Howdy folks. I have a little work left on the SS180 and will post my notes along the way. There's not much and my readers know exactly what is left. I will also do a nice post for the final unveiling. Vespa deadline is March 8th so my wife can ride it on her birthday.
In the meantime I am beginning the restoration of my 1962 Lambretta TV 175.
If you're up for this again, I will document the entire process of restoring my Lambretta.
Let's do again!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
SS180 has its first visitor
The SS180 was pulled out of the garage today for the first time in many months to welcome and meet Hiro. It was a honor having Hiro come, especially considering that Hiro lives in Japan. Hiro brought a co-worker, Ted, with him. Ted is British and owned a Lambretta TV175 in the late sixties in England. Hiro owns a GS160. He has been following this blog and sharing advice since the beginning and has been a huge supporter of this scooter's restoration. Thank you Hiro for coming! (P.S. We just moved into this house and need to buy curtains so please don't think we're the bed sheet type of curtains people).
Prior to the unveiling of the VSC today, she's lived a hidden and secluded life beneath a bed sheet in a city of boxes and Rubber Maids. Those days are over. She is completely accessible now and awaits to be finished up and ridden.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Moving your scooter with your house
I'm a huge fan of Penske trucks when I make a move and I used one each time my family and I moved from coast to coast. On our move back West we rented a 26 ft truck (largest available) and a trailer for a car. We had to put all of our belongings in the truck, including three fully assembled scooters and my Lambretta in boxes. We had to leave a lot behind, some of value, but the scoots were priority. While I felt safer having the scooters in a covered truck for the 2,800 mile drive my big concern was the fact that there are NO tie down straps in these trucks. You are not allowed to change the truck in any way without it co$ting you.
Above, we're unloading the scooters in San Francisco. My original thought was to use three skids and strap the scooters to them and then strap them in place, but my father-in-law had a far superior idea.
He suggested that we buy a star wrench (like an allen wrench) and remove the screws from the floor and replace them with eye hooks, washers, a lock washer, and a nut -- all of which is a hair smaller than the threaded hole in the frame of the truck. It was so easy.
My father-in-law also built rear wheel chucks out of the scrap 2x4s from Home Depot. The idea being that there would be no forward/side movement of the rear end. We strapped down the scooters using Canyon Dancers around all three handle bars (my preferred method). This method worked very well.
Congrats to the blog . . . over 26,000 visits in one years ten months.
Above, we're unloading the scooters in San Francisco. My original thought was to use three skids and strap the scooters to them and then strap them in place, but my father-in-law had a far superior idea.
He suggested that we buy a star wrench (like an allen wrench) and remove the screws from the floor and replace them with eye hooks, washers, a lock washer, and a nut -- all of which is a hair smaller than the threaded hole in the frame of the truck. It was so easy.
My father-in-law also built rear wheel chucks out of the scrap 2x4s from Home Depot. The idea being that there would be no forward/side movement of the rear end. We strapped down the scooters using Canyon Dancers around all three handle bars (my preferred method). This method worked very well.
Being anal, I kept the cowls and glove box of the SS180 wrapped up the cab of the truck with me for added safety.
This truck was the Vespa's home for nearly a week. Sadly, I forgot the camera to take a picture of the scooter our 10x25 ft storage unit as that was her temporary home for a few months.
Congrats to the blog . . . over 26,000 visits in one years ten months.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
SS180 has a new home
We bought a house with a garage in Oakland and the Vespa is already in the garage. We move in this weekend. It will be a while until I can give her my energy/time again to finish her off, but I aim to do a little here and a little there. Sadly, I must say I didn't remember to take a picture of her in her temporary housing in storage.
More to follow.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Update: August 30, 2008
Readers,
Alive and healthy, BUT my life is stressfully nuts. My family and I are staying with my parents in SF. Our life is in storage -- including the Vespa VSC. I work in East Oakland and therefore commute. We are hunting to buy a house and get our own space and a garage for the Vespa in Oakland or Berkeley. Once we have that, I can work on the Vespa and finish it up, but as you know it is so damn close.
Honestly, I'd like to start my Lambretta too.
I haven't forgotten this blog and there will be some closure with the completion of the bike . . . thanx for your patience.
In the mean time, I hope this blog remains useful for you.
Best,
Jeremy
Alive and healthy, BUT my life is stressfully nuts. My family and I are staying with my parents in SF. Our life is in storage -- including the Vespa VSC. I work in East Oakland and therefore commute. We are hunting to buy a house and get our own space and a garage for the Vespa in Oakland or Berkeley. Once we have that, I can work on the Vespa and finish it up, but as you know it is so damn close.
Honestly, I'd like to start my Lambretta too.
I haven't forgotten this blog and there will be some closure with the completion of the bike . . . thanx for your patience.
In the mean time, I hope this blog remains useful for you.
Best,
Jeremy
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