1961 CB72 Project

[G-Man]

More little details to tidy up today. I have been unable to find the right length M3 JIS screws for the tail light and I don't like to modify original parts where I can help it.

Rummaging through one of my electronic boxes, I found these M3 'standoffs' for mounting PCBs. There was an M3 x 0.6 die in my collection of oddball tools so I ran it down the thread of two of these. The result is not beautiful but there is enough thread to hold a plastic tail light in place.



I now had an adapter that I could screw into the JIS holes in the tail light. I bought some shorter screws from David Silver and they turned out to be ISO metric and stainless. I was able to lop around 10mm off these so that I could screw them into the adapters.



With the gasket in place the rear light lens fits nicely and I feel happy in that I haven't had to butcher any priceless parts.... :-)



G

[G-Man]

Next job was to attend to the neutral indicator light. I have a collection of old indicators but th ered ones that I need are either crazed, cracked or stting in a rusty bezel.

I found a really nice bezel with a cracked clear (faded?) lens and pressed that out. I felt that I could make a new lens out of tinted acrylic and got hold of a piece of red (early bikes) and blue (later ones). Unfortunately the only material I could get was square 1/2" but that was handled in my four-jay chuck.

The first piece I made was hopeless, but I perservered with a second piece, polishing it up with 1200 grit abrasive paper and rubbing compound.

It turned out OK, although my photography wasn't quite so good on this occasion....



A drop of epoxy and it was secured into the bezel.



I need to make a cork sealing washer but it looks almost indistinguishable from the real thing when it's in place.....



G

[oldbikedude]

You are very resourceful. They look great!

[G-Man]

Thanks! - You have to be with these old things...

G

You are very resourceful. They look great!

[G-Man]

The bike looks pretty much like it did last weekend, but more things have been found, fastened properly or generally fixed now. I still have to do some work on the stand, so she sits on a little box at the moment.



With the tail light fastened on properly, I could run the wiring through that little central channel.



On a search for other parts, I found these special little grommets for the two ends of the wiring.



They make a nice seal on the wires compared with a regular round grommet.




The fender is now painted underneath (I forgot that) and bolted up firmly. I have to located or make a couple of bolts fro that thick aluminum brake stay. Regular bolts are too short. I've now got all that I need to build up a re-furbished rear brake cable with black cable outer and lubricator.



No apologies for my 're-manufactured' neutral light indicator lens. It catches the evening light nicely, here.




G

[e3steve]

Stunning. I'm... speechless!

[G-Man]

Just 'therapeutic fettling', Steve.


G

Stunning. I'm... speechless!