Seven years have passed since Sticky updated the first edition of his 2004 Lambretta workshop manual. Last year our lanky friend left ScooterLab to concentrate on writing and researching the Third Edition. An amazing 30,000 copies of the first two books had completely sold out by April 2018.
Read on for a book review, how to buy a copy and the chance to win 2 signed copies.
48 extra pages
Not only was there a worldwide Spanner’s shortage, (which lead to oily copies changing hands on the black market earlier this year) but so much has changed in the Lambretta world since 2010 that an update was well needed. In fact, the additional 48-pages contained in the Third Edition of ‘The Complete Spanner’s Manual: Lambretta Scooters’ only just manages to fit it all in.
The technology, tuning, new engines and casings, a wider and better quality variety of aftermarket remade Lambretta parts, electrical advancements, new tools and workshop practices means that this update is well worth buying and adding to the other two manuals if you already own them. To be honest, ‘update’ doesn’t really do the Third Edition justice. This is more like a new book, with literally hundreds of revisions, updates, photos, a whole new layout, tips, parts, practices, tech and equipment. Most of the new stuff wasn’t even conceivable back in 2010.
The whole feel and layout of the book, even down to the design of the adverts within it are all top quality. It looks great and is worth keeping an unsoiled copy in the house just to flick through.
New Chapters
- Leak-down pressure testing
- Dry building
- Modernisation & Safety
Fully revised chapters
- Aftermarket parts (new cylinder kits, casings etc)
- New Appendices
- Advance Retard Ignition Maps
- 5 & 6-speed gearbox Appendix
- 3 additional wiring diagrams including full-DC ‘Wassel’ conversions
- QR code links to useful videos (gearbox assembly, ignition timing, cabling etc)
Tips and help
The colour coded page corners make identifying each chapter at a glance very easy, for instance, green for the engine, pink for wiring. As with the Second Edition, ‘new advice’ sections are easy to spot as well, they’re laid out in yellow boxes. Handy icons throughout the 336-page book also make it easy to identify ‘Another way’ to do a task or an alternative product, tip or suggestion.
New tools and methods for:
- Fork building
- Ignition timing
- Port timing
- Layshaft fitting
- Crankshaft fitting
- Stud fitting
- Carburettor testing and cleaning
- How to reduce clutch lever strain
New electrical products covered:
- High output CDIs with diagnostic LEDs for stator output
- CDIs powered from the lighting coils
- New ignitions
- Full DC conversions – how to convert your AC stator, wiring diagrams
Buy a copy
Naturally, you can buy a copy of the Spanner’s Manual through our online shop. Everything you buy from us (or our advertisers) helps to keep this site up and running and also keeps the content FREE.
If you want to order a copy just click this link, the book costs £24.99 and can be posted anywhere in the world.
Useful whatever your experience level
When the first two editions were released I was purely a Vespa man, so although I owned both books I didn’t really need to study them in great detail. Since then I’ve been fairly well converted to the Lambretta side of the fence and as a ‘newbie’ to the world of scaffold-tubed machines, the books have been invaluable. I’m no natural mechanic, but I do like to have a go and get my hands dirty.
Sticky’s manual gives easy to read and clear instructions for most tasks you’ll need to perform when stripping, building or living with one of these lovely temperamental machines. It’s invaluable late on a Saturday night when you’re building a scooter and you’re unsure whether that rubber ‘O’ ring goes in before the rear brake cam goes in, or after. It’s also worth having a copy to hand when you pick a vaguely familiar looking spring out of the block paving on your drive and wonder if it’s a coincidence it was there, or might actually be out of your dismantled choke mechanism. Being able to suss those two issues out makes the £24.99 cover price of this book worthwhile straightaway.
Keeping the missus quiet – priceless
I’m just finishing off an engine swap and rebuild on my other half’s Series 2, she’s been getting stuck in as well and enjoyed learning how things go back together and what goes where. Being able to see everything clearly, in colour and with easy to follow instructions has kept her quiet for hours (again worth the £24.99 cover price).
If you visit the workshop of pretty much any decent scooter shop you’ll also find a copy of this manual lurking in a corner, there to give a mechanic a helping hand should he or she need it. It’s a book for all abilities. If you own a Lambretta or are interested in learning about what makes them tick (or not as the case may be) you need to own a copy of this book. It’s an invaluable workshop essential.
Win a copy – tell us what you’d SLUKin’ like
Sticky has kindly given us two signed copies of the Third Edition to giveaway in our free to enter competition. To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is tell us what you’d like to see more (or less) of on ScooterLab. Maybe you’d like a series on restoration, a nostalgic road test, a tuning guide, a SLUK forum, or something completely different.
Sharing is caring
Just let us know as a comment (below) what you’d like to see more of on SLUK, then share this link on your social network (just copy and paste the link to Facebook/Twitter etc.) and we’ll pick our two favourite suggestions/best sharers on Monday 15th October. Your idea may well make it on to SLUK over the next few months.
New products always in development…
Maybe worth having within the tech section both for Lambrettas and for Vespas a section covering Torque settings, so that people can have a quick glance if unsure of what the torque setting of the flywheel or cylinder head nuts are, they can quickly scan through and find it or even print off and have on their workshop wall for quick reference!!!!
Also a forum would be nice with peoples quick fixes etc
A lot of people get bogged down with electrics maybe some more stuff on the electric side plus upgrades like lights, and I would like to see more on casa 265 engine being built maybe start to finish, and a section on problem stuff like carb set up and port timing,
Any new tuning products for both auto and classic scooters most of us ride both a nostalgic corner covering a whole year, the best of 84 etc, although saying this, SLUK is a breath of fresh air covering alot of variety, which has wetted my resurgence back into scootering.
I personally like resto features whether custom, classic original, chop, street racer etc. Additionally I would like to see details of proven engine / carb / exhaust set-ups – ie carb jetting….while im on a roll and bashing the keyboard I like the back to back tests of components like carbs / filters/ exhausts / headlights etc!!!!
I’d like to see more road tests and write ups on the latest tuning products and developments.
after ive maybe won a copy & read it, then i can add to what i think is needed for the 4th edition 😉
Personally loving the Ralleries and updates to riding kit, engines, innovation to make my riding and fixing easier…especially overseas rally write up #adventure
Hi, I’d like to see articles on maintaining, repairing and restoring carried out by keen enthusiasts with tips from them and SLUK about neat tricks etc. to solve problems and make the task easier.
how about a SCOOTER PHOTO of the week competition, with the best one featured here?
Maybe a artical on what parts also need upgrading when fitting a bigger kit motor and possibly a GP crank etc.
It can be a mine field…
Keep up the good work.
Perhaps before and after photos of a full restoration project and I like the idea of a forum for technical questions and readers answers.
A bodge section would be nice
Doing a good job in being different as is
but I would like to see short clips of video and pics showing how to do certain jobs, changing of seals and bearings etc when to change and what upgrades are recommended or available.eg which type of seal Viton etc. Also possibly showing how to work out gearing (Final drive ratio) etc
I think a beginner section. For modern scoots too, but especially people getting into older machines. readers tips for newcomers could get a wee gift for best submissions, articles on best practices to simply restore and paths for upgrading. Though there is much info around , its not compiled or edited in any way, you guys could easily do that and make SLUK if not a one stop destination, at least an obvious starting point. funny anecdotes about what not to do would be an obvious regular feature.
Cheers Paul, all useful ideas.
Maybe, as a person who hasn’t much experience in rebuilding scooters, engines, complete, renovations….in fact any problems with a scooter…. Maybe a rating system as which scooter rebuilding services gives best quality and bang for your Buck,as its really hard to know who to use.