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Headlamp Bracket

Submitted by steven_pratt on Wed, 18/05/2022
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Heavy Twins

Hi all

Can someone identify whats going on here.

Got a Model 88 off a family member and have started restoring it. Something doesnt look right. From photos of other bikes, the headlamp brackets should go to a rubber spacer then to the top triple tree. This one has some sort of extra piece ontop of the rubber spacer. 

Thanks 

Steve

Headlamp Brackets

Submitted by howard_robinson on Wed, 18/05/2022

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The rubber cushions engage around the top of the headlamp bracket and then there is about a further 5mm space until the top of the ears on the brackets. I suspect that you have the incorrect headlamp brackets for a set of short roadholder forks. Good luck, howard

Submitted by robert_tuck on Wed, 18/05/2022

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I think Howard  Has  it right.  The HL brackets have been sawn in 2  and  the top rubbers inserted between the cut.   New brackets required  unless you want a very low position for the headlamp 

Submitted by richard_cornish on Wed, 18/05/2022

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Hi Steve,

   I think what someone might have done is to fit these forks to an earlier lugged type frame. The head-stock on these is longer than the featherbed, about as much as the extra spacers. I have done this by using a bespoke extra long top steering column sleeve nut. The benefit of this is to reduce the steering angle and make the steering sharper. Try loosely assembling the forks into the frame and see how it all fits up with-out the top pieces of the shrouds. Another method of doing this mod would be to extend the column tube on the bottom yoke (triple tree) for the extra length.

Submitted by steven_pratt on Fri, 20/05/2022

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Robert - HL brackets dont appear to be cut and the spacers are not part of the bracket. They are thick, solid steel. Look like legit parts from something..

Richard - Shes a matching numbers bike. Slimline frame, motor, gearbox and forks all match records. Think i need to find out what the lengths the HL brackets should be and I guess column tubes on bottom yolk to see if they have been modified..

Steve

Submitted by philip_ham on Fri, 20/05/2022

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Just a thought, would clip-ons have been fitted at one time, then removed and the spacer inserted to make up the gap?

Submitted by andrew_mackenzie on Fri, 20/05/2022

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Steve, not sure if it will help, but here is a photo of my Atlas headlamp brackets. I cannot measure their length exactly with them installed, but from the top of the mounting rubber under the top yoke to the top of the lower shroud they slot into it is 205mm.  From memory, the engagement with the lower shroud was about 4-5mm and the slot in the top rubber was about that too, so 205mm could be about right.

Andy

Attachments
B970955E-2E7D-4052-B6BF-42E116783D63.jpeg

Submitted by steven_pratt on Sat, 21/05/2022

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ForksThanks all for your help. Lots of food for thought. 

Its quite possibly had clipons at some stage.

Found another picture from when forks were on the bike. I can only think the HL brackets have been modified. 

 

Submitted by howard_robinson on Sat, 21/05/2022

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Hello again Steven. I hope you're a bit nearer sorting out your headlight brackets.  You're not related to Bob Pratt from Braunstone near Leicester are you ? He had an Atlas outfit for some years (the only one I've ever seen) and a pre-war Model 50.  He was well known for Laverda Twins in the day.  Regards, Howard 

Hi Howard

Not a direct relative that i know of. Im second generation Australian. Grandfather was a Scotsman and Nan an English woman. Maybe distant relative somehow. Sounds like he had a great collection. 

Steve

 


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