or in their absence,
high quality 'Casa Lambretta' / 'Scootopia' spares are used. Absolutely
NO Indian or Far Eastern parts are used whatsoever.
Our aim is to supply
a restored scooter that runs, rides and has a better finish than when it
left the Innocenti factory. This means that our attention to detail in
the restoration of your Lambretta is 100% faithful to the original design-
right down to the fitment of cable grease nipples or having the correct
cast numbers on the seat retaining bolts. Simple things - that are often
overlooked by others - like the laying out of the wiring and control cables
prior to the bodywork assembly, can make all the difference to your finished
Lambretta and the way it rides and handles. Meticulous attention to detail
is what we excel at and pride ourselves in.
We go ‘that extra
mile’ to make sure your Rimini Lambretta Centre restored scooter stands
out from the crowd.
During the
restoration of a Lambretta scooter, extra care is taken rebuilding the
'front end' of the scooter. Forty years of pot-holed European roads play
havoc with all the steering and fork components. The normal procedure is
to replace the following parts; fork bearings and their relative tracks/cups
within the frame itself, all upper and power steering races, fork springs
and relative 'stops' and guides, fork link bushes and all nuts and bolts.
All these parts are changed on every 'Rimini Lambretta Centre' restored
scooter.
Frontend
Another source of
major wear and tear is the front hub and wheel on any Lambretta scooter.
Here, the biggest problem is the 'roundness' of the actual wheel rims themselves!
Even the slightest mark or knock means we'll bin the offending wheel rims
- and nine times out of ten we can usually supply new (or perfect condition/used)
Innocenti stamped rims as a replacement. Within the front hub itself, we
change the brake shoes, all oil seals, both bearings and all metal levers,
fasteners and spacers are changed for newly zinced items. The brakes on
most Lambretta's are normally sub-standard and a lot of this is to do with
the quality of the actual brake shoes. Over the years we have tried various
types of brake shoes (with varying degrees of success) until finally we
have settled to using one specific brand - and the results have been excellent.
Customer requested
variations for front end work can include; the fitting of stainless steel
fasteners throughout, a front disc brake hub to replace the normal drum
hub normally fitted to for 125 & 150cc models, polished stainless steel
'airscoops' for disc hubs, chromed parts, various types of shock absorbers
to vastly improve stability, uprated internal fork springs and the choice
from a massive selection of top-brand tyre names.
Engine
The most 'stressed'
part of any scooter has to be the engine. Years of use and abuse, coupled
with minimum maintenance, usually means that most Lambretta engine units
need near total replacement of all internal parts during the restoration
of the scooter. At the Rimini Lambretta Centre we 'Totally' strip each
engine right down to the the bare casing - including the gear cluster and
gear selector arm bushes.
Every engine is fitted
with the following new parts; all bearings, crankshaft/con rod, oil seals,
chain and guides, gaskets, studs, bushes, enginerubber silentblocks, brake
shoes, condensor, points, piston and rebore. Further work includes every
cylinder head being machined, fitted with a new spark plug thread and the
recharging of the flywheel magnetism. In the case of any other internals
(i.e. gearbox, clutch spocket, layshaft etc.) being worn or consumed -
they too are replaced. Again, attention to detail includes things like
the engine side-casing studs being measured off the gasket face, to ensure
that no excess thread is exposed when the side-casing is fitted.
Polished casings
We also offer the
option of having the engine casing mirror polished prior to being being
rebuilt. This is done using a unique process that virtually eliminates
all dirt from the aluminium, yet involves no coating or plating of the
casing.
Few things get quite
as dirty as a Lambretta engine and during the restoration of a scooter,
cleaning said engine can be taken care of in a variety of ways.
Vapour / steam blasting,
jet washing and bead blasting are all acceptable methods commonly used
by scooter restorers to get the casings back into near – new condition.
(N.B.; Some people have the engine casings sand blasted although this has
to be the worst possible method - as it leaves the aluminium surface covered
in microscopic craters that help muck and road dirt attach firmly to the
motor. Also the blasting process actually removes a small quantity of metal
from the engine surface – no matter how fine the blasting grit is - and
this is a definite no – no).
Apart from the blasting,
all these methods are ideal ways to return a motor to its matt grey finish.
However, there is one more option left that we at Rimini Lambretta Centre
can offer and that is ‘Acid Dipping’.
This is a treatment
that involves having the whole engine casing, side chaincase cover and
flywheel flange first degreased, then bead blasted (using aluminium beads)
and then finally immersed in an acid solution. This liquid actually removes
all the muck and dirt from the surface of the engine without removing or
harming the aluminium and there is NO plating or covering involved either.
The end results really have to be seen to be believed.
For
booking information, questions or queries please fill out the form below
and hit submit.
