Special headlight on a standard?

[DAVINCI]

Well, I broke the damn glass on my headlight and they're not easy to find. So i was thinking...will a Special headlight fit the ears on a Standard? And, what about the Special's adjuster bracket, will that fit the lower tree? Seems the special buckets are easier to find, so this conversion may be permanent.

Anyone ever done this? please chime in.

[TomRodgers]

im sure it you can make it work, but may require some Irish inginuity

im sure someone around on this site has an extra glass (Andreas???) for relatively little $$$....

[natemoen]

I have a special headlight on my standard. I guess you could make the bucket work on the standard ears but don't know how well it would work. The adjustment bracket does not work for me, I am going to have to fab something up so that I can adjust it and so that it will stay in place. If you decide to use special ears they do need about a half inch cut off of the tubes because the tree to tree measurement on the standard is a little shorter.

[DAVINCI]

im sure it you can make it work, but may require some Irish inginuity

im sure someone around on this site has an extra glass (Andreas???) for relatively little $$$....

Nope, Andreas doesn't have.

[crazy steve]

I'm dealing with a special headlight on standard forks right now....

While I'm using special ears also, I looked at the alternatives. The bucket fits easily, you just need to use the rubber bushings from the standard. The adjuster bracket is another story; it will be easier IMO to just make one rather than try to mod the special part.

Give some thought to building an 'adaptor' so you can use a car-type square headlight. They're the same size, you just need a means of mounting it in the bucket. I think if you picked up a headlight bucket assembly from a boneyard (look at '80 GM products, maybe a S-10), cut the back out of it, then spot-welded or pop-riveted some brackets to it to mimic the OEM headlight, you could have a cheap, effective replacement...

[natemoen]

http://us.ebid.net/for-sale/78-yamah...t-41862706.htm

[DAVINCI]

http://us.ebid.net/for-sale/78-yamah...t-41862706.htm

Thanks for finding that, Nate. But, it's a very early sealed beam unit, and when it blows I'd never find another. I like the convenience of the separate H4 bulb in the later fixture.

[CatatonicBug]

Really? I can find the round sealed beam units at any auto parts store. About $11 each. Are the rectangle ones that much harder to find?

[crazy steve]

'Bug, the standard square headlights have the mounting brackets attached directly to the headlight shell; so there's no using anything off-the-shelf, it has to be a OEM headlight for a bolt-in...

[natemoen]

Kinda figured you wouldnt want the sealed beam, but ya never know!

[fredintoon]

im sure it you can make it work, but may require some Irish inginuity - - -

Hi Tom,
dunno about Irish Inginuity but here's a British Bodge:-
Use a longer bolt and a stack of washers each side to fill the gap between the Special headlight shell and the Standard ears.
Most likely need to cut up an old license plate to make the tilt piece.

[ManagerMike]

The sealed beam "lens assy" for the 78 is still a good part number, 2H7-84320-60-00 $25 at the yam dealer if you need to go there. I have the headlamp from a 1980 honda cb1000 on my 78E (just don't like the square headlamp motif and the cb's was free).
Therefore I have the original headlamp, complete, off my bike less the mounting hardware I used for the replacement, but including the lower adjuster bracket. If you (or anyone else) wants it, all I want for it is the cost of shipping it to you.

[GARTHXS]

I have a special lamp on my 78 with special ears no issues and I have a brand new laser cut lens too

[fvincent]

Special headlight on a standard

Hey Garth. When you put the special headlight and ears on a standard, did you have to modify the ears?

XS1100G

[DAVINCI]

The sealed beam "lens assy" for the 78 is still a good part number, 2H7-84320-60-00 $25 at the yam dealer if you need to go there. I have the headlamp from a 1980 honda cb1000 on my 78E (just don't like the square headlamp motif and the cb's was free).
Therefore I have the original headlamp, complete, off my bike less the mounting hardware I used for the replacement, but including the lower adjuster bracket. If you (or anyone else) wants it, all I want for it is the cost of shipping it to you.

managermike, is your headlight the sealed beam type? If not, I'm intereted.