Warning light shield

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Onder

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The black shields for the warning lights: did Andover at some point offer
hard plastic ones not flexible rubber ones? I see they dont now but thought
they once did and I think they would be a good idea.
Any help on this?
 
gort: Im talking about the cups or shrouds not the lens bezel and tube you show.
Im trying to find out what was orginal, soft rubber or hard plastic.
The rubber ones seem to lose their shape.
I realize this isnt on the level of Jim's oil investigation but Im still curious...
 
The originals seem to be black rubber on my '72 Roadster. I replaced them once in its life. The dealer (Bill Bryant at RiderSport - Ithaca) made me buy a box of ten in the early 70s. I was too dumb to realize he was ripping me off. Still seem fine with no cracks.

Only the outer 2 lights have the shrouds. The center just has a black rubber flat washer.

Russ
 
Interesting that the parts list specifies 3 of the rubber shrouds, yet I have only ever seen examples of the just the
outer 2 having them. My bike just has the outer 2. My rubber ones have never lost their shape in 15 years.
 
I've looked at 'em for forty some years but never asked myself "what are they for?"
What do they shroud?
 
Interesting that the parts list specifies 3 of the rubber shrouds, yet I have only ever seen examples of the just the
outer 2 having them. My bike just has the outer 2. My rubber ones have never lost their shape in 15 years.
The keep sunlight from refracting off the prism of the insect eye, so you can see when the the light is illuminated in bright daylight.
 
I've looked at 'em for forty some years but never asked myself "what are they for?"
What do they shroud?

One possible reason is that it might be a requirement. The state of California's vehicle lighting standards state:


"Lamp indicators

24408. (a) Every new motor vehicle registered in this state after January 1, 1940, which has multiple-beam road lighting equipment shall be equipped with a beam indicator, which shall be lighted whenever the uppermost distribution of light from the headlamps is in use, and shall not otherwise be lighted.

(b) The indicator shall be so designed and located that when lighted it will be readily visible without glare to the driver of the vehicle so equipped. Any such lamp on the exterior of the vehicle shall have a light source not exceeding two candlepower, and the light shall not show to the front or sides of the vehicle."
Seeing how the 2 outer lights could possibly be seen from the sides of the motorcycle I believe the last sentence of the law makes the shrouds necessary. I could be wrong though, there might be another reason. My older BSA's never had any shrouds over the indicator lights.


Peter Joe
 
The 2W bulbs are not bright enough in full sunlight. I put the cups on all three in a vain attempt to actually see when Ive
left the indicators on. I do this all the time as an old timer Ive never had indicators before. Hard to adjust to new things when
old!
Is there an LED replacement with enough power to obviate this?
 
Is there an LED replacement with enough power to obviate this?
Yes but with issues on 2, the charging unit needs a higher resistance or it stays permanently on with the ignition and as the indicator warning current flow is bi directional, without say a bridge rectifier the led only works for left turns or right. turns.
 
My 850MKIIA which came with the plastic air filter box and black cap mufflers did not come with the shroud on top of any of the indicator lights. Probably because its a UK/European version which was shipped to me direct from Liverpool.
 
My 850MKIIA which came with the plastic air filter box and black cap mufflers did not come with the shroud on top of any of the indicator lights. Probably because its a UK/European version which was shipped to me direct from Liverpool.

Photos of UK registered machines show shrouds/shields so I don't think that's the reason.
 
Seeing how the 2 outer lights could possibly be seen from the sides of the motorcycle I believe the last sentence of the law makes the shrouds necessary. I could be wrong though, there might be another reason. My older BSA's never had any shrouds over the indicator lights.

Triumphs didn't either although had the same basic headlamp shell warning light layout (before the '79 model year when the warning lights were moved to the central console).

I don't think Commandos (and other Nortons) had the shields before 1971 (high beam warning originally being red).
 
Agreed, L.A.B., I bought a '71 new in '71 and it did not have the rubber shields that are on my '73.
 
'74 Interstate bought new; only the two outer. I always wondered if it was something to do with reducing glare from the inside of a windscreen, assuming you'd have one on the Interstate.
 
Triumph triple 1973 came with same outside shields middle indicator light no shield.
 
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