Asymetric Headlamp ears

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cgarai

cgarai

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Jun 9, 2015
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I just noticed (after 33 years) that the left and right headlamp mounts on my 74 Roadster are not symetrical. The right side mounting triangle is mounted about 5/16" higher than the left. At first I thought I had two right side ears, one mounted upside down, but then I realized the ear on the left side was not upside down because the slotted hole is oriented the same way. The overall effect is that the headlamp is rotated slightly. Is this normal or a misfire at the factory many years ago?

Here are photos of both sides:

Right
Asymetric Headlamp ears


Left
Asymetric Headlamp ears
 
Your pics didn't display, for me anyway. (having viewed them, now they do display. maybe just slow ?)
They can be viewed though.

A spare pair of brackets here aren't prefectly identical in measurements either,
although it doesn't make the headlamp skewwhiff.

Maybe a PO has changed something somewhere back in the mists of time ?
Tough to see whats going on, bracketwise, with the headlamp still bolted there...
 
I noticed when I reassembled my 750, the there were 2 rubber rings at the bottom and one at the top, each side. [ or thereabouts ]
maybe that is why yours are so far out. Mind you, my rear guard was miles out as well. Its a Norton, isn't it.

Dereck
 
Just last week I solved the headlight ears rattling by dropping the lower yoke and installing the 2 Orings in the bottom and one at the top, rattle gone!

Both Orings at the bottom of the ears at very thin and so doubtful they would be the cause of the ear fitment difference.

But is it just me or does it look like your head light ears are inside out, as in the inside dished part is showing outside, never seen a Commando like that.....

which means that the right one was put on the left side and visa versa

someone chime in and tell me I am wrong in believing they are installed wrong?
 
I see the same thing?

1up3down said:
Just last week I solved the headlight ears rattling by dropping the lower yoke and installing the 2 Orings in the bottom and one at the top, rattle gone!

Both Orings at the bottom of the ears at very thin and so doubtful they would be the cause of the ear fitment difference.

But is it just me or does it look like your head light ears are inside out, as in the inside dished part is showing outside, never seen a Commando like that.....

which means that the right one was put on the left side and visa versa

someone chime in and tell me I am wrong in believing they are installed wrong?
Click to expand...
 
I've got a pair of brackets in my hands, and they look as the ones in the pics.
You guys are seeing inside out...
(The reflections in the chrome are a bit tricky).

That suggestion about the o-rings is a good one though - maybe one isn't sitting right because they are not right ?
Lotta work to check though.

The headlamp is normally retained by the 2 threaded blinker stalks. (if blinkers are fitted).
If something isn't sitting right, the blinkers sit at wacky angles, dead giveaway that something isn't correct...
 
The headlight ears are upside down and reversed. The slot is supposed to be horizontal. I don't think O-rings could cause it to be out 5/16".
 
If either bracket was upside down (and fitted on the wrong side) then the slot would be (almost) parallel to the lower edge of the triangular plate, which neither of cgarai's photos show.
In my opinion, the fault lies with the RH bracket.

Asymetric Headlamp ears
 
It looks to me as though the space between the triple trees are almost a 1/2" different with the right side being just shy of 7" and the left slightly over 6 1/2". Something appears to be cattywompus and the headlamp ears may be just fine and dandy.
 
pete.v said:
It looks to me as though the space between the triple trees are almost a 1/2" different with the right side being just shy of 7" and the left slightly over 6 1/2".
Click to expand...

I think that's just the camera angle because the tape measure is being held some distance away from the upper yoke due to the clutch cable.
 
To clarify,

The ears are not backwards, though the photos could make you think that. One ear is not upside down as in L.A.B.'s photo, as both slots are parallel to the upper edges of the bracket. The distance between the triple trees is 7 5/32" both sides. In the photo below you can see that where the bottom of the ears attach to the tubes, the left side is lower.

Asymetric Headlamp ears


I discovered this because I was going to install some p-clamps to hold turn signals and I noticed that one p-clamp had more space than the other. Of course it didn't occur to me to use the signals to hold the headlamp shells! Thanks guys! Of course now I will have to live with the wonky arrangement or spring for a new headlamp mount, but which one is wrong?

sigh...
 
If you can wait until this evening, I'll measure mine when I get home. That's assuming mine aren't also wonky!

Nathan
 
Thanks LAB. Right leg is wrong. Perhaps made after lunch and a few too many pints. A collectors item for sure.

Is the bike in the picture a MkIII? You have a brake hydraulic fitting in the lower triple on the left side.

Thanks,

Chris
 
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