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Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, Eldorado, 850 California - Lights & lenses
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Table of contents
- Auxiliary rear light bracket
- Dash light bulbs / indicator lights / idiot lights
- Fender reflectors
- Headlight gasket replacement
- Headlight replacement
- Spot light brackets
- Spot light replacement light bulbs
- Spot lights for civilian turn signal brackets
- Tail light CEV 9313 replacement
- Tail light CEV 9350
- Tail light lens fading
- Tail light lens replacement
- Tail light to tail light bracket gasket
- Turn signal lens replacment - Civilian Lucas turn signals
- Turn signal replacements / replicas - Civilian Lucas turn signals
- Turn signal replacements / replicas - Police Dietz turn signals
Auxiliary rear light bracket
Updated: Jul 08, 2008
Thanks to Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle and Bruce Giller for providing me with this excellent pattern and pictures. Charlie originally got the idea for this bracket from the bracket on Pat Gilbraith's Ambassador that was created by Pat's late husband, Chuck Galbraith. The biggest difference between Charlie's and the original that Chuck made is that Chuck's was wider and mounted reflectors on either side of the license plate. Bruce crafted the lovely pattern.
Notes from Bruce:
I made Charlie's rear light bracket for my Eldo and here is a picture of it. It is made out of 10 gauge SS - easier to cut than I thought with a right angle grinder and a Zip blade. It is nice to have two more bright lights on the back especially when braking. When I've got stuff on the luggage rack, the light is sometimes hard to see.
You'll notice that I had to make a slight modification to the original design to clear the turn signals; made a 45 degree cut at both ends. So I revised the drawing of the bracket to include the cutoffs.
The lights used are J&P Cycles part no. 3200385 '63-'85 Harley FL style chrome die-cast turn signals.
Pattern for auxiliary rear light bracket for a loop frame Moto Guzzi
Alternitive pattern for auxiliary rear light bracket for a loop frame Moto Guzzi with cuts to clear turn signals
Wiring diagram for auxiliary rear lights
Photo of bracket that Charlie Mullendor made
Photo of bracket that Charlie Mullendor made
Photo of bracket that Bruce Giller made
Dash light bulbs / indicator lights / idiot lights
Updated: Mar 12, 2008
Only the Eldorado spare parts catalogs list these light bulbs as MG# 10744910: 12 volt, 3 watt light bulbs. But the specifications end there. You also need a light bulb that has a miniature bayonet base. Here are some part numbers and sources that should work for you. I prefer the #1891 to the #53 because it is about twice as bright (and closer to the original wattage specification).
- Sylvania or Philips #53 (14.4 volt x 0.12 amps = 1.728 watts)
- Sylvania or Philips #1891 (14 volt x 0.24 amps = 3.36 watts)
- McMaster-Carr item #1505K214 / trade #53 (14.4 volt x 0.12 amps = 1.728 watts)
- McMaster-Carr item #1505K93 / trade #1891 (14 volt x 0.24 amps = 3.36 watts)
Bulb style 53 - 1000 hour life rating
Bulb style 1891 - 500 hour life rating
Fender reflectors
Updated: Jan 06, 2009
Thanks to Charles Hamer for sending me this information.
Holden sells the red reflectors with the wide chrome trim.
Red Lucas fender reflector from Holden
Thanks to Jahn Olovsson for sending me this information.
Chris Knight Motorcycles carries both the red and amber Lucas reflectors.
Amber Lucas fender reflector from Chris Knight Motorcycles
Red Lucas fender reflector from Chris Knight Motorcycles
Headlight gasket replacement
Updated: Nov 14, 2008
I extracted this information from Mark Etheridge off of the old Topica Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Yahoo!).
This is the gasket that fits between the headlight securing trim and the headlight itself. Just run down to your local hardware store and purchase a length of screen-door/screen-window vinyl spline. This is the piece that holds the screen in the sash's channel. Cut to length and you're done.
Charles Hamer informed me that the 0.190" diameter screening spline works better than the 0.160" diameter spline I have pictured.
The perfect stuff for replacing your headlight gasket
Headlight replacement
Updated: Nov 14, 2008
Charles Hamer provided me with the following information in a private communication. In Charles' own words:
You can basically fit any 7" sealed headlight in our Loops. Be careful to bend a little the wires at the headlight plug otherwise it will knock fuses out of the fuse panel, it is a very tight fit.
