Replica Stop lamp switch (For Rene Milas)

I would be interested in one intended for the Dominator 99.

It'as a shame when some take things for granted after someone has gone to the trouble of replying.,.

I've had recent contact with RenÃ? and he was very polite, personable and helpful - so I find that strange. I'm an overseas member and always say thank you!

I really appreciate all you folks a lot!

He might be on holiday or business trip or have domestic or computer issues...

The switch I have seen on sale works the wrong way round and when I took it to bits I couldn't reverse it. Is the correct one available, Les, please? To work off the tab on the brake rod?

I keep forgetting to take a picture of the Slimline switch bracket as that is another problem. So I have nasty pull spring one and blow fuses regularly when disconnecting the back brake. Must do better.

Previously les_howard wrote:

I've deleted this message on where to obtain the stop lamp switch. After a direct request to me by Rene Milas I originally gave several details as to where to buy one. Alas, Rene did not bother to comment or thank me for bothering, maybe it's a cultural thing but I have had this happen before with overseas members, they just ask questions get a reply and don't ever bother to say thank you.......Les

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I get that most times Les. Some members problems that I also have personally had, and fixed, orI contacted one of my cleverer friends for a clear answer, research in my books for clear instructions, take photographs and post (not on this forum site though) I reply with my findings, then,without a mention, nothing! Used to it now, its the way it is.......

There was a very nice Dutch guy at the Stafford Show selling replica stop lamp switches which are of good quality and identical to the original Lucas part I have. He had two types: 'always on' and 'always off' in electrical parlance. The original on my own Dominator 99 (1957) is 'always off'.

I have his details if required and I gather he regularly attends the major shows in the UK.

Thanks Richard. I think I might get to Kempton (next weekend?) and see if I can find him.

My bike is 1963 slimline. The tab moves forwards to allow the plunger to extend to its rest position to put the lamp on (always on?). It also looks very sensitive to the exact bend and fixing of the mounting bracket - which of course I don't have. Off to Google for a picture. I have lots of photos of Nortons but I doubt if I have a closeup of the boring bit I am suddenly interested in! It's a while since I looked but I'm fairly sure that Bacon's "Norton twins restoration" does not have one.

David

Here is a close up of the switch on my 650SS/1966.

It's taken before the restoration of the bike.

Hope it helps.

Fritz

Previously les_howard wrote:

I've deleted this message on where to obtain the stop lamp switch. After a direct request to me by Rene Milas I originally gave several details as to where to buy one. Alas, Rene did not bother to comment or thank me for bothering, maybe it's a cultural thing but I have had this happen before with overseas members, they just ask questions get a reply and don't ever bother to say thank you.......Les

........Mr grumpy gills! Les, it's an Internet forum, it may be sad fact, but it's a fact never the less that there are as many "takers" as "givers" out there, don't let them get to you! But what's a shame is it removes a source of info from people who do the right thing and use the search function before posting?

dan

Thanks Fritz. If I cannot find one at Kempton, I'll see if the vendor can answer the questions: "is it 'always on' or 'always off?"

The bracket looks simple enough - ta for the photo.

Regards

David

Previously David Cooper wrote:

Thanks Richard. I think I might get to Kempton (next weekend?) and see if I can find him.

My bike is 1963 slimline. The tab moves forwards to allow the plunger to extend to its rest position to put the lamp on (always on?). It also looks very sensitive to the exact bend and fixing of the mounting bracket - which of course I don't have. Off to Google for a picture. I have lots of photos of Nortons but I doubt if I have a closeup of the boring bit I am suddenly interested in! It's a while since I looked but I'm fairly sure that Bacon's "Norton twins restoration" does not have one.

David

Don't bank on the Dutch guy being at Kempton. He is from Holland and I gather quite selective about the shows he visits. I have his details if you wish. I can assure you that the switches are indistiguishable from the original but you must be sure of the type you want. ie: ' always on' or 'always off'. Sods law I think I bought the wrong one. Not too bothered they were only £10.00.

Previously David Cooper wrote:

Thanks Fritz. If I cannot find one at Kempton, I'll see if the vendor can answer the questions: "is it 'always on' or 'always off?"

The bracket looks simple enough - ta for the photo.

Regards

David

I've found this one: http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/031621.htm

They are ON if the plunger is pushed (from the left to the right on my Picture).

Fritz

Is it just me or do all replica switches fail rapidly? They are very prone to fill with gunge/rust/road filth and internally not very robust if you strip them to clean them.

P.S. thanks for the close-up picture of the bracket. After 47 years of Dominator ownership I now know how to get it right!

Fritz - the tab on the brake rod is closer to the brake lever than the location of the switch. So the rod of the switch must bear on the tab, and as the tab moves forwards to the left when viewed from the same side of the bike, it moves away from the switch to allow the rod to extend and close the contact. So when the switch is off the bike the plunger is released so itis 'always on'. Unlike the one I boughtprobably about 12 years ago from Norvil - which sounds like the one you link to - which I think is opposite. I seem to remember reading that Norton was opposite to BSA - and there were a lot more Bantams than Dommies around.

So I make do with a nasty floating thing with a rod and spring. To be fair it is usually serviceable. Mine is so covered in oil (chain case!) that corrosion is impossible.

off topic - although I fettled my chain case on Sunday and by Tuesday morning there was not a single drop of oil...I bet that will all go horribly wrong as soon as I exercise it. Maybe my switch will now start to rot. Maybe Gordon - you have a cleaner bike?

