Hitchcocks Forum

Wile out on a ride today I heard a rattling
upon inspection I found the tail light assy
to be lose, so put my hand under the mud
guard to check the bolt but it wasn't lose
so I decided to take the bolt out to see if it
was internal. It turns out the bracket has
snapped were the nut bit is, so when I got
Home I glued it with some aroldite glue
But that failed on the test run so I'm looking
to A. Ether buy a new number plate, a different
Designed one, B. make a new bracket with
stronger metal.

So what does everone think ?
Also has this happen to anyone else

Also warranty has ran out O

Hi guys------------ if you're within riding distance of Shropshire I can weld/strengthen yours for you for nowt !!

Hi Foz. The same thing happened with the tail light of my Electra X within the first 2000 miles or so. Probably the same design, but in my case the internal bracket kept on bending and the taillight kept on swiveling at strange angles. Just a bad design as there is only one bolt to attach it to the mudguard, and the materials are inferior. I ended up ditching the whole thing and buying one of our hosts 50's style taillights. The original rear indicators wouldn't fit this taillight assembly though, so I bought other indicators off our hosts, but have been having problems with them constantly snapping off due to vibration, so I run the bike without rear indicators now...I would try and strengthen the internal bracket, and keep the original taillight.

Unfortunately Alan R I live in Salisbury wilts, Robin did you use the small indicators with the 50s number plate?

Hi Foz. I've just looked up the part numbers I used, and advise you to perhaps not use this combination, as it has caused me a headache over the years. As mentioned my original tail light kept on swiveling as the inner bracket was too weak and kept on bending, so I chucked it. I bought replacement part 92515 rear number plate with light. I had to drill a few holes in the rear mudguard to install it. The indicators I used were 200014. The bike looked really good with this set up. I encountered three problems though.. Problem 1: The bracket at the back of 92515 which holds the indicators, fell off. I fixed this by drilling holes through the bracket to hold my number plate and bracket in place with 2 bolts. Problem 2: the stems of the indicators kept on breaking just behind the lights. I think the stem may be too long to stand up to much vibration. I have seen the same lights elsewhere with shorter stems, I think these may be more durable, but perhaps don't look as good. Problem 3: The red transparent plastic cover of the taillight, which comes with 92515 may come loose if you screw it on the assembly a tad too tight. The fixture in which the screws screw is easily broken. I had the same problem with three replacement lights I bought (564 Lucas style stop/tail lamp).
My present setup is therefore 92515, without any indicators. 92515 is a good piece of kit, good steel, excellent paint job, just bolt the bracket in place and fish around for another taillamp. I presently use a 50 year old Britax taillamp, the oldest piece of kit on the bike, but of very sturdy quality with good fixtures for the two screws.
Please note Foz, that the bike is my only form of transport, and that I use it a lot, and that the country roads I travel are in a bad state of repair and very bumpy. This puts all the tinware and extra bits and blobs under some strain...Looking back I perhaps should have beefed up the fixing bracket of the original tail light. Hope this helps.

Foz, if you get down to Exeter anytime, then drop me an email - Like Foz I have the relevant facilities to weld it for you.

*D'Oh - that should read Alan LOL.

Hi all, I managed to go to the
Local garage and ask if they could do a weld for
Me, they even put another strip of metal in front
of the original to strength it.
next question does any one know where I can
get hold if the rubbery tube because that also
fallen off?
I'm using a bit of roll mat at the mo it looks a bit
Chippy