Another Indian import horror show

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Bufficus
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Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:38 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
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A while back a friend of a friend contacted me to ask advice on an Indian import he was he was thinking of buying. It was unregistered and not running right. He asked if I knew what might be wrong with it. :roll: (everything as it turned out)
I advised him not to buy it. Why buy a poorly running unregistered bike when there are so many for sale, which have been in the UK for years?
Some months later I got a call out of the blue. Can you check over my Lambretta it's not running right. It was the same fella. He had bought it.

He brought it round.
The stand was so loose and in poor condition the bike nearly fell over.
The carb rubber was split and the choke mechanism not working properly.
The plug was the wrong grade and incorrectly gapped.

These problems sorted I took it for a test ride and the top end seems ok, starts and runs OK.

But oh dear! The brakes barely work and it keeps jumping out of third gear.

Time to look inside. It is supposed to be fitted with a new SIL GP200 engine. It has a very clean shiny casing.

Inside the chain case is as I expected only worse.

Strange brown gear oil
Sprockets are 17x47 with a knackered 81 link chain.
Spider and bush are knackered.
Crownwheel machined wrong and slopping about.
Clutch centre nut finger tight!!!

Into the gearbox we go.

Incorrectly shimmed.
Vijay MK1 loose gears GP200 Xmas tree,

Other problems of note.

Rear hub has only three proper studs the third replaced by a coach bolt!
Bizarre electrics with lights not working correctly.
Various nuts and bolts missing.
Not a drop of grease on any moving parts
Clutch lever incorrectly positioned.
Exhaust loose at cylinder head.

God knows what the crank and top end are like. I haven't looked yet.
Timbo
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Main scooter: SX200 and GP230 RT
Location: Luton area.....
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What did he pay?
Bufficus
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Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2009 1:38 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
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Haven't asked yet but whatever it was it was far too much.
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Toddy
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Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:01 am
Main scooter: Lambretta Series 1
Location: East Yorkshire
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That doesn't sound good Was it an import someone in England had
Done up or straight from India ?
As my Dad used to say "Each to their own lad"
cartmel808
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Main scooter: 1975 Vespa Rally 200 Femsa
Location: Durham, England
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I guess it all depends on what the seller was advertising it as - I.e; a full on project - a running, riding scooter with minor work needed to get it otr- or a fully restored scooter ready to just reg & ride?.... And also what price he paid relative to what he thought he was buying?



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rosscla
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Joined: Tue Oct 25, 2011 9:50 pm
Main scooter: Lambretta
Location: Lanarkshire
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What's the rest of it like?
"Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the same time; what we really want is for things to remain the same but get better."
andycap
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Why do people expect a cheap Bargain .Pay Cheap,Buy Twice! I have stopped giving advice ,it is always thrown back at you.Hope u get sorted though,not nice to get shafted,cheers Andy
bristolmod
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Main scooter: Lambretta TV175 S3- what else!
Location: Bali-Hai bar, Locarno Ballroom Bristol, 1967!- mines a Brown Split!!
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andycap wrote:Why do people expect a cheap Bargain .Pay Cheap,Buy Twice! I have stopped giving advice ,it is always thrown back at you.Hope u get sorted though,not nice to get shafted,cheers Andy

+1
Scootering since 1968.
monument7
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Main scooter: Li auto conversion 180
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Surely it's all relevant to what was paid.
dennis
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Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:17 pm
Main scooter: 1 gp 1 special
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Sounds like one i bought, 1st registered in this country 1975 got it home and had to rebuild it, that will teach me to look properly and not to assume just because it's been in the country since 1975 it's ok, cowboys in every country.
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