Scooterotica

Been wondering that for years

So have I.
I think we might not accept it though as it would be classed as an auto.
Also in an auto I think the belt has to run dry. You would need to isolate the gears and seal the oil. Also rely on oil in petrol to lubricate both crank bearings ( flywheel and engine side.)
I have just read up on the misano super cases. They seem interesting.
I cannot see if they will accept a true 5 speed gearbox. Surely it could be cast to accept a stronger 5 speed.
Looking at the spec and price. Once any teething problems are sorted it could be a viable proposition. Would be nice to get a bigger gearbox in it. I'd save my money and buy one.

Robbie

It has already been done by Guy Topper in his Grp6 motor but still using a normal gearbox.

I like many have been watching the story of these gearboxes unravel for nearly two years. The winter before last I was in Stuart Owens place with three friends as they paid the deposit. I felt at the time and still do in fact, that my 50 year old second hand (at least) pacemaker gearbox will still get me up and down mountains on the way to the Euros in my 20+ hp TS1. Just as previous ones have taken friends on god knows how many trips. The concept is brilliant and from personal experience it is frustrating when in third going up hill to see your mate whizz past in (cyclone) fourth laughing his nuts off.

We have now all completed the last Euro on old original lambretta gearboxes. I like previously quoted individuals feel the randomness of failures is of more concern and do want to see this innovative piece of kit succeed. No doubt over the years, we've seen or heard of lambretta gearboxes losing teeth. However, there does not seem to be any real explanation as to the frequency and type of failure. Only what we've gleaned on sites such as this and talking to others.

I don't know whether this has been raised before here or elsewhere, but let me throw this one in to the mix:-

There is one view that failures could be caused by damage during the starting process, rather than power through the transmission. I could be completely wrong but what about the fact that a large bootfull of torgue from the kickstart puts all of the pressure onto the tree. At this point there is no transmission slack from the chain, or slight relief from the clutch and all of the power to start goes straight through the layshaft. Of course you could get a reply saying that these gearboxes have seen many thousands of miles with power of 30hp plus. To sum up in one direction you get the chain, sprocket carrier and clutch to lessen the blow from a powerful engine. But in the other a heavy footed kickstart places direct pressure on the gears, without anything to lessen the effect. Could this weaken the tiny surface area where teeth are chipped off?

I don't know and I'm only an enthusiastic amateur when it comes to engine building. I expect some to come back and say what a load of b@11@x. I know one thing for sure, I won't be buying one until I can feel comfortable overtaking cars in the outside lane without the fear of even pulling in the clutch won't prevent a rear wheel lock up. I sincerely hope this doesn't happen to anyone who has invested their hard earned cash in these gearboxes.

I wonder if in twenty years time when we roll up to Wickstead, they'll command the prices second hand that pacemakers and GT boxes were getting before the cyclone came out.

Hmmmmmm.........
How many Vespa GTS engines with auto gearboxes have been shoehorned into a Lambretta?

Those have been accepted surely although they have passed over to the Dark Side?

Imagine thus, if the 5 speed Cyclone gearboxes help keep an engine more in the power band, just think how good it would be if your Lambretta stayed in the power and because the automatic gearbox helped to keep it there?

Isn't that how,say, a modern high performance rev and go wipes the floor on the race track, waiting back after the star flag has dropped but catching up with the geared scooters?

Just a thought.

Cheers

Adyonekenobi wrote:Hmmmmmm.........
How many Vespa GTS engines with auto gearboxes have been shoehorned into a Lambretta?

Those have been accepted surely although they have passed over to the Dark Side?

Imagine thus, if the 5 speed Cyclone gearboxes help keep an engine more in the power band, just think how good it would be if your Lambretta stayed in the power and because the automatic gearbox helped to keep it there?

Isn't that how,say, a modern high performance rev and go wipes the floor on the race track, waiting back after the star flag has dropped but catching up with the geared scooters?

Just a thought.

Cheers

yes thats why some autos can out sprint geared scooters dispite being a 1/3 DOWN ON CC, s and the geared scoots having 50% more power

Adyonekenobi wrote: How many Vespa GTS engines with auto gearboxes have been shoehorned into a Lambretta?

Those have been accepted surely although they have passed over to the Dark Side?

No, that's not accepted by the majority. A bike engine with gears possibly but never a T'N'T.

I heard from a very good source that DRT Denis have washed their hands of these gearboxes now.

That's always been the trouble with the Italians, didn't their tanks have 5 reverse gears?

10 inch Terror wrote:I heard from a very good source that DRT Denis have washed their hands of these gearboxes now.

I can imagine that happening. I wonder which dealer will be brave enough to venture into a similar product?

All in all it's shame :(