A question of earth

gpzkat · Oct 12, 2025

I found really nice threaded (vs. 2-pronged) instrument lights that suit my N15CS, and they work with a jumper to earth, but there's no joy at the tacho and speedo, so it's obviously a technically simple issue. I think the powder-coated instrument panel mounting bracket keeps the electrons from moving. Time to 'rig' something with wires, I suppose, but wondering of others faced this minor hiccup and got clever. The fact that this is the only thing I have going on that requires attention on my bike shows how boring life has gotten!

kommando · Oct 13, 2025

Many years ago I NOS twin wire bulb holders made by Lucas, I use them on my B44 for the LED instrument bulbs for exactly that reason. Never seen them again.

They looked like this but at £13.49 ea my wallet would stay shut

https://www.moss-europe.co.uk/en-gb/bulb-holder-claw-type-instrument-illumination-37h5181?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22000034100&gbraid=0AAAAADquM1wacJCH0LgY6LqicckdvzkIZ&gclid=CjwKCAjwxrLHBhA2EiwAu9EdM7GNw-CwXP4wOTSlaHDS8nvvd-IvoAYx6NQApHiobMuLuxl-LoDHXxoC1FUQAvD_BwE

kommando · Oct 13, 2025

Andover Norton do them now.

Andover Norton - SPEEDO/TACHO/PILOT LIGHT BULBHOLDER and LEADS (54573590) - 99.1213

SPEEDO/TACHO/PILOT LIGHT BULBHOLDER and LEADS (54573590)

andover-norton.co.uk

plus LED versions

Andover Norton - BULB HOLDER & LEAD ASSY INC. LED BULB (Two required) - 06.2086/LED

BULB HOLDER & LEAD ASSY INC. LED BULB (Two required)

andover-norton.co.uk

gpzkat · Oct 13, 2025

I'll just mod mine like the first type, give me something to do.

kommando · Oct 13, 2025

Yes, solder the earth wire to the body and heat shrink over the top to protect and cover.

gpzkat · Oct 13, 2025

Got it done, LEDs are bright white, and light up about half the face of the instruments, but better than nothing. I run an incandescent bulb in the headlight, so it's a color clash, white vs. yellow. My tach doesn't even work, having spit out the gears past the end cap, which I should have lightly J-B Welded. Oh well, who needs a tach on a tall-geared Norton? I will wait probably eons to find someone with a spare gear rather than shell out $200 for a repop unit, as I am quite 'frugal'.

franko · Oct 16, 2025

"light up about half the face"
I've seen pictures of where the shell is drilled to take another light in it. It showed the work and results. Dang if I can remember where I had seen it.

Deets55 · Oct 27, 2025

If you look around you will see that some of those LED have different focal points. One with a narrow beam will only light up part of the face, one with a large beam will do the whole face

gpzkat · Oct 27, 2025

Deets55 said:
If you look around you will see that some of those LED have different focal points. One with a narrow beam will only light up part of the face, one with a large beam will do the whole face

View attachment 122261

Those look nice. My instruments use the threaded style, and a vendor had the LEDs for only about $4 each. If I were to make it 'right' I'd get new style light housings with LEDs and research, so that's good info. I don't ride a lot at night so they do the job fair enough for me at this point.

A question of earth

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