Les

I know that you often reply or comment on my messages, but here I missed your specific message .

I saw it today because it was flagged high up in recent messages on NOW webpage.

I normally follow up threads if I ask something.

Thanks again for your inputs.

RenÃ? Milas

PS: practical suggestion for NOC webmaster, would it be possible to get the most recent message or comments first instead of scrolling down from the original one to the latest comments?

Les

I know that you often reply or comment on my messages, but here I missed your specific message .

I saw it today because it was flagged high up in recent messages on NOW webpage.

I normally follow up threads if I ask something.

Thanks again for your inputs.

RenÃ? Milas

Previously David Cooper wrote:

â?So when the switch is off the bike the plunger is released so itis 'always on'.

You're right

Unlike the one I boughtprobably about 12 years ago from Norvil - which sounds like the one you link to - which I think is opposite.

Why don't ask them? They sell it for Nortons.

Fritz

Might as well.Why dosellers not include the simplest description of things they offer?

For some time our wonderfull suppliers were selling the wrong switch with the instructions to " fit it upsidedown" !!. At that time I had a worn orriginal switch and used that as a pattern to cannibalize a new "upsidedown " switch and "make" a proper one. It is possible. Even when new a Lucas switch needs a regular clean and lube with Vaseline to keep working.They can be dismantled and re-assembled with care.

Having bought the 'always on' switch from the Dutch guy at Stafford and now had the opportunity to look at how it functions I can confirm that the always on switch is the type required for the Dominator which has the operating tab on the brake rod. The principle being that when the brake pedal is at rest it holds the switch in the off position and when the pedal is operated it allows the operating rod on the switch itself to move forward into the 'on' position.

The seller carried both types which are identical in their outward appearance but the interiors are obviously configured differently. he keeps one type in sealed plastic bags in order to differentiate between them, but is not able to advise which switch is intended for a particular model, so the buyer has to know and decide for himself.

At £10.00 they are a very good buy for such an accurately reproduced quality switch in my opinion. Hardly worth the trouble of dismantling them to attempt to reverse the action.

Hope that clarifies the issue

Previously richard_evans wrote:

â?I have his details if required and I gather he regularly attends the major shows in the UK.

I'm interested, if he also has a webshop.

Fritz

Previously Fritz Wettstein wrote:

Previously richard_evans wrote:

â?I have his details if required and I gather he regularly attends the major shows in the UK.

I'm interested, if he also has a webshop.

Fritz

www.ffmotoronderdelen.be

Hi Les. glad things are ok. Baz

Previously les_howard wrote:

Ok Chaps...I've calmed down now....As Richard and other good members would like to know where they can buy one, I am driven to help our fellow NOC'ers rather than ignore them, so here is a source, noting that there are several suppliers of this same item if one searches knowing the description. Please note the one on my refurbed M7 is the original:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Land-Rover-Series-1-2-2a-2-25-2-Litre-Lucas-Choke-Brake-Switch-1948-65-214223-/281574275294

Best regards....Les

Are you having a laugh

"PS: practical suggestion for NOC webmaster, would it be possible to get the most recent message or comments first instead of scrolling down from the original one to the latest comments?"

See this thread for how that went last time we tried it..

I prefer the order as it is!

It seems there must be variations. Model 7, Wideline, Slimline. And I suppose the brackets vary between early and later Slimlines when the brake rod was re-routed. No wonder our friendly dealers don't seem tostock them!

The photo posted by Fritz shows what I expected for Slimline - a rectangular item with a rectangular bar. The bar is not pulled by a spring but spends most of its time being pushed by the tab on the brake rod to keep its contacts open until the tab moves forwards whenthe bar ends up not actually touching anything so it is an 'always on' switch - even though when fitted to the biker it is always off!

And there are no less than four ways to make one - 'left' vs'right' and 'always on' vs 'always off'.

If all four are made (and that's by no means certain) I'd have to buy four just to sure that one is OK. So I think I'll stick with what I have.

The switch in the photo that is fitted to the slimline IS the correct type. It is however so similar to the wrong one that most of the unwary are fooled into buying the commonly availiable WRONG one. Even our wonderfull specialist Norton suppliers have cheerfully sent out the wrong one for years. As I said it is possible to convert one to the other with a bit of carefull drilling and riveting ,but this is probably outside the scope of many owners. The right ones are availiable if you look hard enough. There is one on E_bay ref 31383 22b lu214 but it is a very expensive orriginal. Pattern ones do exist.Viewed from the front the push/off bar is on the left and the bar with rivet is on the right, the bullet connections are underneath (not on top!!).

Previously les_howard wrote:

Advisers for the correct Featherbed stop light switches should have started another thread I think for clarity.

Thank you.

Les.

So we go here: http://www.nortonownersclub.org/noc-chat/technical2-heavy-twins-forum/10038127

Fritz

Previously les_howard wrote:

Thank you Fritz.

Alas, the thread I started has got a bit mixed up now, so perhaps I should also have started another thread....maybe I will just to clear things up......Would you please be so kind to add "Featherbed " to your new thread? But obviously this is up to you....Best Regards....Les

I've tried to change the subject adding ?Slimline?. Unfortunately it's not easy if not impossible.

Fritz