Unless there has been an obvious component failure (like the time I saw someone’s con rod snap and launch through the engine case and cylinder kit) it can be very difficult to analyse the exact state of the condition of an engine from an external view. A case in point was when a customer of mine, who had previously brought a few Vespas in for dyno tuning, recently purchased his first Lambretta and asked me to take a look at it.
As a side note, I always chortle quietly to myself, in a ‘knowing’ kind of way, whenever a lifelong Vespa owner suddenly forays into Lambretta ownership. Running a Vespa isn’t that cheap any more, nothing is, but, when I see them roll up on their latest machine, I always think to myself: “If you thought running a Vespa was expensive, wait until you see how much Lambretta stuff costs!”
So, John arrives at the garage on his cutdown Lambretta, with an Imola engine fitted, and he wants it set up on the dyno; he’s happy with the scooter but says it struggles to do over 60mph. Straight away I’m thinking, an Imola kit should be pumping
