LAMBRETTA GEAR SELECTOR OVERHAUL

When Innocenti designed the Lambretta, its styling was compact and enclosed. Part of the process was to position the gear change system on the handlebars. Though, in theory, this made changing gear easier than the traditional foot control method, it did create its own set of problems. Most of these issues stem from the fact that there are far more linkage points, which can all suffer from wear. By the time you actually get to the gear selector in the engine, this ‘loose play’ can have been greatly exaggerated, the result being severe play on the handlebar control itself. Even if the gear cables themselves are in perfect condition, each part of the system needs to be checked and overhauled where necessary.

Handlebars

Working along the chain of linkage points, it starts with the handlebar gear change. The first place to look is where the rod end goes into the gear changer housing. Up until later series three models, this was a thin fixed end, which fits into a narrow slot on the housing. Problems arise from wear to the slot on the housing. The only real solution to repair it is by welding it up and creating a