Nick Prince is a familiar sight on the scooter scene. If you don’t know him personally you’ll certainly know at least two of his custom scooters. Mad Manx and Legends of Man.
Nick is going to be sharing a few of his workshop tips, tricks and tools with us. His first offering from his Isle of Man workshop is all about fitting Lambretta bearings. You catch my drift?
Iggy
“First off I am just a scooterist who lives in his workshop and rides a lot. I’m always trying to find better bits of kit and tools to use and want to share my experiences, both good and bad with you.
My first subject is the removal/insertion of bearings I’m sure all keen engine builders have used sockets and extension bars to take bearings in and out with varying results?
This is one bit of kit I have had for a number of years, it’s a Lambretta bearing drift set and it has saved the skin on my knuckles more than once.
I have found that it can be used on every bearing in the engine with success, as well as front hub bearing removal and upper fork race installation.
Previously I (like most scooterists) used sockets with extension bars and drifts that I’d tried to make up myself with limited success. I found that when using the ‘sockets with extension bar method’ there was a tendency for the makeshift tool to bounce off the bearing, more than once I’ve end up hitting the inner race of the bearing and I have felt like a chimp with a mallet!
This set is an alternative to using the sockets with extension bar method and for very little extra cost, it also saves the stress to your sockets and extension bar, which were not meant for this purpose. Also there is no chance of damaging those expensive bearings.
The bearing drift set doesn’t slip off the bearing and it fits the outer race of the bearing really well with no slippage. I have found that it takes a lot less force to get the bearings out and to put them new ones in, which is good for the longevity of your crank case.
The only thing I do find is the actual extension bar is a wee bit too short when putting the main drive bearing in, but its livable and just a niggle not a major problem. It packs away into its own handy box as well so it’s easy to find and you don’t lose them around the garage.”
The set comprises of the parts to allow you to do the following:
- Front hub bearing
- Mag bearing removal
- Upper fork race installation
- Main bearing removal
- Mag bearing installation
- Rear hub removal
- Lower fork race installation
- Rear hub bearing installation
- Main Bearing instillation
How much?
A set similar to this one costs around £65 but the likes of Draper Tools, Beedspeed and Scooter Restorations all sell different variants and individual drifts from £9.95 upwards.
Pssst, have you seen our new SLUK SXL5 screen?
Hi. The cost of the set is not shown. How much is it?