Lower center fender lense

[Avidrider62]

Any one have a painted one? Ebay sellers all want me to buy the whole fender, then freight. I may be looking to reproduce these in a mold. Do you think there would be a market for new lenses?

[Nails]

If you're going to make one, recommend one that allows these "Goldwing" lights to function. It's hard to get the paint off.

[Avidrider62]

LOl, no paint on the ones I'll make. I will add a a logo to it to avoid patent laws. Maybe intials or a wing on the face. Lighting, now that LED's are cheap, it's not to hard to splice from the saddlebags and run a wire to the backside of light place thru the existing grommet. No cad work, justy silicone molds and PMMA material. I know in NOS on the painted light is a $110 Part. https://www.megazip.net/zapchasti-dlya/ ... BcQAvD_BwE

[triton28]

Avidrider62;
as well as the orthopedic uses for polymethyl methacrylate it sounds as though this material would be a good candidate for casting the lens. Have you used this material before for casting items and if so can you steer us to some information, or enlighten us as to how to go about mixing and preparing it for casting into a mould. I have no experience with it but your idea is very intriguing.
Have you given any thought, or do you know how to achieve the red colour into the pmma while it is being cast?
I wonder if simple epoxy with red gelcoat mixed in would also work? Or would the gelcoat be too opaque? Or would the simple epoxy be too brittle?
Perhaps Rit red fabric dye may be another idea to achieve the red colour. The Count at abbikeboard.com suggested the dye idea awhile ago during a discussion about those faded small Markland saddlebag and trunk marker light lenses and how to recolour them.
Anyway, keep us posted if you would as enquiring minds need to know, LOL,
regards,
Dave

[GrandpaDenny]

Avidrider62;
as well as the orthopedic uses for polymethyl methacrylate it sounds as though this material would be a good candidate for casting the lens. Have you used this material before for casting items and if so can you steer us to some information, or enlighten us as to how to go about mixing and preparing it for casting into a mould. I have no experience with it but your idea is very intriguing.
Have you given any thought, or do you know how to achieve the red colour into the pmma while it is being cast?
I wonder if simple epoxy with red gelcoat mixed in would also work? Or would the gelcoat be too opaque? Or would the simple epoxy be too brittle?
Perhaps Rit red fabric dye may be another idea to achieve the red colour. The Count at abbikeboard.com suggested the dye idea awhile ago during a discussion about those faded small Markland saddlebag and trunk marker light lenses and how to recolour them.
Anyway, keep us posted if you would as enquiring minds need to know, LOL,
regards,
Dave

Gene Kap uses red India Ink to recolor lenses. Seems to work!

[Avidrider62]

About 50 vids on molding on youtube. I'm seeing the lense to be made of clear acrylic https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pu1RTkWHA3o&t=117s Now, one specialist says it's not exactly OEM size, the reproduced part is slightly smaller. I'm thinking so little, not noticable. The dye, you have try several castings to see the correct color. One guy says to hold the clear acrylic in a glass jar, an unmixed part a or b and count the numbered drops, mix, to see match. Each batch has to be the same amount to mix with the correct drops. Now, any silicone mold will match the gloss of the sample. So a painted, cleaned up lense will not work. RustoIeum 2k clear should be ok on the lense ( I read) I have spoke to Carl about this idea, he can assist me in parts. I think the silicone mold material may work for those broken stereo mounts. Pete and I would have to search how to attach it to the metal brackets. The other items are the stereo cover and hold ring. I have the cover and a broken ring. Carl has a lense and stereo mount, new. Pete says the H and M button breaks alot so I may search that one too. ( I have one)
The other option is to 3d print these and that requires CAD knowledge. I have the PC for it, graphics card, but no printer yet. Still training my self on CAD. It would take a 400mm x 400mm bed to make the stereo cover parts, tail light longer than 200mm, most printer bed sizes (200mm equals 7.87 inch) Is the lense longer?
I'm exploring these, Personally, I hate the guy I work for and I may just save my money for that day I tell him to shove it. I get my USN pension in 11 months, then life will be smoother. Soooo, I may wait a little longer to pursue all this.

