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Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 3:37 am
by jedan71
What is the difference between Indian and Italian horncastings for the GP.
Just got Italian legshield for my Indian, do I have to get a new horncasting?
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Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:49 am
by phil23fair
I've just done it the other way around, Italian horn casting to Indian leg shield without any problems, so I guess you will be OK
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:54 am
by jedan71
Thanks Phil, will try it out.this month's scootering says their different..
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Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 8:56 am
by coaster
Didn't the Indians change the shape of the leggies during production?
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 9:51 am
by Adam_Winstone
There are different shapes but this is to do with the profile at the top outer edges of the legshields, which makes no difference to the fitting of horncastings.
I think that the statement in Scootering is very misleading and stands to become one of these small errors that gets quoted over and over again once it is in print. If you look straight on at any original GP the legshields have an obvious 'corner' (for want of a better description as they are actually still curved!) profile, appearing quite LI in shape when compared to the very uniformly rounded top profile of SIL legshields. Indeed, this was a discussion that I remember having 20 years ago when my Electronic was parked next to a mate's new SIL GP200 outside the pub window. We sat there talking about how different the shape of the pressing was, although the actual cut size was probably the same. The same shape difference could be seen when comparing any of the factory built SIL machines of that period (2 of which I went along to AFs to pick up when knew) with the Italian originals still about (incl. those UK originals and imports that have gone through my hands).
However, with the passing of decades that have seen SIL machines in the majority, many Italian restorations also being fitted with replacement SIL legshields, people have become very used to the more rounded profile of the SIL items. The issue that is confusing people now is that new squarer top profile legshields have become available from India and people are assuming that if these are the Indian shape than the earlier more rounded ones must be Italian... NO, they are simply the earlier SIL shape!
I've not actually seen these more recent squarer profile Indian ones, although Ben (AF) told me about them a few years ago when they first started appearing, so I cannot offer an opinion as to whether they are similar to Italian originals or not. What I can say with 100% certainty is that if you stand an original Italian GP/DL next to an original 80/90s SIL GP then the way the legshields are pressed gives the Italian machines a much squarer look when viewed straight on. If you don't have any faith in my statement, get yourself along to any shop that has unmolested DL imports and check it out for yourself.
Adam
PS - This was an issue that was discussed on another Lambretta forum a number of years ago and might still be available somewhere (?).
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 10:34 am
by jedan71
Thanks Adam, I was never aware of the difference, and never bothered to compare, having been out the scene for so long and only recently rekindled my affair with this new import project, I wasn't any wiser until scootering mentioned it.once I get the panels, which were sourced secondv hand from back of a shop, i will try to compare them againstainst my not so good looking Indian ones. Thanks
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Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Fri Feb 07, 2014 6:53 pm
by Adam_Winstone
http://blog.scooter-center.com/20-jahre ... n/?lang=en ... this is a good example of how rounded original SIL legshields look when looking at them front on.
whereas these are slightly less uniformly round:
http://www.riminilambrettacentre.com/De ... ry&Name=DL 125 Silvia Skinz
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 10:15 am
by gaz_powell
take a look at the legshields on the black gp
http://www.lambretta-images.com/archive ... play_media
when I stripped the motor to rebuild - I noticed the frame was stamped UNI (Uni Auto ?)
It was an indian built bike for AF
the legshields weren't even the same shape both sides - one side reminded me of Italian gp and the other was like cross between a gp and an li..........
when I pointed out the shape the owner had them changed to genuine SIL - but the front struts where a couple of mm longer and than the SIL legshields.
Mine is a genuine SIL frame and legshields on the left
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 11:37 am
by rosscla
Can't get your link to work Gaz
Do either of there pics help?
Both lots Italian AFAIK
Re: Indian v Italian
Posted: Sat Feb 08, 2014 2:11 pm
by joespeed
both are bent and twisted,could be either indian or italian!