Topic: Rear indicators: grab rail or brackets? (550K3)

[michtag]

Hi guys,
My ’77 CB550K3 has rear indicators attached not to the grab rail (as I believe they should be) but to L-shaped short brackets held in place by the grab rail nuts (see photo of right side).
The grab rail itself has 2 holes on its bottom part, where I think the original brackets were welded on. I am guessing these came detached due to age and vibrations.
This is not a great idea (PO did this) as the left indicator is pressed on by the seat every time this is opened (which has been many times in my case, since I am still working on the bike) and it has now snapped in half.

My question to the experts is: what’s a good alternative to this or to the original placement? Has anybody used different brackets attached to the shocks or the rail, or anywhere else?
I am just looking for a viable solution, keeping the original indicators for now, but not necessarily an original replacement as a purist would like….
Cheers

[BenelliSEI]

You are correct. Originally, there were small tubes welded to the underside of the grab rail. They are quite large and the mounting stud for the lamp stalk was pushed through a large rubber grommet. It was so well isolated (from vibration and grounding) it had a separate ground lead that ran from the back of the light to the harness. I can’t find a decent picture, but you can see the location here......

[bryanj]

I thought they were on a bar attached to the rear light

[BenelliSEI]

Bryan...... only UK models. I think the bracket was black too? 750k’s were the same in ‘77and ‘78.

[Deltarider]

P. 87-9 in: http://www.honda4fun.com/pdf_parts_list/pdf_spac500-550/CB500-550_K3-K4.pdf

[michtag]

Thank you everyone! Now I have a clear picture of what they should be
I guess as a quick solution I'll look for light clamps of some sort, but in the long run, I'll either find an original rail with the tubes attached, or I'll have to get something fabricated.....

cheers
/m

[michtag]

Just to give this post some "closure" I have now used some lighting brackets i have bought on Amazon [https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07L4RM9DS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1]
sanded them to metal, slightly enlarged the diameter in the hole so the indicator stem thread would fit through.

Then, due to the rubber distancer-isolator in the clamp, I also had to make sure the indicators were earthed (the PO did not bother as they were in direct contact with he frame) and therefore I passed a new wire and hooked it up to the correct earth wires in the harness.

Not the prettiest of solutions, but cheap, and it works...at least for now.
Cheers

[Alan F.]

That probably also adds a small amount of 'give' and vibration dampening, perhaps longer bulb life?

That type of bracket have many uses from sissy bar mounting, rear set mounting, not just their intended purpose of mounting auxiliary lights.

[michtag]

That probably also adds a small amount of 'give' and vibration dampening, perhaps longer bulb life?

Yes, I should hope so