Speedo and tach bezels '74 Norton Commando

In process of replacing the instrument bezels on a '74 Norton Commando. I have a friend who owns a local instrument repair shop who is servicing the clocks and installing new Wassell 050324 bezels I had previously purchased RGM Norton. The Speedo is a Smith's while the tach is made in France (Vegila?), I believe it is common for this year in the Commando's to have a Smith's Speedo and tach that says made in France?
While attempting to install the new bezel/glass hardware we encountered two problems.
First, the flange diameters are different between the two instrument housings, the flange on the made in France tach is about 0.08" smaller than the Smith's speedo so the new bezel seems to fit a little sloppy.
The second problem is, the new bezel package from Wassell contains two of the same gaskets with a shoulder around the edge, it seems the gasket between the glass and housing should be flat. When placing the gasket with the shoulder between the glass and housing, it takes away from the amount of material to crimp the bezel.
I've emailed Joe at Euro Jamb and he wasn't aware of Norton producing bikes with two different instruments. I expected the Wassell kit would fit the Smith's speedo though it seems to not have the right gaskets. Has anyone encountered this issue before?

Thank you
Mike

mwedd said:

I believe it is common for this year in the Commando's to have a Smith's Speedo and tach that says made in France?

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However, Smiths and Veglia instruments were normally fitted in pairs* and not one of each so one is probably a replacement.
The replacement bezel kits do seem to be intended for Smiths, not Veglias.

*(Generally Smiths on Roadsters and Veglias on Interstates)

The gasket that fits between the bezel and the glass is typically has a triangular cross section, so that is fits up into the bezel - at least the last one that I got from Walridge was that way. Between the housing and the glass, the gasket is flat.

I would think that once you have crimped the bezel on to the Veglia housing, the free-play would go away - friction would take over

FWIW

When I replaced the Smith's type chrome bezel on my Veglia tachometer I ended up making an adapter ring from .025 inch 2024-T3 aluminum sheet. The inside diameter was the same as the instrument case and the outside diameter was the same as the flanged area of the Smith gauge. I did this modification over twenty years ago and I am not positive on the thickness of the aluminum sheet, it may have been a little thinner, just not sure. The ring could be made out of tempered steel which may allow you to go thinner.

I don't recall any problem with the gaskets. I probably used what was supplied with the bezel. The bezel has been holding up fine after all of these years.

Here is a picture of the backside of my gauge. You can just see the adapter ring where the bezel is crimped to it.






Peter Firkins

PeterJoe said:

When I replaced the Smith's type chrome bezel on my Veglia tachometer I ended up making an adapter ring from .025 inch 2024-T3 aluminum sheet. The inside diameter was the same as the instrument case and the outside diameter was the same as the flanged area of the Smith gauge. I did this modification over twenty years ago and I am not positive on the thickness of the aluminum sheet, it may have been a little thinner, just not sure. The ring could be made out of tempered steel which may allow you to go thinner.

I don't recall any problem with the gaskets. I probably used what was supplied with the bezel. The bezel has been holding up fine after all of these years.

Here is a picture of the backside of my gauge. You can just see the adapter ring where the bezel is crimped to it.

Peter Firkins

Click to expand...

Thanks Peter, we had actually discussed making a ring like you did. This is most likely what we'll do. So your Commando has a Smith's speedo and a Veglia tach as well?

mwedd said:

Thanks Peter, we had actually discussed making a ring like you did. This is most likely what we'll do. So your Commando has a Smith's speedo and a Veglia tach as well?

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Mike,
Both of my gauges are Veglia. My bike is an Interstate Mark IIA and apparently Interstates came with the Veglia instruments. Good luck with your gauges.

Peter Firkins

On the Wassell dealer site, they are clearly marked for Smith's and the don't list any for Veglia.