early 80's style cb1100f signal conversion...hard?

[PowerDubs_imp]

Makes sense. Good luck!


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[misterprofessionality]

oK, NEW PLAN.

For a time, I was considering completely changing my headlight bracket, so that I could more freely relocate my turn signals, which would allow me to mount a new set of period-accurate signals to the bike. See the example:



These come from Doremi, so they're modern, but they're really faithful reproductions with a simpler mounting system than the originals. The problem with these types of signals is that they're actually much longer than the stock signals, causing them to stick out way too far, even if they could be mounted on the existing signal stays.

So, I decided that the best approach might be to modify the original headlight/signal stay so that I can mount the signals tighter to the centerline of the bike, compensating for the increased length. the old '82 CB750F had the signals mounted right on the side of the forks, so this should be faithful to the original. Thing is, i'm still not confident or skilled enough to start hacking away at my own headlight/signal stays, and to do so would be a really bad idea with my limited tools and knowledge. I've decided it's a small price to pay to simply buy an extra OEM stay from honda and modify it off the bike.

I'll start by cutting the existing signal stays right off, as shown:



this eliminates the excess length and pulls the mounting position in tight to the forks. However, it also kind of eliminiates he mounting position altogether, leaving a gaping hole where it used to be.

from there, I start to build a new mounting base for the Doremi signals. This is where it gets tricky, because as i've said over and over i have no idea what i'm doing. I'm thinking i would build it by stacking steel washers and hard black rubber together to make a solid flat base into which I can drill holes and run the bolts. like so (very rough sketch):



once that's altogether and the holes drilled for the mounting bolt and the wires, I can seat the Doremi mounting stem into it, bolt it down, and fit the signal onto the stem. bingo. new signals. The rear signals will be a heck of a lot easier, so I won't even go there on this post.

so, am I crazy? will this work?

[Frulk_imp]

I like those. Will be interested to see how this project turns out. Post pics please.

[misterprofessionality]

lol, who knows how long it will take me to figure out how to make this work. at this point i'm worried less about how great it will look and more about whether or not I can even do it.

[Cormanus]

You might do better to see whether you can get a single piece of aluminum tubing you can cut to size rather than using a pile of washers. I don’t know if it’s possible though.

[Guth_imp]

After you've got this figured out, maybe you could sell your idea to the MIZ guys. Their conversion kit could use a proper set of era-correct turn signals.

[Houtman_imp]

Your drawings are very good but in reality it might be more involved than you think. Good Luck !

[misterprofessionality]

You might do better to see whether you can get a single piece of aluminum tubing you can cut to size rather than using a pile of washers. I don’t know if it’s possible though.

Thanks Cormanus. I could get behind that, and I bet i could find some aluminum tubing, but here's the problem:

1) the signal stem isn't actually round or "tube" shaped at the base. it's kind of an oblong elliptical shape. getting an aluminum tube shaped exactly like that could be very difficult.

2) Forget the shape for a moment, how would I fasten a section of aluminum tube to the inside of the signal stay once it's been cut off? i would need something more like an aluminum "puck", short and flat, with caps on both ends so that I have something to run fasteners through.

After you've got this figured out, maybe you could sell your idea to the MIZ guys. Their conversion kit could use a proper set of era-correct turn signals.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Guth, but less an "idea" and more a hairbrained jury rigged hack job. MIZ would do a lot better to simply sell a replacement steering stem bottom piece with the appropriate mounting positions for the signals, the original '80 goldwings and '82 CB750F's that used these signals had the signals mounted right on the side of the steering stem bottom. That's not an option for me because i have to draw the line somewhere, lol. i'm just trying to get my signals close to that position without re-engineering my entire frontend.

Your drawings are very good but in reality it might be more involved than you think. Good Luck !

I'm dead certain that it's more involved than I think, otherwise i wouldn't be on here second-guessing myself, i'd already be cutting :-p Sometimes having no confidence in myself is a huge advantage and keeps me out of trouble.

[Cormanus]

I was assuming you could find the right shaped tubing that you could attach a rubber mount to and run a bolt up the middle.

An alternative: try to find some of the original parts on eBay and cannibalize them?

[misterprofessionality]

hm...i don't have any confidence that i'm going to find any tubing with this specific of a shape, but you've give me an idea. a bit of extra heat from my trusty torch, and aluminum tube of sufficient size, a vice, and some patience might allow me to partially flatten the tube, resulting in the right shape. it's a regular enough shape that i could see getting it out of simply deforming a regular round tube. from there I could cut slices out of the tube for each side, since it needs to be extremely shallow anyhow.

So, are you guessing that the rubber mount on its own, without the tube, just won't be stable enough?

As for original parts, i've done entirely too much research on that. the original signals mounted directly to the sides of the lower steering stem bridge. the steering stem was specifically engineered with bolt holes for that purpose. using the original parts would see me replacing my steering stem i think.