Spot light brackets
Updated: Jun 09, 2008
Before I donated a NOS pair of spot light brackets (MG# 13751340 and MG# 13751440) from my Dad's stash to John Schartz (to help build his new Ambassador after the old one was totalled during his 2007 wreck in New Mexico), I took ample photos and carefully created a pattern.
| Download Name and Link | File Size | Number of Pages in File |
|---|---|---|
| 18 KB | 1 page |
! ! ! ! ! Note on printing this PDF file ! ! ! ! !
When printing this PDF file, be absolutely sure that "Page scaling" is set to "None". If you don't do this, your print will not be of the proper size.
To view PDF files, you will need to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
NOTE: If you have trouble viewing PDF files inside your browser, try saving them to your computer (right-click the link, then choose the save option). Then, open each file directly in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Spot light replacement light bulbs
Updated: Aug 24, 2009
The stock spot lights required light bulbs with a "BA20s" base (12 volt, 60 watt light bulbs with a 20 mm base), which were quite difficult to come by in the U.S. Thanks to Scott Peatross for sending me the following information:
The replacement bulb for the spot lights, (12 volt, 60 watt with the BA20s single contact base) is industry standard #A7278. Apparently was quite rare, but is now manufactured by Eiko. If you Google Eiko 660B you will find them readily available from many sources for less than USD $3.00 each.
Eiko 660b light bulb
Data from Eiko:
- Lamp No: 660B
- Bar Code: 48054
- Volts: 12.8
- Watts: 60
- Filament: C-6
- MOL in/mm: 2.60/66.0
- MOD in/mm: 1.42/36.0
- Avg Life: 75
- Bulb: SB-35
- Base: SC Bayonet European (BA20s)
- Watts Amps: 60
- MSCP: 75
- Replaces: A7278 & 410-5018
Eiko 660b light bulb
12 volt light bulb with BA20s base
Narva 49072 light bulbs
Spot lights for civilian turn signal brackets
Updated: Feb 27, 2008
I extracted this information from Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle off of the Yahoo! Loopframe_Guzzi news group. In Charlie's own words:
On my '69 Ambo with the factory "polizia" fairing, there was just enough room for the stock turn signal brackets to clear the bottom of the fairing and for the reproduction Harley FLH spots to avoid the crashbars at full steering lock.
Disclaimer: I've not used a Wixom fairing on any Loop, so the following is at best a guess based on photos of bikes so equipped.
Judging from photos of a Wixom equipped Eldo, it looks like that fairing can be used with the stock signal brackets (I'm sure many were outfitted that way "back in the day"). The issue then is if the spots will clear the fairing too.
Reproduction Harley Davidson FLH spot lights mounted on civilian turn signal brackets.
Close-up view of the mounting for the reproduction Harley Davidson FLH spot lights.
Tail light CEV 9313 replacement
Updated: Nov 01, 2009
As an alternative, the manufacturer "Truck-lite" sells complete tail light assemblies and replacement lenses. Theirs are powder coated metal. Look for model number 80463R for the complete assembly or model number 99083R for the replacment lens. Thanks to Larry Pease for providing this information.
Truck-lite tail light model number 80463R
Tail light CEV 9350
Updated: Nov 01, 2009
Robert F. Greene sent me the following information via email:
My father replaced the CEV 9313 tail light on his 1973 Eldorado soon after buying the bike new in 1973. He did so for one reason and one reason alone: the original tail lamp just seemed too small to be seen. The replacement was a tail light for a Yamaha, and on my honor, you'd never know that it didn't come on the bike originally, as it complimented the bike perfectly. It is a rectangle shape, and has nearly twice the reflective surface area as the CEV 9313, which means twice as much red brake light directed at those following the bike. Since I followed the bike periodically when he would drop it off for service appointments, the visibility of the Yamaha brake light was quite a bit better than the original.
