early tailight on an 850

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britbike220

britbike220

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Aug 6, 2005
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I searched and couldn't find an obvious answer soooooo, I have a 750 tail light and brackets necessary to fit to my 850 and of course nothing goes smooth or is easy when trying to convert anything............It looks as thought the 850 tail light fastens in two places to a bracket over the rear frame loop. The 750 tail light fits in the same place except there are two holes instead of one on the lower frame loop part of the fiberglass housing. I hope this makes sense. Anyway I am not to keen on trying to drill two new holes in my stainless fender spaced evenly and wonder if anyone has done this and how you did it. Concerns are drilling holes off center. If I want to replace the original ugly tail light I will have two holes visible in the fender. Last resort and I'm sure this is expensive, buy another stainless fender to do the conversion and this would have to be for a 750 and were they drilled or sized different. Thoughts, suggestions, how too's and general ideas all welcome. I would post pictures, but I am not very good at picture posting.

Thanks,

Tim
 
It might be able to be done. You have to make an adaptor bracket. Not sure if it's worth it for you.
 
an adapter bracket where? What does it look like. I already have the parts, spent the money and really need to follow through just don't know the best option, all ears here.........
 
britbike220 said:
an adapter bracket where? What does it look like. I already have the parts, spent the money and really need to follow through just don't know the best option, all ears here.........
Click to expand...

Yeah, um, hold on. I can't do everything! :mrgreen:
 
britbike220 said:
I thought most of you guys were miracle workers, didn't mean to get pushy :wink:
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll mock something up later after the kid goes to bed.
 
I did this job on my MK1 850 and I didn't have to drill any holes. The standard 750 number plate/indicator mount lasted all of thirty minutes (Andover Norton part-made to original spec------NOT!) I then bought a CNW mount, much better/stronger, but I'm very sure that the same two holes were used on the lower part of the guard. I do remember spending two hours with a Dremel to get the glass bit to fit though.
 
Luckily for you I'm not working again today.

Now I don't remember exactly how the 850 tail light mounts but I hope this helps. If you get a chance to post pics of your early and later tail lights and the fender it might help.

In the meantime I'll post these pics.
early tailight on an 850

This is an aftermarket tail light fairing (Norvil) so I don't know if they differ from the stock ones. Do you have the brace shown here? Is it too far from the hole on your fender?

early tailight on an 850

This is how I have the fender and fairing mounted at the front end. It's been shortened to fit the seat (also aftermarket).

early tailight on an 850

Will you also use the bottom bracket to hold the light?
 
My stock license plate holder like this one lasted about 2 years until it cracked and fell apart. I used an old Brit license plate frame probably from a Matchless. But I think you could beef up the existing piece by adding a backing plate to it. The rear tail light really jumps around when the engine is running.

Yeah I know... pix.

Russ

How's this?

early tailight on an 850


early tailight on an 850
 
I have the same norvil stuff as you Dave. the bracket is crap. I had to dremel the top to fit the light. Anyway I am still at work and when I get home I'll take pictures of both mounting points and fender. At this point I am thinking Ill have to drill two extra holes which means I will have to buy another stainless fender if I can find one. I'll post back in a bit.
 
britbike220 said:
I have the same norvil stuff as you Dave. the bracket is crap. I had to dremel the top to fit the light. Anyway I am still at work and when I get home I'll take pictures of both mounting points and fender. At this point I am thinking Ill have to drill two extra holes which means I will have to buy another stainless fender if I can find one. I'll post back in a bit.
Click to expand...

I'm not up to speed with the square taillight fairing, but sounds like you mean it has one fastener above the rear frame loop and one below while the 750 type (I am familiar) has one above and two below. If that's the case you're going to have to drill the stainless fender to attach teh 750 taillight. Could be wrong but I don't believe Norton made a stainless fender that fit with the earlier taillight. Even the '73 750 that hcame with stainless fender came with the 850 type taillight.
 
Exactly the description I was looking for illf8ed. I was hoping a bracket had been made by someone that I could make a copy at a machine shop that would allow me to attach the 750 light to my existing 850 fender. I can't bear the thought of drilling a perfect fender. Here is a link to four pics one of the 850 mount and a side shot of the light and two of the 750 light.

http://community.webshots.com/album/577899521yOdszS
 
I know it may sound weird, but I want to keep the original in case I want to change back. WOW, I just looked on ebay and with a few minutes left there was a stainless 850 rear fender I scooped up. Guess karma is on my side today. I still wish there was an alternative to drilling holes. I suppose if I had a lathe and mill at my disposal and time to think it through a bracket of sorts could be made for this sort of application, but my garage is so small I almost don't have room for my bikes. :D
 
britbike220 said:
I have the same norvil stuff as you Dave. the bracket is crap. I had to dremel the top to fit the light. Anyway I am still at work and when I get home I'll take pictures of both mounting points and fender. At this point I am thinking Ill have to drill two extra holes which means I will have to buy another stainless fender if I can find one. I'll post back in a bit.
Click to expand...

I had to "adjust" the fairing too. I'd still like to see to see the 850 and 750 fairings side by side. I was thinking that with some fiberglass and a bracket you could make it work.
 
Before I cut up the 750 one to add to my 850 one- the 750 one is longer by an inch or so, the mounting was different as talked about earlier,the 750 one weighs at least twice as much, and there was another difference but I forget it
 
Hey Dave, I think something could be done as well, but like I said I don't have the tools to fabricate custom parts. Here are a couple of pics I added to the others of both lights together. The 750 is longer, but where they go over the loop is about the same distance. Looks like the big difference is length off the back where the lens is. This would cause the extra weight and stress.

http://community.webshots.com/album/577899521yOdszS
 
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