Hi (again)
My 1954 Plunger B31 has got two pilot light bulbs - one under the headlight and one inside it - see photo attached.
It this correct please?
The separate pilot / parking light bulb has no bulb holder and was wedged in place with lashings of electrical tape.
The wiring is also confusing and now I've removed the headlight, none of the lights work. (See attached image)
Any suggestions where the green crimp ring wire goes? (Earth possibly?)
Many thanks
My personal suggestion would be to have both, even use LEDs if you have the confidence.
I would then use as daytime running lights (have one a 10w).
The wiring appears to be non-original type and someone (sensibly) has used a chunky length of modern domestic green/yellow earth wire back from headlamp, presumably to a star earth point next to battery. I make looms myself with modern wire and heat shrink and always incorporate a stat ground. Ideally you would use soldered bullet connectors vs crimp type (which are ok until they get wet and you get corrosion between crimp and wire) and use a smear of dielectric grease on each connection to minimise corrosion.
These things often ignored and probably contributed to Lucas being crowned Prince of Darkness (bodges and poor maintenance?).
Anyway use an extended headlamp cowl bolt a couple of star washers and suitable nut. Bolt that ring crimp to it with two additional wires (thinner green/yellow from old 13A cable. Run one to the ground of your new underslung pilot and the other to your headlamp earth lug. Whilst at it see if the tail/brake light unit has the same back to your near battery star earth.
Other place where poor earth is the horn switch which uses the handlebar as its earth (I run a wire using tiny ring connector back to the headlamp earth as well).
It's not difficult but worth a couple of hours or so doing it properly.
while you are at the wiring, find/get a decent large rubber grommet for that hole at the back of the headlamp.
wires love to chafe through on bare metal !!
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233602283878
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/233602283878?
yes decent earths are needed - so many classic bikes relied upon the head bearings(balls and grease) to provide the earth side for the front end -lights and horn etc
I pretty much agree with neil1964's advice. But one pilot light's earth went into the same male connector as the headlight bulb, so removing that meant it lost it's earth. The other pilot bulb was earthed to that ring crimp, which I think was on the bolt top right of your photo. I have the same choice of two pilot bulb positions as you do, but only one pilot bulb; I was thinking of getting another.
Your underslung pilot light has a similar arrangement to my one; an odd piece of aluminium sheet with a hole in it. I don't think the original bracket is available any more.
Quote from: Fraz on 24 Feb, 2024, 13:22
Hi (again)
My 1954 Plunger B31 has got two pilot light bulbs - one under the headlight and one inside it - see photo attached.
It this correct please?
The separate pilot / parking light bulb has no bulb holder and was wedged in place with lashings of electrical tape.
The wiring is also confusing and now I've removed the headlight, none of the lights work. (See attached image)
Any suggestions where the green crimp ring wire goes? (Earth possibly?)
Many thanks
Look at the attached, may help.#
Quote from: briancairns on 25 Feb, 2024, 12:34
Quote from: Fraz on 24 Feb, 2024, 13:22
Hi (again)
My 1954 Plunger B31 has got two pilot light bulbs - one under the headlight and one inside it - see photo attached.
It this correct please?
The separate pilot / parking light bulb has no bulb holder and was wedged in place with lashings of electrical tape.
The wiring is also confusing and now I've removed the headlight, none of the lights work. (See attached image)
Any suggestions where the green crimp ring wire goes? (Earth possibly?)
Many thanks
Look at the attached, may help.#
I am about to fly off on holidays....if you wish when I get back ( 10 days) I can take headlight off and send photos of inside headlight. i put a new loom in my bike same year and model as yours.##
Brian