[Nails]

Now, one specialist says it's not exactly OEM size, the reproduced part is slightly smaller.

That could be a good thing. IIRC, that lens fits very snug.

I butchered mine getting the paint off. But then again, it's easy to find a wicked-bright LED. The hard part for me has been finding an 1157 socket that isn't just cheap sh*t and also is short enough to fit in the limited space. It needs to do a 90-degree bend right behind the bulb; and I've only been able to find sockets that don't actually even work. If I turn it just so I can get brake lights and tail lights, basically until I get to the end of the driveway.

Any source suggestions would be much appreciated.

[Avidrider62]

LED strips, I'm sure short ones are made

[Nails]

I hadn't thought of that. Maybe do something weird with turn signals while I'm at it.Thx.

[Nails]

The housing behind the "Goldwing" lens is only 7 3/4". The 8" strips I could find were more than 8", which would cause more ABS surgery than I want, especially for products that are rated so poorly (they were all cheap crap). I looked for shorter strips, but didn't find anything especially useful. Also tried small brake lights that might fit in there -- no joy. The best I could do is an 8" third-brakelight that looked durable -- but I'd like to have tail lights too.

I think I'll try an entirely different connector/bulb.

[Avidrider62]

Maybe an LED 194 peanut bulb and holder? You said a 1157 is in there? Cut ot length 12v led strips, check it out. https://www.amazon.com/PryEU-LED-Strip- ... B00Q9M33W0

[Nails]

I ordered that -- will see how it works out.
Thanks again.

[triton28]

When I do the lower tail light conversion I use a hole saw and open up the stock plastic receiving opening for the bulb sockets I use. The OEM size opening of the abs housing is too small for the sockets I use. The spring loaded locking serrations of the socket then snap fit an extra 1/8" into the abs housing.
I believe it is a 1" hole saw in my case, but if one measures the socket just below the serrations that would be the size.
Dave

[GrandpaDenny]

The housing behind the "Goldwing" lens is only 7 3/4". The 8" strips I could find were more than 8", which would cause more ABS surgery than I want, especially for products that are rated so poorly (they were all cheap crap). I looked for shorter strips, but didn't find anything especially useful. Also tried small brake lights that might fit in there -- no joy. The best I could do is an 8" third-brakelight that looked durable -- but I'd like to have tail lights too.

I think I'll try an entirely different connector/bulb.

Check with Gene K. he had some smaller LED lights last time I was over there.

[Nails]

No problem with bulbs. The issue is the 1157 socket.

[GrandpaDenny]

I understand that. The lights he has are short LED lights, like 3-4" long IIRC.

[triton28]

Nails I am not sure of the length of the bulb sockets you are using but mine work fine with a socket length, to the top of a wire bend, of 1.660", not including the snap in tabs. The photos here are your typical NAPA general item socket.
I also have used a Dorman 2 wire with ground tab socket part # 85860 and it is even shorter than the ones I used here measuring at 1.5" overall.
The first 4 photos are pretty self explanatory: 1) measurement; 2) tail light lit; 3) brake light lit and 4) the standard cavity showing no mods on my part.
The 5th photo is a comparison of mine on the left against an OEM on the right and the 6th photo is how and where I use the hole saw to permit the sockets to fit in. I was incorrect in my previous post as this particular bulb socket requires a 1-1/8" hole saw, but I'm sure you get the picture, no pun intended.
One item of note: be sure the RH bulb wire leads have lots of slack as they tend to fetch up on the hump in the cavity and pull on the socket body causing an intermittent operation.
FWIW,
Dave
EDIT: check bulb socket throat size as it may require a different size of hole saw than the size I used for my install

[Avidrider62]

With about a $500 start up cost to do these lenses, I would hope there is a need. I have a cpl of other items for Pete, radio guy, to do also.

[Nails]

Nails I am not sure of the length of the bulb sockets you are using but mine work fine with a socket length

That's what I thought, but when I took the lens back off sockets clearly were mashed into the fender. I'm sure those would not work on mine. Maybe something's just goofy with mine.

[VoyKimmer]

Avid rider62, what does that cartoon caricature tinipics mean. I don’t understand .