For Ambo and Eldo owners out there who wouldn't mind a slightly more visible tail light without completely sacrificing an OEM look, a great compromise is the CEV 9350, which was actually original equipment on many 1974 and later Moto Guzzis, including T-3s and Eldorados. My disc Eldorado came with a CEV 9350, and the rare 1975 police Eldos that I have seen were all equipped with 9350s as well. They are not dramatically larger than the old 9313, but the additional surface area of the reflector puts a bit more braking light out there behind you. For the past several weeks, there have been dozens of NOS CEV 9350 tail lights on eBay (not just the lens, but complete units with chrome-finished plastic back) for about $30 plus shipping. The reflector inside my original CEV 9350 was chipped and broken in several places (vibration perhaps?) and rather badly dulled from age, (although the lens cleaned up beautifully with a treatment of 3M Optical Plastic cleaner). I bought a NOS 9350 on eBay. It was a great deal, it looks great on the bike, and assures me of improved brake light visibility.
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
CEV 9350
Tail light lens fading
Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007
I extracted this information from Mark Etheridge of Moto Guzzi Classics off of the old Topica Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Yahoo!).
If your tail light lens is faded, you can restore the color by boiling it in red RIT dye.
- Boil the dye (a concentrated amount).
- Submerge the lens for a couple of minutes…carefully monitor the progress as you don't want to destroy the lens.
RIT dye - Scarlet
Tail light lens replacement
Updated: Dec 08, 2008
If your round tail light lens needs to be replaced, you may find it difficult to find a suitable replacement that looks close to original. I have seen New Old Stock (NOS) CEV tail light lenses go for upwards of USD $60.00 on ebay…too steep for a hunk of plastic in my opinion.
Fortunately, there is a very-close replacement that can be purchased at your local Wal-Mart. It is a "Universal Stop, Turn and Tail Light" that is manufactured by "Peterson Manufacturing Company". The model number is 428. The package comes complete with the entire light, but the lens itself is all you need (the lens part number is 420-15, if you can find it - Bob Taylor informed me the lenses are available at Northern Tool). It screws right on to your stock CEV tail light.
Peterson Manufacturing Company item number 428 - universal stud-mount stop, turn, & tail light
Tail light to tail light bracket gasket
Updated: Prior to Dec 11, 2007
Here is a pattern I made for the rubber gasket that goes between the tail light and the tail light bracket. I used an old gasket (believed to be original) as my pattern. 1/8" thick rubber material works great. An old chunk of inner tube will do. This corresponds to MG# 12741725 or CEV part number 10447.
| Download Name and Link | File Size | Number of Pages in File |
|---|---|---|
| 16 KB | 1 page |
! ! ! ! ! Note on printing this PDF file ! ! ! ! !
When printing this PDF file, be absolutely sure that "Page scaling" is set to "None". If you don't do this, your print will not be of the proper size.
To view PDF files, you will need to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
NOTE: If you have trouble viewing PDF files inside your browser, try saving them to your computer (right-click the link, then choose the save option). Then, open each file directly in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Turn signal lens replacment - Civilian Lucas turn signals
Updated: Feb 09, 2010
Thanks to David Griffiths for sending me this information via email.
The Land Rover Defender uses lenses identical to ours. You can find them on eBay by searching for "Land Rover Defender Lens".
Turn signal replacements / replicas - Civilian Lucas turn signals
Updated: Jun 22, 2010
The best approach
Thanks to Charlie Mullendore of Antietam Classic Cycle for sending me this information via email. In Charlie's own words:
[I] bought a pair of genuine Lucas signals with long stems from Old Britts, part no. 062060, USD $39.99 ea., for a customer's Eldo. Equal in quality to the 36 year old originals, sturdy plastic housing, fiber washer holding the bulb contact. Much better than the reproductions, in this case you get what you pay for!
I modified the stems to match the short originals by cutting them off, machining them down to .420" diameter and then threading them 7/16"-20.
Modified Lucas turn signal stems to match the original dimensions used on Moto Guzzi 850 GT, Eldorado, and 850 California models. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mullendore.
The worse approach
Not having the original Lucas turn signals and not wanting to purchase NOS or piece together a set of used signals, I purchased four of the common Lucas replica turn signals from MG Cycle. The only problem with the replicas is that they have an 85 mm stem, which the originals never had. I set out to fix this problem. Here's what I did:
- I disassembled the turn signal, removing the stem entirely. The stem is just attached with a nut, so it's very easy to do.
- I enlarged the hole in each turn signal body to 1/2". Since the signal bodies are plastic, this was very quick and easy.
- I purchase four 12 mm x 1.75 mm x 40 mm bolts (this is the perfect length; any longer and the bolt won't fit inside the body of the turn signal). Using my drill press, I drilled a 3/16" hole through the middle of each one. The electrical wire will run through this hole.
