Rear tail light, can they be taken apart

[Laverda Dave]

I am going through all the chrome parts on the rat bike to determine those parts that need a re-chrome and those I can clean up. The kickstart and gear change pedal appear as they will clean up with a bit of tlc as will I hope, the header pipes will do as well.
One part that will require a re-chrome is the rear light. Having looked at the fitting I cannot fathom how to remove the reflector from the rear chrome backplate. The thick rubber bracket mounting is sandwiched between the back plate and the reflector that contains the lamp holder and I cannot see how the two parts are joined to enable me to take them apart.
Has anyone managed to separate these two parts or is it a case of these parts were all assembled as one and pressed together using a jig at the factory?
I know I can buy a repro part but they are not very good quality and I'd like to save the original if possible.

[Orcade-Ian]

From memory Dave, I think it's the bulb holder which holds it all together and as you say pressed together during manufacture.  I'll have a look better tomorrow but perhaps the old bulb holder could be removed with a Dremel and a separate holder - the type that had claws, pressed in after chroming.

Ian

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

DS sell the original Stanley rear lamp part for arround £34.80 i suspect re-chroming will not be cheaper.

[Laverda Dave]

I missed that Ted and just had another look. You are right it would likely be cheaper to buy a new one especially as my original is badly pitted along the swaged part and would look good even following a re-chrome.
I can say though the quality of the aftermarket part is not good as I bought one for my other 400/4 about 8 years ago and it looked so bad I put the old rusty one back on! I don't remember DSS having new genuine back lamps at that time.

[ozzybud]

They are not made to be taken apart. I'm sure it could be done.
On US eBay there are usually a couple dozen for sale.if you weed through  them you can find one that is almost rust free.
I just picked one up fir the CB400 that looks NOS.
Remember these units were used on many models for many years. Even my 1972 CT70
There is an nos unit on ebay right now for 349.  I payed 35

[Nurse Julie]

They are not made to be taken apart. I'm sure it could be done.
On US eBay there are usually a couple dozen for sale.if you weed through  them you can find one that is almost rust free.
I just picked one up fir the CB400 that looks NOS.
Remember these units were used on many models for many years. Even my 1972 CT70
There is an nos unit on ebay right now for 349.  I payed 35

Unfortunately, USA model rear light units are usually a lot larger than our smaller UK / EU models.

[paul G]

You can take them apart just like the speedo cowl repair and then use a valve spring compressor to put it back together.
Look at my Sloper CD175 project I have done 4 or 5 now Chrome plating at Prestige plating £12 I think it was.

[davidcumbria]

DS sell the original Stanley rear lamp part for arround £34.80 i suspect re-chroming will not be cheaper.

Sorry I cant  find this Ted. Do you mean just the chromed part of the assy? Would this fit my 550 k1 ?

[AshimotoK0]

Different lamp Dave (oval type fitted to CB250K0, CB750K0 UK, CD175A sloper, C50 etc ..... I rechromed a back plate (not too expensive at Prestige Platers) by de-crimping the pressing on the back, which fixes the lampholder/reflector to the chromed back-plate.

UPDATE ... I looked at a 400 one I did in the 1980's (took off the bike  a while back, as  bike was left in a barn for 15 years and so I replaced with NOS) and it's the same setup but it looks like I soldered the plate back on. If it's any better than yours to have rechromed then it's yours.

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[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

DS sell the original Stanley rear lamp part for arround £34.80 i suspect re-chroming will not be cheaper.

Sorry I cant  find this Ted. Do you mean just the chromed part of the assy? Would this fit my 550 k1 ?

It fits my 500 does the 400 one - I have a spare correct bracket due to my LED one that I fitted.

Not sure if it fits a 550 the bolt centers are 95 mm apart I think US rear lamps are a different size between the bolt centers - this link is for the UK 550.

https://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/CB500K1-FOUR-1972/part_61750/

[Laverdaroo]

Dave, I’ve a complete rear set up I’m not using, not sure on the quality of the chrome but I’ll be home tmrw after working away for a few weeks and then back out to the states again next Thursday but will look and send you some piccies if you message me youre number bud.

It’s been stored dry and should be ok just I’ll have to have a look first to be sure.


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