ESSENTIAL LAMBRETTA MAINTENANCE ENGINE MOUNTS FAULT DIAGNOSIS AND REPLACEMENT

The purpose of the Lambretta engine mount is pretty simple: to stop the vibration from the engine through the frame and in turn to give a much smoother ride. Until the Series 3 Lambretta was introduced the engine mounts were flush with the casing but with more powerful engines being produced they were extended like the ones we see today. Though the narrower engine mount is still available they are seldom used unless fitted to a factory spec restoration. For the benefit of this article, we will focus on the S3 type, even though the removal and fitting process of both types is exactly the same.

Problems and diagnosis

The engine mount is an integral part of the Lambretta swingarm system and allows the engine mount bolt to move freely while the mount itself stays static. Working as a pair on either side of the casing they also allow a certain amount of flexibility between the mounts and the shock absorber. Examples of this are when cornering or during hard acceleration as the engine tries to twist. Though the mounts have a hard life they should work flawlessly for several thousand miles. Problems can occur for several reasons and the most common is