- I placed one lock washer on the bolt and inserted the assembly from the inside to the outside of the turn signal body (so that the head of the bolt is on the inside of the turn signal body).
- I fastened one nut on the outside of the turn signal body and tightened the assembly.
- I reassembled the turn signal, feeding the electrical wire through my special bolt.
- I fastened the turn signal to the motorcycle, with a flat washer, lock washer, and nut.
Materials used:
- Four Lucas replica turn signals
- Four 12 mm x 1.75 mm x 40 mm bolts
- Eight 12 mm x 1.75 mm nuts
- Eight 12 mm lock washers
- Four 12 mm flat washers
Now completed, the turn signals look very close to the originals.
Note: I've since had some trouble with the screws loosening that secure the bulb sockets to the body of the turn signal. The bulb is grounded through these screws, so it has caused some headaches. As a fix, I did the following:
- I used blue loctite to secure the screws in place.
- I ran a separate ground wire from the metal socket (using a small nut and bolt) to a solid ground on the bike.
Note: I also had trouble with the contact point on the pigtail. The contact was mounted in some sort of hard rubber, and the spring behind it - combined with the heat from the bulb and the vibration from the motorcycle - slowly pushed the contact through the rubber and away from the bulb…until contact was broken or intermittant. This even buggered up the contact point on the light bulb. For a fix, I replaced all of the rubber-type discs with hard-fiber discs that came packaged with single contact pigtails (local auto parts store purchase). I only needed to purchase two pigtails because each pigtail came packages with two discs - enough for all four turn signals.
Original hard rubber disc
Replacement hard fiber disc
Follow-up
I have completed two of the above described "conversions" (eight turn signals total) and I don't intend to ever do another. Here's why…
- The conversion takes a long time to do (several hours once all the little things are accomplished).
- Once completed, I'm still left with poor quality plastic turn signals that are not designed to withstand the vibrations and abuse that motorcycle quality turn signals should be able to endure. No matter how careful a person is, the plastic bodies and lenses will crack and the entire mess will disintegrate (and heaven-forbid you accidentally bump a turn signal as you are walking around the bike in your garage). These turn signals are nice to look at, but are no good in any long term real-life use.
Strong recommendation: If you really want the original Lucas look, source some original Lucas turn signals and be done with it.
Turn signal replacements / replicas - Police Dietz turn signals
Updated: Feb 09, 2010
Barjan
I saw these at a truck stop near the 2007 Virginia Rally when Roger led a group of us on a great ride. Thanks to Tom Halchuk (also on the ride) for confirming the manufacturer when I returned to Tampa, Florida.
Barjan has chrome-plated zinc die-case 4" diameter turn signals.
- Order 049-3436110 (single contact) or 049-3436210 (double contact) for the red and amber lenses.
- Order 049-6437112 (double contact) for the single-sided red lens.
Grote Industries
Grote Industries has chromed-plated zinc die-cast 4" diameter turn signals in standard and thin formats.
Standard
- Order 56000 (single contact) or 53000 (double contact) for the red and amber lenses.
- Order 56032 (single contact) or 53032 (double contact) for the single-sided red lens.
Thin
- Order 55290 (single contact) for the red and amber lenses.
- Order 50652 (double contact) for the single-sided red lens.
Peterson Manufacturing Company
Peterson Manufacturing Company has a limited selection of chrome-plated zinc die-cast 4" diameter turn signals.
Truck-lite / Signal-Stat
I extracted some of this information from John Chicoine off of the old Topica Loopframe_Guzzi news group (which has now moved to Yahoo!).
Signal-Stat has chome-plated zinc die-cast 4" diameter turn sigals.
- Order 3861 (single contact) for the red and amber lenses.
- Order 3763 (double contact) for the single-sided red lens.
Truck-Lite is the manufacturer of Signal-Stat products. Jack Young Company carries them, (617) 782-1250. Any NAPA auto parts store is a distributor for Signal Stat products. If they don't have the one you need on the shelf, they ought to be able to order it for you. If you don't have a Napa close by, call the Truck-Lite customer service department and give the rep your zip code - they'll find the closest one for you; (800) 562-5012 or (716) 661-1162.
As for price, the last time I checked (Mar 17, 2006) you could expect to pay just under USD $35.00 per turn signal.